life help: I think I have Avoidant personality disorder , and I dont have enough money to see a shrink. - Help.com

Looks like your going to have to keep working and saving your money until you can afford to go and see a doctor. Hope this helps ;-)

what are the symptoms?

answer me this :-

what does a shrink do?

and once you’ve answered that..

tell me if you are capable of doing it yourself!

Usually online personality tests aren’t very good for diagonosis, it would be best to get a diagnosis at your local practitioner and he can direct you to some who can help you =]

In the USA, local mental health associations can usually arrange some free counseling. In Canada, there are free counseling services widely available. But you know what? “Disorders” can be “reordered.” You can change. Recognizing a problem is the first step in solving it. Now, go forth and seek counseling!

a shrink is a psychologist, basically someone to waste your money talking to. I dont really believe in them in the first place.

I didnt take a test online or anything I know thats all garbage, but looking over multiple websites, a good amount the symptoms described I feel apply to me when I really think about it. It seems I have a few symptoms of the paranoid disorder too.

there are no free places around me that I can find.

Are you still in school?

Usually at school that have available concellors but if you aren’t in school sorry my mistake =P It would be better to get a proper diagnosis from someone who understands the disorder.

no im out of college already

Look toward your state for resources. Most states have something in place for low income people who need mental health services.

Also, look into Online/email service - I once talked to a shrink email over the span of 3 weeks for free (or low cost -15$ per session).

According to online sources—I should live in a loony bin.

Self diagnosis is really unhealthy—all psychology courses I’ve taken, have taught me that.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapists are a ‘healthier’ alternative to a shrink. They don’t medicate they try and alter your mental process and help you gain better control. They are also very expensive.

Have you lived your whole life (thus far) without medical intervention (psychological) if you’re an adult—seems you’re doing ok. But if you want to talk about your thoughts and feeling and build your self confidence/reliance you don’t need a shrink for that.

wow they have a diagnosis for everything read this “Colossians 2:8″ tell me if that doesn’t speak to you.

self diagnosis is unhealthy? that sucks, i’ve done it my whole life, and usually with a decent amount of success.

no I have not taken any medication, Ive never seen a therapist or anything like that but if I did, I would refuse pills. i’ve seen them mess to many of my old friends up.

I dont even like the idea of paying someone just to talk to them.

Stimpy wrote:
wow they have a diagnosis for everything read this “Colossians 2:8″ tell me if that doesn’t speak to you.

and no that doesnt really speak to me lol

In short the world has an answer for every problem and calls it a disorder and prescribes stuff etc and analysis and comes up with some name. When in fact we have a God shaped hole in our heart that needs to be filled.

For the context of it Paul was writing about false teachings which relied on human regulations rather then on truth in Christ.

The reason why it’s unhealthy is because you most likely have not learned all of the information that is necessary to properly diagnose the situation. You haven’t read hundreds of case studies or medical journals that further explain and work in conjunction with some diagnosis. You can go to 5 doctors and sometimes be diagnosed with 100’s conditions which treatment methods can be varied to the point of risking the patients life.

The online tests/data sometimes are geared to work in the context of a study. Some studies are ‘old’ and there are scales in which these diagnosis work. Schools of medicine are often changing—theorized conditions and diagnosis change, categorization changes…

More over, mood and temperament can sometimes be altered based on environmental changes, weather, diet, exercise, lack of exercise, stress…sleep, sleep deprivation…

Ok, stupid question time from me; I’ve been diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder in the past (and a bunch of other things). As said above different docters diagnose different things, discription of what equals disorder is always under discussion and treatment for any psycological disorder is always changing/renewing/going oldschool/having revolutions..

Avoidant personality disorder that you’ve been focusing on is based on fear - you obviously know that, you’ve probably read forums and/or mailing lists and allot of things click/make perfect logic to you now. Fear, control, trust.

Most important; what is wrong? You say disorder, ok I’ll take your word, that’s fine; but how does it affect you and why do you feel it is ruining your life?

You can also try your luck at online charities like Digital Charity, people may send donations if your story is convincing enough. More information at http://www.laodn.org/

Sigurrós wrote:
Ok, stupid question time from me; I’ve been diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder in the past (and a bunch of other things). As said above different docters diagnose different things, discription of what equals disorder is always under discussion and treatment for any psycological disorder is always changing/renewing/going oldschool/having revolutions..

Avoidant personality disorder that you’ve been focusing on is based on fear - you obviously know that, you’ve probably read forums and/or mailing lists and allot of things click/make perfect logic to you now. Fear, control, trust.

Most important; what is wrong? You say disorder, ok I’ll take your word, that’s fine; but how does it affect you and why do you feel it is ruining your life?

it effects me because sometimes I get into a wierd state of mind and become a social retard, and I say that almost literally.

there have been times when applying for jobs, id get a call back or something and then I wouldnt go in for an interview because I start thinking ive been out of school so long I probly have no idea what im talking about anymore, they gonna think im an idiot, im not good at interviews, etc.

there are times that I know I should go out and do such and such things like hang out with people, party, or other random stuff and just end up not wanting to for reasons I cant fully explain, the closest I can come is I just dont feel like being around people.

with most women I try to talk to I will literally not be able to think of things to say, I just freeze up, and then usually end up not talking to them or anything, not online, phone, or real life.

just a bunch of crap, I cant even think of it all right now.

I think my problem is im to sensitive to criticism, insults etc because ive been put down by pretty much everyone in my life, my whole life (parents friends and family included), combined with rock bottom self esteem and being an almost bankrupt loser right now gives me a lot of reason to avoid things that could/probably will make my day worse.

You kind of need the crap beaten out of you, and come to a point of apathy to overcome the shyness—at least that worked for me. 3 months of solitude and refusal to leave the house…I was to the point I’d have a panic attack to just walk outside of my room.

Then I realized, who the hell cares? No one else will care—if you’ve managed to completely isolate yourself like that and everyone elses life goes on—why not my own? Why not find what makes ‘me’ happy? Why not accept that regardless of what you say or do, anyone worth a **** will actually pause and work though things with you–try and understand you.

your so down putting about yourself…
so what if youve been out of college a while,
im sure that you have the ability to get youself through an interview
and so what if you dont get the job, theres always others. and every interview you go to will perfect you interviewing techniques.
it doesnt matter what anybody says to you, you shouldnt listen to any of it. Only you yourself know who you truly are, and how you want to act shouldnt be effected by what people will think about it.
You shouldnt avoid social situations just because you feel uncomfortable in them, it will only make things worse…you will become more lonely and will never want to leave the house.
Make a list of what you know about yourself, how you act, and why you act that way….then make a list of how you’d like to act, and how you’d like to be percieved, because there should be no stopping you making that transition happen. A little criticizm from friends and family is good, but if they are taking it to extremes, you need to tell them how its making you feel, and tell them about your problems.

Thats so funny they have a disorder for everything.

I have “I don’t want to eat cereal out of the box” disorder or “I keep changing the channel and I won’t put down the remote” disorder.

Who told you you had this disorder Dr. Phil?

I also have “I hate mondays disorder” and I like to sit on my *** and do nothing disorder”