Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MarieAnge on December 6, 2001, at 22:29:37
Hi. I have been diagnosed as having APD.I Asked my doctor for help. She said that this is who I am and that I had to live with it. And that there was nothing I could do about it except drugs. I would appreciate some input on this. Is there therapy out there for me. I don't like this side of me. I want to be able to interact with people but end up at home where it is safe. I'm okay around family.
Posted by Dinah on December 6, 2001, at 23:10:03
In reply to Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by MarieAnge on December 6, 2001, at 22:29:37
I'm not generally a huge fan of cognitive behavior therapy, but it definitely has its place. Exposure techniques, relaxation, anything to do with anxiety reduction should help with avoidant behaviors. Do you have any access to a cognitive behavioral therapist? Medication could help you tolerate the anxiety while you learn new behaviors.
I wouldn't take a personality disorder diagnosis as a life sentence. My understanding is that a personality disorder is just the habitual way a person has of coping with an emotion such as anxiety. It isn't easy, but new ways of dealing with unpleasant emotions can be learned and the anxiety can be treated. So cognitive behavior therapy and medications can work together. It should be easier since you really want to change.
Just my humble opinion.
Posted by Pamela Lynn on December 7, 2001, at 1:34:55
In reply to Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by MarieAnge on December 6, 2001, at 22:29:37
I have Borderline Personality Disorder (along with being 'Bi-Polar').
I have been in Cognitive Therapy for it for about 6 months now, and it has been a HUGE help for me.
I also take my meds. along with the therapy.
Just my thoughts here......
P.L.
> Hi. I have been diagnosed as having APD.I Asked my doctor for help. She said that this is who I am and that I had to live with it. And that there was nothing I could do about it except drugs. I would appreciate some input on this. Is there therapy out there for me. I don't like this side of me. I want to be able to interact with people but end up at home where it is safe. I'm okay around family.
Posted by Phil on December 7, 2001, at 6:42:14
In reply to Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by MarieAnge on December 6, 2001, at 22:29:37
Christ, where do some of these doctors come from?
If you don't want to get on meds, Klonopin is a lifesaver for me. I'd recommend CT also. Ask around and find a good therapist, don't ask your doc!, and give it a chance. CT can help tremendously.
If you're in a small town, most people aren't, find one in a city nearby. You will have to drive:Cognitive therapy, step 1. :-)Good luck and you WILL find a way.
P
Posted by NikkiT2 on December 7, 2001, at 8:10:51
In reply to Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by MarieAnge on December 6, 2001, at 22:29:37
I am diagnosed Borderline personality Disorder, with avoident tendencies..
I am being reffered for DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) and I have heard reports of this helping in APD too...
Good luck
nikki
Posted by MarieAnge on December 7, 2001, at 12:14:06
In reply to Re: Avoidance Personality Disorder » MarieAnge, posted by Dinah on December 6, 2001, at 23:10:03
Thank you all for your input, I'm not sure what this cognitive therapy is about but i'm sure if I put it up on the internet I'll find out. I am from a small town where you run into alot of people you know or have met, say at therapy. I think I will go to the city to try therapy, even group therapy. Allthough I have tried that and never kept it up. I think I'm at a point now where I really want to change. I have quit going to church now for about a year because of the way I think I act. I like people and want to be around them but I find I always say the wrong thing or say what I don't mean. It makes me have an anxiety attack just writing about this.
MarieAnge
Posted by Dinah on December 7, 2001, at 12:18:15
In reply to Re: Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by MarieAnge on December 7, 2001, at 12:14:06
Sounds like CBT would be perfect for you if you are really ready and motivated to change. Try doing a search on CBT and Beck. I remember doing that once and came up with a wealth of information. And there are lots of therapists who do CBT because the insurance companies like it. So you shouldn't have trouble finding a therapist.
Posted by Noa on December 9, 2001, at 13:33:21
In reply to Re: Avoidance Personality Disorder » MarieAnge, posted by Dinah on December 7, 2001, at 12:18:15
I think avoidant personality is an outgrowth of social phobia--that fear of saying the wrong thing or panicking makes us avoid such situations, and it becomes a pattern.
I would think a combo of meds and therapy would help. I don't know if I qualify for apd, but I certainly have a lot of avoidant behaviors and patterns, and I have worked on this in therapy a lot, and it helps. I would try individual first--you have had some tries at group, and then backed out--maybe that is a signal you should respect.
I get a lot out of therapy but don't think I could accomplish this much in therapy without medication. (I have depression, but have anxiety and do a lot of avoiding of anything that stirs up anxious or defeated feelings).
Posted by Mitch on December 11, 2001, at 13:23:30
In reply to Re: Avoidance Personality Disorder, posted by Noa on December 9, 2001, at 13:33:21
> I think avoidant personality is an outgrowth of social phobia--that fear of saying the wrong thing or panicking makes us avoid such situations, and it becomes a pattern.
>
> I would think a combo of meds and therapy would help. I don't know if I qualify for apd, but I certainly have a lot of avoidant behaviors and patterns, and I have worked on this in therapy a lot, and it helps. I would try individual first--you have had some tries at group, and then backed out--maybe that is a signal you should respect.
>
> I get a lot out of therapy but don't think I could accomplish this much in therapy without medication. (I have depression, but have anxiety and do a lot of avoiding of anything that stirs up anxious or defeated feelings).I agree with Noa with regards to APD being an outgrowth of social phobia. I fulfill *all* of the DSM 'requirements'! What I wanted to add is..if you don't get any depression treated first (with meds), it will be tough for psychotherapy to do you much good. You have got to *want* to do the things that you are avoiding. Then you can work on the anxiety that is triggered by attempting to change avoidant behaviours. I am just *now* (for the first time!) feeling 'well enough' to really try and work on the avoidance with psychotherapy (CBT, whatever).
Mitch
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