Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation, and avoidance of social interaction. People with AvPD often consider themselves to be socially inept or personally unappealing, and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed, humiliated, rejected, or disliked. AvPD is associated with perceived or actual rejection by parents or peers during childhood. Whether the feeling of rejection is due to the extreme interpersonal monitoring attributed to people with the disorder is still disputed.  DSM-IV-TR 

Can you relate?  Do you struggle with the above issues and wonder why? Maybe we can help each other figure it out as a group. Avoidant in NYC is a sounding board, a place to reflect, and an environment for learning about ourselves and AvPD.* Our conversations can begin on the "Message Board," which is private and for members only. Group discussions will be planned as our number grows.  Let's talk.

Possible discussion topics include AvPD and...

Self-monitoring

Ending/rejecting friendships

Social isolation (avoiding the phone, over-reliance on email)

Underearning

Sex addiction

Love-shyness

Solitude (pros and cons)

Anger, aggressiveness, paranoia 

Family relations

Avoidant attachment theory

People pleasing/false personas

Trust, intimacy, honesty 

Speech issues

1. Feeling that we are not allowed to speak

2. Feeling that we are not being listened to

AvPD and Personality Typologies (MBTI, Enneagram, Astrology)

*It's important to state that I (John, organizer) am not a mental-health professional and have no training in the field. Nor have I been diagnosed with AvPD. It's just a strong hunch, from living and reading. Likewise, your participation in this group does not constitute a diagnosis or label of any kind. We are all merely discussing the topic and taking from the experience what we can get out of it. As such, Avoidant in NYC is not therapy...every participant will be expected to take full responsibility for their own participation and to interact with others in the group with respect and courtesy (in person and on the Message Board).