Anxiety disorders

Does anyone here suffer from Atypical Depression or Avoidant Personality Disorder ? They both fall under the category of anxiety :nerves: disorders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atypical_depression

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant_personality_disorder

 

I suffer from either Social Anxiety Disorder or Avoidant Personality Disorder. They are both similar enough that they may as well be the same thing.

 

Well, you're right. At the end of the day, anxiety is anxiety and it sucks no matter what peculiar way that it reveals itself.

From what I've read Social Anxiety Disorder is basically manifested by someone who is constantly monitoring their own actions, appearance and behavior. SAD in inwardly focused.

Avoidant Personality Disorder is similar to Social Anxiety except that the person with APD also is monitoring the mood and behavior of those around him/ her and is obsessed their reactions as well. APD is focused inwardly and outwardly.

It all sucks terribly. It paralyzes my ability to socialize and completely cuts me off from others. I have no idea what it is like to express emotions spontaneously.

 

I was reading and I found this. Hope it will help someone. I will try anything.


:fish:
Branded Fish Oil Supplement Reduces Anxiety In Adults With History Of Substance Abuse
Main Category: Anxiety / Phobias News
Article Date: 06 Dec 2006 - 0:00 PST


A branded fish oil supplement has been shown to reduce anxiety measures in men with a history of substance abuse. Deficiencies in omega-3 are associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, aggression, attention deficit, and others. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial published in this month's issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (vol 26(6), pages 661-665) is one of the first to demonstrate benefits from fish oil in adults with anxiety.

Thirteen men were given 5 capsules per day of Nordic Naturals ProEPA(TM)/EPA(TM) for 3 months. Eleven men received placebo capsules. A subgroup of men who had taken either fish oil or placebo was followed for an additional 3 months.

Each purified lemon-flavored fish oil capsule provided 450 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), 100 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 50 mg of other omega-3 fatty acids. A modified version of the Profiles of Mood States (POMS) was used to measure changes in anxiety. The POMS was administered at baseline and monthly to all subjects.

A progressive and significant decline in anxiety scores was observed among the subjects who were supplemented with the Nordic Naturals ProEPA/EPA. No changes were seen among the placebo group patients. Furthermore, anxiety scores remained low in the sub-group who had taken the fish oil when followed for the additional 3 months.

Dr. Laure Buydens-Branchey, psychiatrist, at the DVA New York Harbor Healthcare System in Brooklyn, NY, completed this study. These preliminary data indicate that long chain omega-3 supplementation may have additional benefits for mental health.

Nordic Naturals is the leader in omega-3 fish oils and EFA blends with over 50 different fish oil products known for their exceptional taste, freshness, and purity. The company offers over 50 different fish oil products and EFA blends, including liquids, capsules, and children's chewables. For more information, please visit http://www.nordicnaturals.com/ or call 800.662.2544.

 

Yeah... I probably have AvPD... It sucks, earlier I couldn't talk even to shop clerks, bureaucrats, bus drivers... Now I'm not so anxious with people I don't know, but I still can't rely on my friends, and feel incompetent and unworthy all the time, because my feelings of incompetence I can't concentrate and it makes me avoid the things I should be doing... I tried to change my attitude, but I only get more depressed because it didn't relieve the anxiety and pain, so I feel like I have no more options...

I made a few new friends in a last year, and I like all those people, but I really feel like there's something wrong, like they're gonna hurt me sooner or later, so I started avoiding them as much as I can, I talk to them only to stay polite... :sad:

 

Thanks for the info. :smile:

 

Yes, you sound like you're decribing me. I don't know about your specific mental history, but in my own case this anxiety disorder was passed onto me genetically ( a gift from my father :dry: ). In a very real sense I am physically programmed to experience super high levels of anxiety.

Cognitive methods may work for some of us ( you mentioned trying to change you attitude ) but IMHO, unless your anxiety was caused
by a stressfull environment or circumstances, your success with cognitive therapy will be limited.

I'm only speaking from my personal experiences with different approaches but my perception is that changing your thoughts works effectively for those people who anxiety originated through stressful circumstances. For people like myself, and possibly you too, whose anxiety was passed onto us
in our genes the solution requires actually correcting the problem organically. In short, that means that we can only experience relief
if our brain chemistry itself is artificially corrected.

I am not encouraging you to abandon using techniques that involve changing your thought patterns ( your attitudes ). I am only suggesting that you also try to find a pharmaceutical method that could offer you immediate relief. That way you may actually have enough emotional energy to devote to correcting your thoughts.

Now, as long as I'm being honest with you, I must tell you that I have yet to find any medication that has given me succesful results but I have spoken to scores of other people who seem to get fabulous results from various prescriptions. The only substance that has ever been truly effective
in alleviating my symptoms is marijuana...but there are some special ( ie, legal ) considerations in going that route....if you know what I mean :whistling

 

Hopless-
try not to give up or think the worst of people. You don't have to let them in all the way, just give them chances to prove people can be worthy of your trust. I feel for you cuz it is tough. Many of us have not conquered it YET. Heck, all we can do is try. Don't let them scare you off!!

A quote I got the other day: "Anxiety is worry gone out of control". hmy:
{my grandmother has out of control worry, yet not anxiety. Related??}

 

Thanks for your answers, people :hug:

Hm, my therapist proposed a medication therapy to me recently... I might try it... The cognitive approach really didn't help me much , I feel like I'm only more aware of my desperate position...

Well, alcohol does it for me, for a while...

Well... I'm totally confused about :blub: socialising now... It's not really like if I didn't trust them, I'm just not clear about anything anyone does... :huh:
I guess I can't cope with it, so now I'm just, well, avoiding it again... That relieves me of anxiety a bit, but it makes totally depressed... :blub:

 

Avoidant Personality Disorder describes one of my mental problems exactly, it sucks trust me. Thats why I have barely any friends and have never had a gf and i am almost 20.

 

Exactly describes me, its sad but true. Its one of the big reasons why I have mood swings, have hardly any friends, and don't have a girlfriend and yet I am nearly 20.

 

I didn't even date until I was about 19 ( I'm middle-aged now :wheelchai ) and I didn't lose my virginity until I was 24 years old, so although your experience is fairly untypicall compared to the general population, you are actually quite normal when compared to the rest of us who also suffer from extreme anxiety.

That doesn't mean you should feel happy about not having a girlfriend, just don't be too hard on yourself :wallbash: if it hasn't happened yet. Dating and being around the opposite sex is already super-stressful for the average person. I mean, you are struggling against a serious condition that increases stress to the point to where you become emotionally paralyzed. How many "normal" people could cope with that ?

I hope that by stating what was already obvious to you, my little speech hasn't annoyed you. It's simply that I have been through what you are going through now. I hate to think about anyone else having to struggle under such a heavy burden.

 

It seems like a near impossibility that I would ever find a girlfriend, but I don't want to lose hope. I'm 22 and I've never even romantically held a girls hand. My anxiety around guys is bad enough, but around attractive women I feel like I have to struggle to keep from passing out. It is fucking horrible. I really should see a doctor.

 

No, don't give up on finding yourself a female companion that you can relate to. I visit a forum that is for people like us who suffer from crippling
anxiety. Give me a short amount of time and I'll retrieve the web-site and post it on this thread. It has a link for "meet ups" that is for people like us.

 

Okay, here is the web-site:

http://groups.msn.com/AvoidantPersonalityGroup/messageboard.msnw

The home page is set up much life the S.F's, if you scroll down to the bottom
you will find AvoidantUSMeetUp and AvoidantUKMeetUp.

I hope it helps. It sucks to be alone.:sadwave: Also, this site is mostly for people who suffer from AVPD so you would definitely be among people who understand what it is to deal with anxiety.:yes:

 

I've been diagnosed with both

 

Welcome :shake: to my world. It really sucks :badday: to be here, doesn't it ?

 

Wow! im so surprised 2 find ppl on here who actualy have avoidant personality disorder. i used 2 think im al alone, ppl always cal me the queitest person theyve met. this is the worst disorder any1 could have!...seriously like i dont know why bt sumtimes i feel like avoiding my own best friends. thts wht it used 2 b like before...bt now iv become open with them and theyre the only ppl tht know my real side. i have trouble tlking 2 teachers, classmates, i avoid ANY social gatherings. iv read sumwhere tht this disorder can also cause depression if its nt treated in its early stages.

 

I think youll find it very common. I avoid situations, and people all the time....and paid the price. If anyone out there is suffering, please get help.