This is literally heartbreaking to me. I was extremely Avoidant, to the point where I went almost two years (in middle school) without speaking to anyone outside of my family. I was so nervous talking that I had panic induced spasms in my vocal chords that made me sound like a transvestite. I hid in the gym during lunch so that no one would know I had no friends and I was too embarrassed to talk to my family about how isolated and desperately lonely I felt. I never thought things would get better, or that I would ever like myself, but I can honestly say that now I feel like a normal person and oddly enough some people tell me that I am gifted socially.
I look back on the time when I was avoidant and I do not blame anyone here for wanting to end their lives to escape the slow motion torment that is AvPD. I see so many supportive, intelligent, socially skilled, artistic people here, and it breaks my heart that so many of you feel that your lives are insignificant and always will be; or that some of you compare yourselves to the masses and feel inferior. Avoidant individuals are uncommonly bright, empathic, and deep and if we can overcome their fears we have so much to give.
I hope this helps