Hi - I'm new to the site and forums in general, having never used any until now, thinking that somehow, someone will recognise who I am. After years of trying to deal with this on my own, I finally forced myself to see my doctor a couple of years back. They signed me up for CBT and I've been seeing a therapist for some time now and tried a few meds, but none of it has helped. So, I've been looking online for help and advice, but haven't found much that's of any use to me.
I feel that even compared to others in similar situations, I'm starting from a worse position, since all the things I've read from other people with AvPD either seem to have a girlfriend/ boyfriend or a friend or two, who they can turn to and do thing with. I haven't had anyone I'd consider to be close enough to be a friend since first school. The only people I have any contact with are my immediate family and work colleagues.
I'm know that my family thinks I'm strange, but I haven't told them what's wrong, I've spent the last 20 or so years trying to hide my problems from them to avoid burdening them and so that I don't risk having them think I'm even more different/ weird than what they already do.
Living alone with no friends or hobbies etc. is making me depressed, so I've been considering finally telling my family and hoping that they might be able to help. But, after so long, I don't know where to begin. I've tried drafting a few notes to go from, but it either just makes it sound like I'm just shy and complaining about nothing, or that it makes me sound insane with the true amount that it has limited me and affects me on a daily basis. I'm also worried that telling them will mean that every time I see them, the first thing they'll think of is that I have this problem and that they'll start treating me differently.
If anyone has had a similar issue and can offer advice, can you tell me:
1) How you'd recommend telling someone?
2) Whether telling someone is likely to make things better or worse?
Thanks.
I feel that even compared to others in similar situations, I'm starting from a worse position, since all the things I've read from other people with AvPD either seem to have a girlfriend/ boyfriend or a friend or two, who they can turn to and do thing with. I haven't had anyone I'd consider to be close enough to be a friend since first school. The only people I have any contact with are my immediate family and work colleagues.
I'm know that my family thinks I'm strange, but I haven't told them what's wrong, I've spent the last 20 or so years trying to hide my problems from them to avoid burdening them and so that I don't risk having them think I'm even more different/ weird than what they already do.
Living alone with no friends or hobbies etc. is making me depressed, so I've been considering finally telling my family and hoping that they might be able to help. But, after so long, I don't know where to begin. I've tried drafting a few notes to go from, but it either just makes it sound like I'm just shy and complaining about nothing, or that it makes me sound insane with the true amount that it has limited me and affects me on a daily basis. I'm also worried that telling them will mean that every time I see them, the first thing they'll think of is that I have this problem and that they'll start treating me differently.
If anyone has had a similar issue and can offer advice, can you tell me:
1) How you'd recommend telling someone?
2) Whether telling someone is likely to make things better or worse?
Thanks.