Why is our plight mostly ignored in the non-SAD world?

[bigrob]

I was just diagnosed schizoid on Thursday.

Already I have people confusing it with schizophrenic.

I have to explain they are different....schizoid simply means I don't like people and would rather be alone.

FWIW....my therapist said the major difference between schizoid and AvPD is that avoidants would like to be able to socialize, but schizoids are OK with the idea of not doing it.

Where my plight is ignored in mainly through my wife....she is an extrovert that does first and doesn't think things through...total opposite of me....quite often I find myself in uncomfortable positions because she doesn't think about me and how I'd react to it. Then again, maybe that's just her version of cognitive behavior therapy!!! lol

 

[fudgy]

I line the seat with layers of tissue paper, so no part of me is in contact!

crazy man ::










* not only do I line it , I all but straddle the walls and use tissue paper to unlock the door*

 

[dooby-duck]

I find that the term "ocd" is thrown around casually .... someone checks they have locked the door for example and says "oh look my ocd at it again"

I always think to myself .."if only you knew the half of it "

Yes, people seem to believe ocd is all about handwashing and keeping an immaculate house. I can't talk though, because up until a few years ago I was ignorant about mental health issues. It's not until I started searching the internet for something like nervousness that I found out about Social anxiety. I've had several mental issues for a lot of years and no one ever realised. It was a real eye opener reading articles and forums.

It's like ocd. I thought I had a mild case due to a few rituals and compulsions I have to do, but didn't realise all those nasty and distressing thoughts had anything to do with it. The biggest shock I had though was the realisation that I probably have Tourettes. I mean you wouldn't think it was possible to have that and not know.

I think most people mistake social phobia for shyness, ignorance or arrogance which in itself doesn't help any of us.

 

[Ignace]

I think most people know what social & phobia is, so a normal person would just paste them together. But ask em how it could be with SP, maybe 20% would know how severe it can be. But nobody understands until they get it.

 

[coyote]

If someone has a fear of heights, I'm supposed to understand how uncomfortable it makes them to drive over the Leo Frigo bridge. I should be sensitive to that and drive around the other way, right?

So why can't they understand how uncomfortable it makes someone with AvPD like me to go into the DOT office and straighten out my vehicle registration?