I'm thinking about something that was posted on my Facebook by another Pad Brat (Child of a soldier).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant_Personality_DisorderAvoidant personality disorder (AvPD), also known as anxious personality disorder,[1] is a Cluster C personality disorder recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders handbook as afflicting a person when they display a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation, and avoidance of social interaction.[2]
People with avoidant personality disorder often consider themselves to be socially inept or personally unappealing and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed, humiliated, rejected, or disliked. Avoidant personality disorder is usually first noticed in early adulthood. Childhood emotional neglect and peer group rejection (e.g. bullying) are both associated with an increased risk for the development of AvPD.
There is controversy as to whether avoidant personality disorder is a distinct disorder from generalized social phobia and it is contended by some that they are merely different conceptualisations of the same disorder, where avoidant personality disorder may represent the more severe form.[3][4] This is argued because generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder have similar diagnostic criteria and may share a similar causation, subjective experience, course, treatment, and identical underlying personality features, such as shyness.[5][6][7]
SYMPTOMSHypersensitivity to rejection/criticism
(Definitely.)Self-imposed social isolation
(Spent a lot of time alone in my bedroom away from anyone.)Extreme shyness or anxiety in social situations, though the person feels a strong desire for close relationships[10]
Avoids physical contact because it has been associated with an unpleasant or painful stimulus
Feelings of inadequacy
(Yep. I feel that in spades.)Severe low self-esteem
(Check.)Self-loathing
(I'm on the fence with this one. Too many of us are like that on here. )Mistrust of others
Emotional distancing related to intimacy
Highly self-conscious
( Again, I think thats a trans thing too.)Self-critical about their problems relating to others
Problems in occupational functioning
(See my crappy job retention history)Lonely self-perception, although others may find the relationship with them meaningful
Feeling inferior to others
(yep)In some more extreme cases — agoraphobia
Utilizes fantasy as a form of escapism and to interrupt painful thoughts[11][12]
(Star Trek was my escape.)It's fairly common among Service Children it seem and I do display many of the symptoms. It was kind of an eye opener. And, after talking with a few Pad Brats, it seems we share a lot of the same quirks like the accent, humor, etc. I feel lots better knowing that.
