Recovering from Avoidant Personality Disorder: My Story

I regard myself as being in recovery from Avoidant Personality Disorder, (AvPD). I am 56 years old and I have been able to see how I first developed this condition which began from as early as I can remember and I believe was caused by the emotional abuse, criticism and shaming I was subjected to throughout my childhood. This condition has in many ways literally ruined my life and yet I only first became aware of it when I was 40 years old - before then I had suffered decades of depression and suicidal ideation. This condition has literally almost cost me my life on more than one occasion and its impact on an individual's life should never be underestimated - it's truly devastating.