Newly diagnosed !
Hello friends!
A little timid posting myself this openly, this is not my throwaway account. I (21F) have been recently diagnosed with AvPD, which I've been medicated & in therapy for. I'm also diagnosed with various mental and debilitating physical conditions not relevant to this sub. Altogether my experience of life is very frightening, and I'm on the right path to changing that!
These past few months I've been trying to express myself honestly through fashion and makeup. I particularly like very feminine and delicate styles, and I'd like to report I have been getting stared at in public, a lot. obviously that's far from my intention, and part of me wishes i could be invisible, But deep inside I know people are not looking to humiliate me. I am not as different from the people who stare at me, and repeating this mantra has been helping me avoid feeling like an alien in a human costume. I've gotten a few compliments on my style from strangers, the world isn't as horrifying as i tend to think it is ! I may be getting spiritual but I think belief is a powerful thing,
If I can make myself believe I'm a hermit and a social reject, I can make myself believe things that actually serve me - I'm actually pretty awesome! I still have work to do, but i know remission is possible. <3
Posted Feb 14, 2026, 8:01 AM UTC