Q: I am 19 years old, and I’m reasonably sure I have Avoidant Personality Disorder. I understand when someone diagnoses themselves they’re usually wrong, but I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching it. I feel extremely sensitive to rejection and have only one good friend (who I can trust is “safe”), and the only [...]

Q: I would like a completely honest answer on this one. Please don’t sugar-coat things. Five years ago I was the most confident teenager in the world — I was probably more confident than 99% of all the people I have ever met — yet I wasn’t arrogant and didn’t look down on anyone. I [...]

Q: I’m a 23-year-old male graduate student at university who has never dated. I’m generally confident with people, but I’m a bit shy around strangers in social settings. Lately, I’ve noticed that this shyness is worse around people to whom I’m physically attracted. I feel very physically unattractive, knowing that only two women have ever [...]

Q: I believe I have a serious inability to form romantic relationships. I am 20 years old and have not had a romantic relationship in several years. When I was a toddler, I was psychologically traumatized by other infants at my nursery school. I was also bullied quite badly throughout my school years and have [...]

Q: My friend (yes, my friend) has problems socially. She has friends. She is smart. But she has no confidence. She can barely talk to me face to face. She only talks by text. She won’t take phone calls for the same reason that she won’t talk face to face. She detaches herself from people. [...]

Q: I know it is wrong to put feelings before actions, but that’s what I’m doing. I’m selfish. I am a spoiled child. I’m fully sponsored by my parents to pursue my studies at university, yet here I am, after three years of success in college…throwing all their hopes and dreams away. I really want [...]

Q: I am a 20-year-old college student. When I was a child I dealt with depression after my father left. I was sent to a child psychiatrist to deal with my father’s leaving and with self-esteem issues. Things seemed fine after my final session, but for years I still felt depressed. I want to get [...]