It's a Shame I Can't Share: Living with Avoidant Personality Disorder

by Jake Ware

Why am I so scared of talking to other people that my chest hurts and my body shakes when I try? Why am I so preoccupied with horrible perceptions of what people think about me? Why do I feel like such a dull, useless, inferior person?

Avoidant personality it was the answer to all the questions Jake Ware desperately needed answered about himself for so long.

It's a Shame I Can't Share is Ware's direct, firsthand account of what it means to have the little-known mental disorder, why it became a part of him, and how he's learning to fight back. It's an emotional recounting of the depressed and socially anxious young adult's life, lined with heartfelt self-examination and modest practical insights that empower us to empathize with the less-confident—whether others, or ourselves.

It's a story of self-forgiveness for misplaced guilt. It's his story, but it's also the story of men and women that you have met, and will meet. It could be the story of someone you love. For some, it's your story, too.

Genres: Psychology

233 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2023

Reviews

[Elin Asplund · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit in a need of an edit to truly feel like a book and not more like a blog post, but honestly I'm just so thankful someone finally wrote a book about this disorder. I wish Jake all the best of luck!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave this a 4 just because it seems to be such an honest and credible account of one person’s experience of living with AvPD - something that’s important but not easy to find. I wish there were more books like this.