I googled Avoidant Personality Disorder, and I skimmed a couple articles... And it sounds like me, I guess. Then again a lot of articles sound like me.
And I know you're right about confronting the problem head-on. That's not to say that I have the will to do so right now, but I'm aware I can't just wait around for some magic answer to emerge.
But unfortunately, I can't seem to lighten up, and forgetting about my worries seems like an impossibility at times. I used to be kind of like that, though. I was just shy with new people, and once I got to know them, I was able to open up a little bit. ( still wasn't outgoing, though ) But now it's different, I'm even fearful of familiar faces.