Anyone else suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder?
482468
I've had SAD for about 5 years. I take Effexor XR for it, but it doesn't really help me. I've tried Paxil CR and it didn't help either, so I'm glad your anxiety medicine works. When I am having an anxiety attack, I lock myself in the bathroom, sit on the toilet, put my head between my knees, and breathe. I just keep trying to do the breathing from yoga until my breathing slows down and becomes regular. I don't know what makes me better-being alone, sitting, head forward, or yoga breathing, but it helps me. Sometimes I can't be in a confined space though, so I go outside, to try and calm my breathing, by looking at the trees, listening to sounds, stuff like that. I mostly have problems when I'm really upset or when I am somewhere where there is a lot of people. When I feel anxiety coming on, I try to breathe slowly, remind myself that everything is fine, no one is looking at me or judging me or talking about me, and I clench and release my fist. Or I just leave the store. This helps me, hope it helps you, and answers your question.
945069
Your words are exactly what I am dealing with myself. However, I have been self-medicating with alcohol to deal with this anxiety for over 10 years and I now have a serious problem. I thought I would never overdo it but I have as time has gone by ... I am now seeking treatment and wish that I would have pursued other options for my problem. A therapist of mine had great words ... medication - no matter in what form only covers up the underlying problem. Working through the problem and understanding it is the only answer.
90770
I aggree. Real friends are not just for going for a walk.\nFirst try to identify that this depression is not so serious that maybe need pharmacological treatment.\nHow will you identify?\nThe best you can do is to visit a doctor and describe what you feel. If not, there are several sites in the internet describing the symptoms of the disease. Usually the pharmaceutical companies selling this category of drugs, have also this kind of questions in their site.\nIf the result is negative, try some simple tips, like the ones described by me in a previous question, entitled:\nIs there any medicine for removing social anxiety?\n\nAll the best for you and your loved ones\n\nKaterina
437936
Hi Pablo, I too suffer from social anxiety.Believe me I understand your frustration and sadness about it. Ok well, firstly I have to tell you that as a result in doing drugs -you have created an imbalance in your brain. I know this cos i did drugs for years to hide from my problems. This rapidly reduced the seratonin in my brain. You need seratonin to feel happiness. Anyway, the point of telling you that, is that you may need to take a short dose of seratonin tablets. Lexapro is especially used for panic disorders and anxiety.(ive started it myself recently and it is working) I didnt agree with tablets either for the same reason as yourself, but the point is, the reason youre feeling like this is because of a chemical imbalance.\nSome things that will help you in the mean time are: You have to cut out coffee and sugary foods from your diet. Cut down on alcohol also. This is just for a little while. These things actually make you feel more anxious.\nIf you are feeling particularly anxious, the best thing to do is go for a power walk. Exercise really helps get rid of that anxious feeling.\nYou need to go to a cognitive therapist then, to help you find out why you feel like this in social situations.You know,get to the root of the problem.The cognitive therapist will tell you how to control your anxiety and what triggers this etc.\nThen you need to join a group of people that are going through the same thing as yourself. It will make it easier to go to group therapy ( your cog.therapist will probably refer you later on)until you feel comfortable in social situations.\nI know its daunting..but youve made the first positive step by asking for help. It is a long road, but you will make it through. You are not alone in feeling like this.\nPlease get help as soon as you can because, it can get worse over time. I made the mistake of thinking that i could get over it myself, but over 5 yrs it got progressively worse. \nI wish you all the luck in the world. Feel free to pm me as i am going through the daily battle of social anxiety myself.\nCheck out the website below to give you an idea that others feel as you do
926779
It might be some sort of anxiety problem, but if it's not giving you major problems, it's probably just a mild anti-social issue.  I don't like parties or large groups either, I prefer a small group, and I definitely need time to myself every day.  It's pretty normal.
319320
Hi there!\n\nI was terribly shy all through elementary school, middle school and high school. I think the main causes for mine were partly it was my personality, but also we moved alot, my dad was in military and i suffered some serious abuse from a young age...\n\nThese are some things that helped me and I hope they help you. First, I forced myself to take a public speaking class in high school and to get a job dealing with the public. It was very scary at the time and hard, but it did help me to start overcoming the shyness. Don't stay away from social situations, place yourself in them so you get used to talking, socializing etc...\n\nDon't think you are weird or strange for being so shy. Many teenagers and grownups as well suffer from shyness to some extent. Mainly it is caused because we want to be liked, want to say the right thing and are afraid we won't. I know when i was a teenager i was very afraid of boys because i didn't know what to talk to them about, when i finally started talking to them i found out they weren't that much different from the girls i was talking too. As you get older, you tend to lose some of the shyness, because you are working, maturing, extending your experiences and with confidence developed out of those situations you lose that insecurity. \n\nI know that you must have hope. If you had seen how shy i was at your age (I couldn't even go to a store and make a purchase that is how bad it was). I never looked anyone in the eye, etc...And now I am 49 years old, never meet a stranger and a people person! \n\nMy friends say that people gravitate towards me and everyone likes me. You know why? Because i always remember how it felt to feel uncomfortable, shy and out of control/insecure - those feelings have made me an empathetic person and i try to put people at ease when we meet. I give them a big smile, am friendly, ask questions about them to show i am interested in them and this makes them feel good! So use your shyness as a tool. First, remember that we are all insecure and scared in certain situations - I mean how many people do you know that hate public speaking? We all want to be accepted and liked and then just get out there and take chances and try to turn your shyness around - don't worry only about you try to focus on the other person and make them feel at ease...see what happens!\nIdentify the reasons you think you are shy and wk on changing them as well...\nDon't give up you sound like a great person and it takes time.\n\nsincerely,\nalaska friend
904149
Yes, there are medications and many different types of therapy.  I'm sorry for what you went through.  I can only imagine what it must have been like with the lack of social grace and kindness of most adolescents.  That you make it on stage at all is quite remarkable with the level of anxiety you are experiencing.  And the meds available are far better at reducing anxiety than alcohol so maybe you can give that up.  Start with your family doc or a psychiatrist or even a therapist (many people overcome this without any meds at all.)  Best of luck.
408877
You may have an anxiety disorder called social phobia.\n\nSocial Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation, such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others, or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.\n\nPeople with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or school, and other ordinary activities. Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking.
977026
A psychologist specializing in phobias and anxiety treatment can help you. The condition is almost always curable.\nBest of luck.
170465
I get that too all the time.  Its called social anxiety disorder.  I have to take meds for mine.  Mostly xanax.  I totally know what you are going through and it can be very embarrassing.  If you need to talk more, my email is ivegtaluckystar1@yahoo.com.
210720
yes it is true,   definitely consult a psychologist / psychiatrist, get diagnosed  with anxiety  disorder,  keep seeing a therapist, to document   your  continuing  treatment,  keep a  log   consisting of how your anxiety disorder affects your daily life not just at work ,  everywhere....consult a disability lawyer ( your gonna need one) and apply for disability.
294892
Unfortunately yes and I hate it ....anxiety SUCKS!!!
401626
I do not know how severe your phobias are, but in some instances there are no easy home cures. My son had a form of social phobia that manifested itself as selective mutism, he would not talk in school or in places where he did not know everybody there very well. \n\nThough I think that he is still uncomfortable in social settings, we helped him make tremendous strides with his anxiety get past his selective mutism by seeing a psychologist in combination with taking the anti-depressant prozac.\n\nGood luck in your quest for inner peace and comfort
173085
You don't need to get over it.  Introverts (in my experience) are good listeners and make loyal friends.  As far as the job goes that is more difficult, but remember it is the product you are selling not yourself.  If you can focus on why they need the product instead of why they might not want it from you (yes I've been there) it may help.  Fear of embarassment and rejection is powerful, but so is loneliness.  I wish you luck.\nIf what you are experiencing is actually anxiety attacks your doctor may be able to help.
353850
No you're not alone.  I also suffer from anxiety and have the same worries.  I also suffer from depression, and my anxiety can be quite severe.  At one point about 2 years ago, when I was changing medication, as the one I was on wasn't working, this caused my brain to really flip out and I started suffering anxiety in relation to events that happened 10 years or more ago, and worrying that I'd done something bad, sick, perverted or whatever and that it was going to rebound on me (even though there was no proof, and no one else thought that what'd I'd done was anything like what I'd feared).  My thought patterns became so bad that I thought I was really bad and deserved to die and that if everyone else knew what I'd done, they would think I deserved to die too.  I ended up in the psych ward of the local hospital for about 12 days.\n\nMy reaction was probably quite severe though, and at least partly caused by the medication change, and my circumstances at the time.\n\nOne thing that helped me was Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which helps you change the way you think about things, and ask yourself questions when these thoughts occur, like what's the worst that can happen if what I'm thinking is true, and then is that worst thing really actually likely to happen etc.  You should ask your psychiatrist about this if you are not already doing it!\n\nI should also add that at my worst, 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with not just depression and anxiety, but panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and social phobia.  I'm not saying I'm 100% now, but I'm definitely better, and I can live relatively normally!
851370
too many, ugh. i dont do well surrounded by too many people. i'm nervous already
637689
I think there are a lot of people out there who have experienced what you're going through right now. You're not alone in feeling friendless! People tend to gather in cliques for no apparent reason and it can be difficult to break in. I applaud your efforts for trying! It may be helpful to join a club or an organization that congregates for a certain reason: e.g., volunteer organization, running club, sports groups, etc. This may help because then you will have a conversation starter about the common interest you have.\n\nIt also sounds like this has affected your self-esteem (and understandably so). As difficult as it may be, remember that you are a beloved child of God! He has created you in his image and you are the apple of his eye. He loves hanging out with you and listening to all you have to say. Living in this truth will allow you to be more confident in yourself.\n\nTake care.