social anxiety - Anxiety Message Board

btown_sv · 07-08-2003, 12:52 PM

this is driving me nuts, but lately i have been having a lot of social anxiety lately, i´d say the last 3-4 months. particularly, uncomfortable in social situations, as i feel i have trouble looking people in the eye. like it makes me really uncomfortable. like my head hurts to the extent. as if i´m being judged or something. i was on zoloft for 2-3 months - didn´t work. then lexapro for another 2-3 months as well and that didn´t work either. i was working in the high tech scene and the hours, the loneliness, and the dissatisfcation, and the economic climate has contributed more to my depression - one which i never really knew that i had , but one that i believe i´ve had all my life, or through major portions of my life, in addition to moderate anxiety which i believe has been passed on from my parents. so anyways my question is i am currently traveling for a few months out of the country, as i´ve needed a break from it all, and am tapering off my last med - lex, and i´m getting these bouts of social anxiety which is driving me nuts, i feel like i´m going crazy. i feel it is preventing me from relaxing - which is what i really need right now, and it is pushing people away from me, is there any thing that i can take - do to help alleviate this - i don´t have access to my phys/psych as i no longer have health insurance due to getting laid off and now being in another country which makes it a little harder. any ideas?

i´ve found that going to the beach
and relaxing and swimming has helped a little bit, but still i´m having social anxiety issues. please help. anyone else been able to relate to this? i feel so alone.

thank you

hry33 · 07-08-2003, 02:28 PM

Hi Btown,
an antidepressant is often helpful for social anxiety, lexapro and zoloft are both the same type, there are other types that may work if 1 type doesnt, for example effexor is a different antidepressant.
benzos such as xanax are helpful and best taken only as needed, disolving a tablet under the tongue is fastest
relaxation and reducing stress helps so keep going to the beach and get more exercise, its important to breathe deep and slow when anxious and avoid rapid shallow panting.
problems with eyey contact are common
helpful books on overcoming social anxiety are available
paxil is heavily advertised for SA but its the same type as zoloft.
stay with us

SmokinJ · 07-14-2003, 02:26 AM

hey.. i have social anxiety / depression and one thing that helped me a whole lot was exercising.. believe it or not it'll make you feel more sociable and talkative.. give it a try..plus ive been taking lexapro 10mg.. might move up to 20.

hry33 · 07-14-2003, 02:37 PM

exercising is very good for reducing anxiety and stress, long walks are very relaxing, doing the housework or cleaning is also relaxing

btown_sv · 07-19-2003, 05:32 AM

thanks for your all your replies and support. i´m still traveling and still finding that i am having social anxiety, such that is affecting relationships with people. i am aware i have this anxiety issue and i can see people kind of noticing that i´m kinda flaking out a bit and they are maintaining their distance. it sucks. i hate it... so bummed. i still have trouble maintaining eye contact with people or it is really uncomfortable at times to maintain contact. this is not because i am bad or am trying to lie or anything, for some reason my head just hurts, and then i don´t want them to see how wasted my eyes look, how vulnerable and lost my eyes look. don´t get me wrong i don´t take drugs or do anything of that sort. i mean i have tried so hard in my life for stuff that i´ve wanted school, work, everything, i don´t know how long i have to suffer... this is really hurting. i was supposed to take a break from everything and even though i am at a nice beach town right now, i still have this issue. i have been running every day or so for nearly 40 minutes. i have even been swimming out in the ocean and learning new watersports. i mean when i finish these activities i do feel relaxed, my body does, but my eyes and my head just feel zoned out. it´s seriously driving me crazy. i met this really sweet girl over here and would love to see her and start something up but because of these anxieties i don´t want to lose it around here. oh my god she is such a gem too. i feel like i´m pushing people and possible relationships away that i think would be very good for me, things that i need because of this crap. i´m thinking maybe i need to get back on lexapro or something. as i had tapered off it since the psych said it looked like it wasn´t working for me as i incremented up to 20. maybe the lex wasn´t working for me earlier because i was working and still under stress. now i have no reason to be stressed. i mean i think i definately felt better with the lex at 10mg and 20 or so... does anyone know how easy it is to get meds overseas or to go see a doctor overseas and get something like lexapro (esp in Spain?). so just to reiterate i have been exercising a lot, but it is not helping enough! i seriously don´t know what i can do, going nuts...