Hello. I suffer from social anxiety and my worst symptom is blushing. I have been taking zoloft for about 2 years now, and would love to discontinue taking it. The zoloft helps but only somewhat, not 100%. I read on here that fish oil, omega joy helps, but does it also help significantly with the social anxiety? I need suggestions, anything. I'm desperate. Thanks.

Yes, fish oil really does help with social phobia. Studies found that these symptoms were improved along with the depression. And I know it helped both depression and social anxiety for me.

Thank you, I'm gonna order it online. I can't wait to get it and start taking it. :)

My younger sister took Zoloft for social anxiety and told me that it did indeed work, but that perhaps she needed her medication monitored better and that she didn't feel she was "taking enough." I also know she was given a very small dose of Xanax, but she didn't follow through with that, either. LittleMiracle, I am a strong believer that no one need suffer. Please talk to your doc and be as honest with him/her as you are on the boards. There's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and everything to gain by seeking help.

A quick addendum to social phobics:

I wonder how many of you know that no one else can feel your anxiety? In other words, we're our worst enemies, and in this busy world, people are pretty hung up on their own problems! However, that said, my sister does blush (which I find endearing and which bothers her terribly) and she has very warm hands, while mine were clammy at her age (she's almost 20). I think the only thing that worked for me was getting involved in college and my career and not really "caring" what others thought. The more social involvement I forced myself into, the easier social situations became for me. I am not discounting anxiety! It's horrible, and God knows I suffered it terribly when younger. I think the fact I'm so gregarious and out spoken now is that I did suffer so much that I forced myself to encounter my fears. I'm not trying to oversimplify a really horrid social disorder, but I do think that getting older, getting therapy, and having a really supportive network helped me so much.

I know what you mean. The problem is that when I was younger and in college I didn't go through this, I was always a bit shy, but never to this extent and I never blushed. But when I got older it started happening, now I'm 33 yrs old and it started happening when I was about 28 yrs old, weird right. Anyway, I know people can't tell your nervous or such, but the blushing is obvious. I am trying to do more social things, also trying to meet new people, specially for the sake of my 3 yr old son. But it's hard. So we'll see how it goes. Thanks for all the advice. :)

hpe2bme chick------I totally agree. i suffered horrible most of my life. very shy as a child. as an adult in certain social situations i would have a glass of wine to get past the door. with age and the belief that we are all equal has really helped me. humans are humans regardless of what their positions are therefore as you i just don't care what people think. i don't like everyone adn don't expect everyone to like me. with that feeling of being equal even around people who are much more prosperous, educated or successful than myself i still believe we are all equal. has been my biggest help in concouring anxiety of all sorts.

Just to let you know that there is hope- I had a chronic blushing problem throughout my twenties. Now I am in my thirties, and I honestly cannot remember the last time it happened. There are a couple of reasons that this may have changed. One, is that I used to have mild rosacea, which added to it, for some reason. I started treating that with almond oil as a cleanser. Then, I started forcing myself to look at the reasons a certain situation would make me uncomfortable and found a lot of what previous posters have said here to be true- I thought people were judging me. I also started to be a lot more honest with people. For example, when I would feel the heat come to my face, I might say to the person talking to me, 'I'm blushing right now just thinking about that!'. Getting it out there works the best.

And of course, like you said, the more you socialize, the easier it becomes. It's like anything else in the world, it takes practice to get good at it. There are also a lot of books that can help you get better at small talk and conversation. good luck!

Thanks bulletproof, it makes me feel a lot better knowing I'm not alone. And to know that you were able to overcome it gives me hope. I've noticed that a lot of times I'm talking to someone, and then somehow I start thinking about blushing and just thinking about it makes me blush. I guess I have to try and not think about it. I have to try to get into the conversation. I have heard that if you say Oh look I'm blushing and you get it out there it will get better. I think I blush more once I start blushing bc I"m embarrased to be seen blushing, you know what I mean? But maybe if i say it it won't be that bad. I'm just embarrased to say it. I have to try though. I've also noticed that people feel uncomfortable when I blush. I guess they feel sorry for me or something. Because they all start to look away, or leave, or something. Very few people just ignore it. But thanks so much for your advice, it helps me tons!!! :)

I've been taking fish oil capsules for about a week now and haven't noticed anything. Maybe it's too soon, but I'm wondering how much you're supposed to take. I'm taking one 1,000 mg capsule a day.

Littlemiracle - I also know exactly how you feel. I've decided to go back to school this fall and I'm not one bit worried about doing the work. I'm just worried about my anxiety and especially since I know I'm going to have to do some oral presentations. I'm doing everything I can now to try and get my anxiety under control. I've been seeing an acupuncturist for my stomach problems and I asked him the last time if he could do something for my anxiety. It really seemed to help but I'll have to do it a couple more times to know for sure.

Laurie

I wanted to major in education when i was in college but ended up with a psychology degree, and all because i didn't wanta have to do oral presentations. It really takes over your life, I have to try not to let it.
What did your accupunturist do for your anxiety? Maybe I can try that too. I'm willing to try almost anything, you know. Anyway, good luck to you.

He used the acupuncture needles on certain areas of the body that are supposed to have a calming effect.

Laurie

Little Miracle I used to blush some too and what helped me get over it was seeing other people blush and it didn't bother them. So I started thinking that it is okay to blush. If I blush the world will not end and it isn't really a big deal. I also read that blushing is tied into shame, maybe that you feel shame when you blush or something? When you said that you start worrying that you are going to blush, I've done that before too and it starts this whole cycle with itself. I don't blush anymore or at least if I do it doesn't bother me anymore. Good Luck