fear of embarrassment - Mental Health Message Board

nellweems · 06-05-2004, 12:59 PM

i have a fear, i seem to get embarrassed very easily, whether i go to the store, school, wherever, only place i feel fine is at home. i have a feeling that i will do something 'unusual' and people will look at me and think "what a retard/moron/idiot/jackass/etc"

is there any way to cure this? i have tried paxil, remeron, and celexa, neither helped me. doctor says i have social phobia (social anxiety disorder).

please help! i'm desperate. i may go try group therapy, i very much doubt it will help though!

quincy · 06-05-2004, 08:30 PM

Tell me WHY you doubt it will help to go to group therapy.

Has your doctor sent you to therapy at all?

Thnx,
quincy

Lori A · 06-06-2004, 06:59 PM

I would give group therapy a try that way you can role play OR even just feel better being around other people with similar problems. I used to worry about my face turning red and the things I would say. Now I am at the point where if I do say something stupid - who cares???? I am not going to die from it...what would the worse case senario be if I it was dumb?? I am starting to believe that people do not pay attention too much....I hope this helps and you feel more confident soon

Lori A

hry33 · 06-08-2004, 03:43 PM

to nell
those antidepressant meds often reduce stress and anxiety but take up to 6 or 8 weeks to stayr working properly
books on overcoming shyness and social anxiety have helkpful advice

go to some town or place where you arent known and need not return to, and see if you have much less trouble there when out and about

Jenneh · 06-13-2004, 09:27 AM

its easy putting urself on pills and hoping it wil make the social phobia go away.. but it wont..
u need some kinda psychotherapy to do that ....
u need to change around ur thought processes.. because its highly unlikely ur gnna do smthing embarrassing/humiliating... and even if u do, laugh at urself and people wil laugh WITH you. evrybody does silly things sometimes, its what makes us human/unique!
surely the doc wud have offered u sum kinda counselling or therapy?
Jen xxx