Anxious around others - Mental Health Message Board

tcp307 · 03-22-2009, 11:25 AM

What does it mean to be anxious and nervous around others (more than 2 or 3)?

fossilapostle · 03-22-2009, 02:15 PM

That you're shy?

What do you mean by "nervous and anxious" though? That you break out in a sweat and can't speak, or that you're kind of self-conscious and feel a bit uncomfortable?

tcp307 · 03-22-2009, 06:49 PM

I'm really self-conscious and feel a bit uncomfortable.......actually A LOT uncomfortable. Almost paranoid..really nervous when I'm looked at or talked to, I guess almost like I'm standing with no clothing on. I don't like people to directly talk to me or ask me questions. Especially men. It's really freaked me out. Went to a kids bday party yesterday and found all this out real quick. I couldn't wait to leave there....then I got to thinking about the last time I've been around a lot of people and I can't really remember. I don't go to malls....they make me extremely nervous. Constantly watching over my shoulder. Almost like too much is going on for me to take it all in. Am I losing my mind or what?

fossilapostle · 03-23-2009, 04:31 PM

I guess that does sound like a little more than shyness. I won't ask how old you are, but if you're a teenager, this could just be a particularly self-conscious phase, though it still sounds a bit severe.

If you're older though, you may have some social anxiety or maybe just fear of crowds or something. It's hard to say. If it doesn't just go away on it's own after a while, I would consider telling your doctor about it to see if a mental heath referral could be helpful.

tcp307 · 03-23-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossilapostle

I guess that does sound like a little more than shyness. I won't ask how old you are, but if you're a teenager, this could just be a particularly self-conscious phase, though it still sounds a bit severe.

If you're older though, you may have some social anxiety or maybe just fear of crowds or something. It's hard to say. If it doesn't just go away on it's own after a while, I would consider telling your doctor about it to see if a mental heath referral could be helpful.

I will offer my age (I'm 35), and I have a therapist and have been on Prozac for over 2 years. I suffer from depression and anxiety, but the Prozac seems to calm me down (sometimes too down). It's strange, but I will bring it up at my next session. I've been making excuses not to go see my therapist lately. Sometimes I hate bringing stuff out in the open about things I'm going through. I appreciate the response though