Here's My Deal

[screamoboy86]

Well here's my story. I am now 18-years-old and think that I have had, what I believe to be, social anxiety - or social phobia, for a few years now. The thing that really gets to me is that I KNOW it's really silly. I could tell myself over and over again, "Ok, just relax yourself this time. You have nothing to be worried about. What's to worry?" Then an interaction will occur and I'll just seem to lose it. I seem to automatically unfocus myself from the a conversation and feel really nervous. It's almost as if the muscles in my mouth just won't work like they should in social situations. Whatever I want to say never comes out right. Whenever I speak it's usually quieter than I had intended. And whenever I want to come out and say something, it seems like a big effort. I feel almost like I've gone crazy now and lost my personality and ability to form relationships with people.

I went to the doctors recently and I felt really dumb explaining it to him. First he tried to give me a suggestion about relaxing by myself, closing my eyes, think of a good situation, etc... but I know these things never work. Like I said, I try talking myself out of the anxiety, but it never works. He suggested a psychiatrist possibility, but I told him that I was convinced it wouldn't be of much help in my situation. He made an appointment this week for my to have a blood test first and gave me some hydroxyzine for now, which doesn't seem to have any effect whatsoever.

Does anybody else feel the same? I was reading and came to the conclusion that I be put on some Xanax, but I'm not sure how to ask him.

What do you think?

[screamoboy86]

I also feel like I'm thinking too myself too often. Like I saw somebody say earlier that it felt like they were living in their own head. Sound familiar?

[Leahcim]

I have the exact same problem, i tihnk ill never get a girl friend lol today a girl came up to me too talk and my iq dropped 20, started sweating, said things i did't intead and i got on the bus...feeling like a right prat i mean i have friends but i hate doing stuff like group work with strangers. guess im just insanely shy.

[natalie_ogle]

Hey I'm an 18 year old female and I know how you feel. I've been dealing with this stuff for about a year and a half or something. Mine is more than just social anxiety though. I know how you feel when you say you feel like you can't create any relationships because you freak out/aren't normal, whatever it happens to be. Ever since I suddenly got this stupid disorder I havn't had much of a social life. I've lost a lot of friends but am still close with the few good ones I had, even though they still don't understand the dynamics of it all. I'm really pissed also because I would love to be out there dating and stuff (and I have a lot of guys in mind) but when it comes down to it I am TERRIFIED. I had a boyfriend when all this start through about a couple months ago so he saw me change and understands but I feel like I would be some huge burden on some new guy. Anyway enough about me! I just had to get that out...

Screamo, a lot of people will tell you to do stupid little exercises like visualizing a comfort spot or blah blah blah you know the drill, but if you really have some type of anxiety disorder, these little exercises aren't much help. They work for "normal" people who every once and a while get scared but an anxiety disorder goes much deeper. I'm not saying this kind of stuff doesn't work though. There is such thing as cognitive behavoir therapy but that is sometimes not enough. I've been taking Zoloft for about 6 months or something and it has really helped. I'm still not taking the full dosage (100 mg) so I still am dealing with this stuff but before I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I highly suggest you going to a psychiatrist because you won't have to be embarrassed when talking about your situation because they deal with that stuff everyday and can suggest techniques and/or prescribe certain medicines. I wouldn't trust a regular doctor prescribing medicine for anxiety and/or depression anyways. I hope this helps!

PS- I am one of those people who "lives inside their head". I've always been kind of an observer instead of a interacter but now that the anxiety hit I have been that more than ever. I am less anxious when I keep to myself. Oh yeah, and you are not crazy, it's just our stupid brains acting up!

[bluetooth]

PS- I am one of those people who "lives inside their head". I've always been kind of an observer instead of a interacter but now that the anxiety hit I have been that more than ever. I am less anxious when I keep to myself. Oh yeah, and you are not crazy, it's just our stupid brains acting up! [/QUOTE]

im not the only observer! I just find it very very hard to contribute to things incase i say soemthing wrong