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Does anyone here suffer from Social Anxiety?

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
Curious if anyone has been diagnosed with Social Anxiety here. I've clearly suffered from it since childhood. I've made significant progress over the years but it's still a major problem for me. Would be nice to see if any other regular ATOT posters share this in common. 🙂
 
there was a thread about this about two weeks back with a poll.. rating social anxiety from 1-10, with 1 being absolutely comfortable, and 10 being completely avoidant. The tip of the bell curve rested at a 7-8.

i don't have social anxiety, but i have social awkwardness where it's really difficult for me to connect with most people 🙁
 
Have you talked to your doctor about it? SSRIs can treat this, so if it's bad enough talk to a doctor. There's no reason you should let it interfere with your life.

I think I have social anxiety to a degree, but not bad enough for me to justify taking medication. Although I would consider myself to be pretty asocial, but I think that's just my personality. I can interact with people if I want to or have to, but I enjoy my personal time as well.
 
Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Have you talked to your doctor about it? SSRIs can treat this, so if it's bad enough talk to a doctor. There's no reason you should let it interfere with your life.

I think I have social anxiety to a degree, but not bad enough for me to justify taking medication. Although I would consider myself to be pretty asocial, but I think that's just my personality. I can interact with people if I want to or have to, but I enjoy my personal time as well.
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I've been on SRIs for several years now and they have definitely helped!! However I still have problems and still regularly substitute alcohol to cope so....
 
The part that makes it even worse is that, from my experience, people would rather make fun of it than help.
 
Used to have a bit of it, but now I just don't give a fuck. Drugs and alcohol are not necessary. Focus on the task at hand and nothing will bother you.
 
I don't know if I have social anxiety, but I hate crowds of more than ~10 people. I also hate people in general, which sucks, because I seem to have a talent for customer service :\
 
I never was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder but I used to be pretty shy and would get nervous talking to new people, etc. But that went away quickly when I got a job as a reporter because I had to learn how to walk up to random strangers and ask them questions as well as be willing to call the governor, state senators, university presidents, extremely attractive women in positions of power, etc, and ask them detailed questions, etc. I've eventually gotten to the point where I've been guest lecturing at the local university and coaching some high and middle school kids in the newspaper club. I've also recently been appearing on a local news 'roundtable' program. Now, I feel absolutley nothing about walking up to complete stranger and starting a conversation. The interesting thing is that the vast majority of people who seem impenetrable or standoffish are actually friendly and warm and more that willing to talk.

If I was crippled by fear, I couldn't get my job done and I'd miss out on some great relationships and experiences. And looking back, the only thing holding me back was fear in my head. It had nothing to do with who I am, etc. It's all about confidence. We tend to build up people around us. The truth is they're no better or more glamourous or beautiful than we are.

The same ability to walk up to a random stranger and talk to them, engage them, is what succesful guys use to meet and date attractive women. The guy who doesn't give a shit about what people think and can walk up to a pretty woman and strike up a conversation is the guy who gets the date; the man who sits and milks his beer watching the game on the TV and just looking at the girls through his peripheral vision is the guy who drives home alone with deep sighs.
 
I'm sure the advancement of the Internet in the last 15 years has led to increased cases, as I don't believe people are born with this. Sitting typing on a screen to random strangers for hours can't be good for your social skills (for people who do this).
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
I'm guessing about 85% of the members.
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Negatory on that...


STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!!


*hides in corner*


Originally posted by: chalmers
I'm sure the advancement of the Internet in the last 15 years has led to increased cases, as I don't believe people are born with this. Sitting typing on a screen to random strangers for hours can't be good for your social skills (for people who do this).
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On the other hand, if it's that versus no socialization at all...


Originally posted by: vital
isn't it bad to mix SSRI's and alcohol?
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Feels good, man.


 
I have a terrible case of social anxiety...I have an intense dislike for people...and it shows.

HOWEVER, I have no problem interacting with people when I need to, and in fact, am pretty good at "working a room" when I'm forced into group situations...
The Meyers-Briggs testing sez I'm an ISTJ...introverted and prefer my quiet, alone time to recharge.

When I have the house to myself...I'm happy as hell...never "lonely."

This is probably why being a heavy equipment operator was a good fit for me. In the cab of a piece of equipment, often a LONG way from other people. Crane operation was a mix. I was in the cab alone, but had to interface with other people to get the job done. Worked fine for me...as long as people left me the fuck alone, and didn't try to engage me in "small talk."
 
To tell you the truth most people suffer from this "disorder", but in reality it's just a state-of-mind. You have to think of yourself as a god amongst men or "the sh*t". Laugh off the embarrassing moments or blame some other outside influence on the problem like most people do. I find people who are shy or suffer social anxiety disorder are more caused by their central locus of control. People who place fault on themselves, including blame and public perception and think they are the sole cause for every bad experience they had, are the ones who suffer this disorder the most.

I force myself to confront my fears like social events, public speaking, and so fourth. It's a uphill battle, but once you start experiencing these events more often and practicing at it, you actually get better and things you normally feared become natural. Dancing or clubbing for instance was one of the fears I had. Though when I went to a club, drank 4 beers, felt the "vibe" around me, I danced. And compared to most people on the floor, I actually think I'm the better dancer (maybe not, but that's the point!). Either way I get a lot of girls giving me their numbers, or even better, I take them home 😉.

In either case, life is what you make it. We all embarrass ourselves, make a dick of ourselves, and look like idiots. Though the important part is that you have fun while doing it.
 
Given as this is a forum for internet geeks I would have to say somewhere between 75% and 90% of the members are sufferers.

For me I can talk well to people about "something", but I can't talk very well about "nothing" (IE: small talk), also, I can talk to guys, and fat chicks OK, but hot chicks I fumble all voer myself. I'd imagine this isn't exactly uncommon around here.
 
Depends on my mood, and confidence levels. When I'm not unemployed, losering and bumming at home, I am pretty good. I'm very good at hiding it though. Make me give a presentation, or force me to speak out in a group, call upon me and I'll look/sound like any other stoner out there.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Given as this is a forum for internet geeks I would have to say somewhere between 75% and 90% of the members are sufferers.
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Hah, whatever makes you feel comfortable! But that is a bad perspective.
 
Through most of my childhood I was the shy picked on kid. I don't know what changed or what I did to change it, but I got past it in my 20s. Maybe it is because I did sales for a while who knows. But now I don't even have a problem with being at a karaoke bar and making an ass out of myself for kicks.

All I can say is to get past social awkwardness is to do things in these settings. It takes time but it works.
 
I do fine with a few people, but I don't like being in crowds. If I'm in a big, open area I tend to clam up, mostly because all of the talking runs together and I can't really focus on a conversation. I have no problem with public speaking though.

I don't know if that's social anxiety or bad hearing. 😛
 
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