Who here has social anxiety?

[puqdew]

hey all, I have social anxiety and it's really affecting my life. I have seen my doctor and he has suggested some options.

it's really messing up my life and does not go away

Thoughts?

 

[OCGuy]

I would post in this thread, but im too nervous.


Real Answer: Think long and hard before you put any drugs in your body for it.

 

[JohnCU]

i strongly suggest trying something other than SSRIs or SNRIs first. they work well but the side effects can be nasty.

try something like buspar first. it works the same way but it's a little different and i like it much better.

 

[Away]

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

 

[keird]

What's your age? If you're under 25, you might want to reconsider any pharmacological experiments.

Though, I grew up before anti-anxiety medications where the rage and people just stayed out of their comfort zone until they couldn't take it anymore.

 

[Mo0o]

Try a therapist/psychiatrist before drugging yourself up. CBT might be enough for u

 

[zerocool84]

Therapy

I just think that this can be treated with visits to a psychologist. All nerds have social anxiety cus they aren't comfortable with people cus they never go outside. Just go outside more and you're making steps.

 

[JohnCU]

tell us more, when did it start, how does it manifest, etc

 

[puqdew]

I'm only 17. Does that make a difference?

Did any of overcome it with sheer willpower?

 

[MoPHo]

I used to have social anxiety, then I became a Communication Major in college. Did a few public speaking courses and now I get a rush every time I talk in front of a dozen+ people. In the beginning, I would get really nervous just thinking about talking at the front of my 10 person class but last year I had to debate a bill on the floor of our assembly in front of 400+ people and I did fine.

I'd avoid drugs though. Just try to make baby steps if possible.

 

[OCGuy]

OK maybe some booze. That will help you at parties.

 

[episodic]

I have SA and OCD. A terrible combination. I tried 2 different drugs for 2 months each - neither did a thing for me - at all. I tried Paxil and Luvox. I just go with it. . . I figure it is who I am.

Some people have great responses to medicine, etc.

If I had money/time I might would try Cog Beh Therapy. . .

 

[funkymatt]

you're only 17, definitely avoid drugs. I agree with JohnCU, those drugs have some really weird, undesirable side effects and can cause problems if you need to stop them.

 

[sao123]

stay safe behind the anonyminity of your firewall.

lifelong celebacy is always the best choice in cases like yours.

 

[keird]

Originally posted by: OCguy
OK maybe some booze. That will help you at parties.

Are you like 40 years old or something?

 

[Heller]

I've been on effexor 3x150mg once a day for 3 years. it takes time until you can find a drug that takes care of your needs, but that why theirs 1000's out there. go talk to someone once a week until your ass can go to the middle of the club and scream, sup bitches, im here and not queer, where the ladies at.

try some weed too, roll a j, go do your activities and when you start to tence up, puff it out, that'll take the edge off forsurre.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: OCguy
OK maybe some booze. That will help you at parties.

Yet another reason to not go on those drugs - they don't mix with booze at all.

 

[Heller]

Originally posted by: puqdew
I'm only 17. Does that make a difference?

Did any of overcome it with sheer willpower?

yup, you'll grow out of it.

try to get some pussy, that'll take care of it right away.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: puqdew
I'm only 17. Does that make a difference?

Did any of overcome it with sheer willpower?

Dont need to do it from willpower. Untill you get in better schooling to teach you how to deal with it better, I found that 5-10mg of sleeping aid is enough to relax without feeling drowsy and without resorting to some strong drug. Usually sleeping aids come in 25mg forms.

Oh yeah and pussy/booze help too.

No you dont grow out of it unless you do something to make it easier.

 

[allisolm]

Best prescription for social anxiety ?

Does anyone here suffer from Social Anxiety?

Social Anxiety poll

 

[tfinch2]

My doctor prescribed me something called "Growapair". You might want to take a look.

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
My doctor prescribed me something called "Growapair". You might want to take a look.

I think it's by the same pharmaceutical company that produces "Sitdownandshutup" for ADHD.

 

[puqdew]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
tell us more, when did it start, how does it manifest, etc

I'm 17 and have had it my entire life. I am not a super-shy guy either. I was never the super shy kid in every class at school.

I get so much anxiety in every situation its unbearable....thinking about everything from what words im using and everything. its terrible just overconcerned about what others think of you.

 

[nerdress]

Oh!

When I was a freshman and sophomore in high school, whenever I would walk through the halls I thought everyone was looking at me, and my face would flush bright red and I'd have to duck into class really quickly to make sure I didn't have a panic attack. My junior year of high school was a little better because I transferred to a military school, so I knew everyone was staring but not...really. Does that make any sense?

Anyway, over the last couple of years I've attended therapy, and would slowly introduce myself to people. One by one, I built up a social circle of people who all hang out, so whenever I'm around those friends, I have a lot easier time in talking to new people. Eventually, that all went away and now I have no problems with crowds.

Err...scratch that. Sometimes when I'm nervous, I can't go outside. Or like when I went into J.Crew a couple months ago on a Saturday, and it was fucking CROWDED. I literally almost threw up I was so nerve-wrecked to be around so many people. I calmed down outside, threw on my headphones and turned up my favorite music really loud, and just focused on the music, and went shopping. Then eventually, the feeling passed (after about 20 minutes of being in the store).

It all takes practice, but in the meantime maybe seeing a therapist would be good. No drugs though--you can handle it un-medicated

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

What do you do for work? Getting a job and working will develop the skills you need. I ended up working Line Clearance for the local power companies and its not like an office job where you have to be a PC person - which sucks: and the lifestyles from that to a blue collar worker are on the opposite ends of the light spectrum for sure.

Basically you are doing it to yourself. It's hard to explain but, simply, your thought patterns become you. And then there are the sociological cues that you have to always be aware of...

Another aspect of this is you're a young kid and your body is going through alot of changes. You're probably still physically growing, your hormones are extremely high and can cause you emotional addictions without you even realizing it..