how does anxiety affect socializing?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2003
how does anxiety affect socializing?
2
Sat, 03-26-2005 - 5:26pm
I have a question as to how people with anxiety feel while interacting with others. I have been having what I suspect is anxiety. But I also feel most comfortable when I am around other people I know. I find that socializing is very enjoyable to me and if I don't socialize with my friends atleast twice a month, it feels like something is missing. I've heard many people with anxiety get nervous in social situations... The only time this happens to me is when I'm walking by complete strangers (feel a little tense sometimes) or if I'm @ a DR office I need to distract myself by reading a magazine. But overall, how do people with anxiety react to social situations?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 03-27-2005 - 6:37am
Hi, Jade!
 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Sun, 03-27-2005 - 12:26pm

Well, I am going for broke here - and I'll just be completely honest. I am anonymous luckily - so I'll tell you have I deal with social situations. I PANIC! For example, I was in a co-workers office the other day and I just felt VERY VERY self-conscious. And my biggest fear is that I will pee. It sounds EXTREMELY silly, but I'm afraid I will pee my pants when I get nervous and panicky. No, this has never actually happened - but it is what I fixate on. So I get up and down and try to make excuses for fidgeting in my chair. It seems to mainly happen in "closed" situations, like almost coupled with claustrophobia or something. It happened the other day on the bus as well. It happens a LOT when I'm in meetings (I usually take a klonopin before meetings). i am the most self-conscious person in the entire world, I feel like. It's really horrible.

Do you know any solutions for overcoming this type of panic/social phobia?