anyone here suffer from social anxiety?

Avatar for ariesgirl26
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
anyone here suffer from social anxiety?
3
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 9:43am

i think this is my main problem, i looked up the symptoms and I've had them all. Many people such as my husband's family, and one aquaintance that i have know i Have a lot of anxiety. Mine has to social anxiety, only because of what's happened with me in the past and present.

I have been stressed out most of my life, I've been depressed, and now I am have been suffering from anxiety, which may be the root cause of the other two. Ever since i was a young girl, I remember I was always very shy especially about meeting new kids to play with. I never really talked to other people, my parents always had to push me to make friends. Reading out loud in class was hard for, even if I was sitting in my seat. I had only been in one play, in which i had to say once sentence, i remember I was sweating to death, hands shaking, and blushing like you wouldn't beleive, when it was my turn to say something, I almost broke out in tears. Once it was over with I was ok. I remember the first I blacked out, I had to give a speech in my 8th grade class, I had asked to leave and when I got to the hallway I fell down, i went home after that. My parents never really looked into the problem they always just said I was shy. Over the years it has gotten pretty bad. I don't like to talk on the phone with strange people, sometimes calling doctors or even ordering take out food is hard for me to do. If i do have to call I always rehearse waht I am going to say.

Since my first panic attack, I've had 2 other panic attacks, both being at the mall. I used to love going to the mall until i had my panic attack, while being with my two young kids. It was devastating, no one helped me or asked if I was ok, i did fall down only because I couldn't see, I blacked out. After that I didn't go to the mall for years, not alone anyways.

See with my problem though is I have to be comfortable with my surroundings, I can go to the grocery store, only because i've been going there for4 years, the only time I do get anxious is if I go alone, or if I go more then once a week, i tend to forget to buy things. I think, which I know it can't be true, that they think I am starnge that I go sometimes 3 times a week because of my forgetful mind.

With meeting people I have to do it with my husband only, and I am still sweaty, and hard to breath, and he has admitted that I get a strange look on my face if we have to meet new people, he has been assuring me that i will be ok, and there is nothing to worry about. My main fear is that the person won't like me, or they may think I am wierd, because I don't talk a lot, especiialy with new people, my mind actually goes blank, and if the person is non-outgoing, then we will not hit it off.

I am going to the doctors tomorrow it was supposed to be about my thyroid, but i may have to explain to the person that i want to talk about something else, and I am nervous about this, I fear he/she, I've never met the doctor, may say i don't have time for this, and make me make another appointment. i want to get help with this because it is ruining my life! My kids need friends, i need friends, i am very lonely, and I feel i am responsible for this. Sometimes my attitude isn't so great, I say this things, like i don't need anyone, screw friends, i get very upset over this and I get negative about it.

I have been on anti-depressant before that are supposed to help with my depression and anxiety problem, but none of them has helped me at all, i am dreading going on soemthing stronger sucha s lithium, or valium. I've been on prozac, wellburtin bad effects from this one, lexapro and another one I forgot the name.

wish me luck!

Jessica

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 11:17am

Hello, Jessica! Nice to have you here. You are not alone. None of us are professionals, so we can't diagnose what is troubling you. Seeing your dr. is a great idea. Funny that you should mention thyroid problems. Thyroid is one medical condition that causes symptoms of anxiety. I do wish you the best of luck!


@ the top of this page are several good articles. Check out the social anxiety action plan. It has many ideas. Also, there's alot of good info in the *off topic* & *what's new on health* folders below. We want you to feel @ home & bookmark us to your favorites. Everyone is here to listen & lend you support in our safe & caring community. There's a chat tonight from 9 to 11pm Eastern. You will be warmly welcomed & get some ideas from the others of new ways to cope.


We want you to feel better. Anxiety is something you can learn to live with

 

 


 



Community Leader
Registered: 10-22-2001
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 2:25pm
dear jessica,
you are not alone
my ds has this
he is fifteen
Good-Luck!
just remember you are not alone
nightangel
Nightangel
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2004
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 2:59pm

Jessica,

I'm not familiar with social anxiety but by your post, it sounds like it is a very consuming disorder and prevents you from enjoying different things on a daily basis. So since I'm not knowledgable, my post may not make sense but here it goes.
you state all the meds you were or are on. DId you ever considered therapy to talk out your feelings and find out why you've been feeling this way since a young girl. Or does that make you more anxious/fearful talking to a therapist? In reading your post, it sounds like you've been fighting this so long. You deserve to feel better and maybe therapy can help find the reason for your feelings. You can learn some coping skills to get you through the phone calls and meeting new people. Your DH can go with you to therapy if you can't go alone.
You do deserve to be happy and have friends. But you need to find a solution on how to deal with the past and present incidences that are causing this disorder. Good luck to you!