Dealing with Social Anxiety

[Kymster]

Anyone ever have a difficult time attending social functions? I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and am being medicated for it, but I do still get panic pangs when some social engagements come up. Deep breathing and self reassuring work most of the time. After getting there and getting myself acclimated I do very well.
Knowing what was "bothering" me has really helped a lot, as I no longer turn down invitations or make last minute excuses as to why I cannot show up.
It is nice to have a social life back again. :)

[clogaholic]

Good for you ::thumbsup:

I tend to be a little shy in new crowds but am also working on overcoming it.

[YellowRoseTex]

I can relate a little. I always get very nervous when we have plans to go somewhere. I get excited when making the plans, than want to cancel. My dh usually pushes me forward and I go and I always have a good time and am glad that I went. I don't know why I worry and fret as the occassion gets closer. I think realizing you have a problem is half the battle.

[lilorphann]

While I do not suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder I do have an anxiety disorder and suffer from panic attacks and am taking meds for that. I have never (thank goodness) had any problems with social engagements. My anxiety is more the worry myself into a full blown panic attack.

I can relate to how you feel when you have an attack though. Hopefully you are now on some meds for specific anxiety and it should subside some. Best of luck.

[zoyajoy]

kymster,
Hope things are still going well for you. I'm glad to see you are working on the anxiety stuff.
You deserve a pat on the back. It's not easy dealing with these things.
You can do it!
zoyajoy

[blondgrl]

Although I do not have personal experience with social anxiey , I have known many people who deal with this each day. I wonder if you have a therapist in addition to your psychiatrist to help in between your doctor's appts. Just my 2 cents ( not medical opinion at all), I think it's a great step in your healing to figure out the triggers to your anxiety. Try not to be too hard on yourself right now. If you can reduce any stressors, maybe it would be a good idea to change some of those things YOU have CONTROL over. If things that create anxiety are not under your power of control, just go for those items and issues that you can DO something about and make changes as old habits are very hard to change. I wish you the best of luck and I'm sending cyber hugs to you.

[karly99]

Hello Ladies,
I don't have social anxiety too bad, I can't talk in front of a large group, or I will loose my mind. But I do have anxiety on a daily basis. (Generalized) It is the most awful thing I have ever had to live with. I have been on medication for over 10 years for it, of course the meds are not a cure. I can blow things up so large in my mind and this disorder can be very dehilbilitating. It is hard to focus on the smallest tasks some times. I don't have too much of a
problem interacting with other people, I just have the fear that they will notice my anxiety. I worry about EVERYTHING!
I hate it and I wish I could change it. My dear BF says I am a new adventure every day. I wish there was a cure, but I am the last person with the answer to that one! If someone know the answer please share! :(
Karly99

[Carmen]

I don't have social anxiety but I have read that the SSRI, Paxil, in particular, is often an effective medication for that particular disorder.

I suspect have the "opposite" of social anxiety. :confused: I am very confident and comfortable in crowds and all kinds of social functions, and I always have been. My anxiety "comes around" when I am by myself and don't have the distraction of other people, and conversations, and interactions. Although I enjoy being "home alone" and by myself, I find that's the time that worrisome thoughts and feelings of anxiousness are most likely to pervade my peaceful reverie. :(

Oh, well. No one said life was going to be easy. :rolleyes:

[Mori]

I hate going anywhere alone & I assume that this is also some form of social anxiety. I could never sit in a restaurant alone for a meal or a coffee, & I admire those who can. I don't partcularly like taking walks by myself because I am wary of any strangers & this prevents me from starting a walking program for fitness. I sometimes get the urge to go shopping on my own, but this is a rare occurance. I hate feeling like this because it keeps me in the house days on end, but I have no motivation to just get dressed & go out there. I avoid eye contact with every passerby & I feel very anxioous when approaching a group of men especially. Am I suffering from social anxiety & what can I do to help myself? :confused:

[debster]

Hi, I have S.A.D. too. I can't go to gatherings because of too many people. I do go to the gatherings that are important but when I go I try to sit as far to the front of the room as possible. The more people that are behind me the easier it is to handle. I get very anxious if I can't do this. The other thing that happens is when I am one on one with someone I am alright but as each person comes into the room making more of a crowd formed I get quieter and quieter to the point of not saying anything. I didn't realize until recently that this was a disorder that I might be able to get help for, I just assumed it was normal for me because I was getting older and less tolerant of things. How well does the medication help you?
Debbie

[reddaisy]

Oh My Gosh !!! I never thought of myself as having social anxiety, but ya know I think this is me. I too always make plans and they sound like fun. Then as the date nears I dread them. I get very tense when I am talking with people, even people I know well like family and lifelong friends. My shoulders get all tense, I also feel like I tremble a little because I am so tense. Nobody has ever mentioned that they can see my tension but I get more tense thinking people notice. I don't know ?? Is this social anxiety?

[finch]

Yes, I have it, but Paxil has been WONDERFUL for me. It has REALLY helped me with depression and social anxiety. I could not function without it. It is worth looking into. Ask your doctor and do not give up if one anti-depressant does not work for you since there are many different ones.

[Mrs. Nice]

I think I may have social anxiety - You mentioned that you were diagnosed. How, and who diagnosed you? If you are on any meds, what kind?
I am currently a home mom, and I quit my job so I can stay at home more, as I was in retail and I was getting more stressed each day, because of serving customers, and pretending that I was okay, when I was realy not, and was quite anxious when I would be confronted by someone. I couldn't think straight, my hands would sweat, I would feel hot in the face, and the list goes on...
I am a survivor of emotional and sexual abuse, and am currently in a support group. I am also taking Effexor, which is okay. I was on Ativan for anxiety, and then I became dependant on it. I really miss it, but now I just avoid social situations if I can. I stay at home and go out if I really have to.
Thanks for listening, I appreciate any feedback.

Mrs. Nice

[cheryl333]

I always feel like I am boring and have had this feeling for many years. People say they love me and think I am really funny but I always feel "different" so I don't have close friends. Can't seem to connect. Cheryl

[mezzo soprano]

To look at me, you'd never know it...but yes, I have difficulty in situations like this, too. It doesn't always happen, thankfully, but I don't like things like the cocktail receptions after the conference, or big family gatherings where you're supposed to go ga-ga over someone.... it just always seems so false to me.

I much prefer intimate, small gatherings. Just always have.

For me, it helps to just let myself take it slow, and keep telling myself, "It's OK if you're not the life of the party. It's OK..."