Social Anxiety Disorder

I only have 2 friends, I can't hold a job, I get scared to death of talking to new people... all because of this fucking shit. I can't even answer the phone if I don't recognize the number. I always make someone else pay for my movie ticket at the theater. I am so sick of this.

I have more things wrong with me than I care to admit. Fear of commitment, fear of abandonment on top of that, etc. but this is the thing that bothers me most. I can't even keep a job for my fear of people. It's sad. I was wondering if there is anyone else out there with this shitty disorder, and what they have done/used to overcome it.

I was thinking about Zoloft, but I don't have insurance or a job to pay for it. I'm so fucked.

 

sister ive been that way for 20 years..

at least..

dont do the goverment mind control pills to cope..

youll get comfortable with who ya are,,an youll find more folks that understand..

tis true,,i dont even like signin my signature,,no phone,no stores unless im forced,,never touch money or cards..

yeah im a fruitloop as well..
tis all good sister..

JUST SAY NO TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS!!

luv n lite..

 

advice for work,,..
try somethin outdoors,a lot of landscaping companys employ women to plant flowers,, weed tight spots,etc..

an theres always farm work or construction..
get to the country,,it seems to heal most of the angst..

luv n lite..

 

I don't have it, but know a few people that do. I wouldn't recommend Zoloft... I'd recommend Lexapro... studies done to show it's effectiveness against this disorder to be 85% (that's really good in these studies). You can probably get free samples from many clinics.

If you don't want medication, but still want help, I'd recommend CBT (cognitive behavior therapy). I absolutely love CBT and recommend it all the time to just about anyone with any type of problem... because it works! The NIMH has done hundreds and hundreds of studies to test how effective it works against this disorder, and the vast majority of people have a major improvement in their quality of life. On top of that, CBT is only takes 12 weeks to complete.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm#anx9

 

i love my quality of life..

an over the years ive found many like minded,, an not so freinds..i see no reason to medicate something that was brainwashed into someone to begin with..

you become "anti social" because of events in your life..
your not born with it..

an even if ya were,, as i dont discount,, ya should consider it a gift an not a curse..

there is so much to be learned from the outside lookin in..

it helps develop 6th sence..

an ya wanna destroy that with chemicals?

my advice is no..
luv n lite

 

How long have you been feeling like this? Did it develop because of certain events?

 

That's great that you've come to accept it and are happy with you the way you are... and I really mean that too, please don't read any sarcasm. If the orginal poster comes to accept that, then that's fantastic. However, I take it that the OP doesn't like being that way and wants to do something to change it.

I did not just recommend taking medication, either. I realize that many people are against it and feel they should know there are still other options available, especially when dealing with mental health professionals. No psychologist can write a prescription for any medicine, ever. They use other ways to beat things like social anxiety disorder without drugs, the best, imo, being CBT, which is therapy that combines cognitive processes (what you're thinking/feeling, why you think/feel that way) and behavior adjustment (realizing how you behave to avoid those negative feelings, in this case, isolating yourself, and developing a way to turn negative feelings into positive ones).

 

I don't really think I would want to take prescription drugs anyway, but if it's the only thing that works, maybe I should...

So far I'm really lucky that the 2 friends that I do have are really understanding, but other people aren't.

Thanks, it's good to know there's other crazy bastards out there like me, and we're not alone.

 

I've been like this my entire life. I had a really shitty childhood. My mom was addicted to crack for a while and was constantly jumping from one abusive husband/boyfriend to the next. We moved alot, at least 6 times. My dad left when I was 2 and I've only seen him once since, when I was 6. My sister's dad killed himself back in 1998. I had to live my grandparents for a while and had a huge fallout with them and now I don't talk to anyone outside my immediate family. Just my mom and sister. There's a whole lot more, but after reading all that I feel even crazier....

 

I was like that for a while, up until this point. There are two things that come to mind, Schizotypal disorder (which resembles what I got over) and Avoidant personality (which sounds like what you've got).

I believe that when I started more frequent cannabis use, I mellowed out a lot and began to accept the fact that other people can get as nervous as me, sometimes. I just need to relax, have a little fun, and be open to them and my social anxiety disappears. Also helps the other people to relax and be nice.

 

I smoke bud often, not everyday but at least every other. So far that hasn't helped anything...

 

i have that too. i won't use the phone, unless i'm calling one of my very closest friends (and i still get anxious, because i'm terrified someone will pick up and i won't know who it is, it won't be who i want to talk to, they won't know who's calling, they'll think i'm rude, etc). i can't turn in any schoolwork because it isn't good enough, i'm scared of what the teacher will think, i'm scared i won't be able to do it so i don't even attempt. i write a LOT, but i never ever let anyone read any of it, and i hide what i write just in case. my laptop has a password because i'm scared someone will get on it and find my journals. when i get on the computer, i never maximize any of my windows and i always pop something up in front of them whenever anyone comes in the room. when i meet someone, or just encounter them in a public environment (if we bump into eachother at a grocery store or they tell me they like my hair or something), i always think they don't like me because i wasn't nice enough or i sounded awkward or i didn't compliment them enough, or i walked weird, or some part of me was twitching and i didn't realize it.

i'm sorry if i'm not helping at all . but i can definately relate. i don't know what to say to help, because i'm in the same situation. i guess, just remember, most people are too self centered to even notice if you are weird. and appreciate that you can see the way people interact from an outside perspective, it's pretty interesting.

 

It is good to know I'm not the only one, but it fucking feels like it sometimes.

I write alot too, I have like 15 notebooks full of stuff.

And I do that with the computer too.

 

I've felt like that to some degree these past couple weeks. Spring is always a horrible time for me though, very stressful. I usually shut down emotionaly no matter how hard I try to get out there and do things.
I know how you feel. I speand almost an hour getting ready just to go to the grocery store sometimes so I think I look okay enough to go out in public, it's insane. I needed to go get gas today but thought I looked so gross from going to the gym that I wouldn't get it so now I'm so empty I don't know if I can make it to the gas station tommorow):. It's horrible ): I need to get over it.

 

I have social anxiety disorder. I hate it.

 

Been that way since my teens..It has lessened with age, but you've got to keep facing it. It sucks, but that's the only way I know..Besides valium, & whatnot.
The more you go out, & bad scenarios DON'T go down..The more confidence you'll build. You get a bit less sensitive to everything. It takes time though.
I hope you can find some coping mechanisms to get through this. Good luck, & don't stop trying if you can help it.

 

Oh, & you can try looking this up for advice on the net if you think it'll help out any.-

Anthropophobia- Fear of people or society.

 

wow, i never knew that other people felt this way and had this problem too. I've been reading on here and you guys are literally word for word describing the exact problems that I have. I dont recomend cannibis use. Ive been doin it alot for along time and I think that it is the weed that has helped make me this way..i would describe all my issues, but they have all been said already in this forum..i stopped smoking a couple days ago and they are clearing up a little bit, but i know that weed isnt the only reason. I may try to use some medication, but the fact that i have to go to the doctor, fill out papers to get free insurance and all that just is way too overwhelming for me..ill be sleepless until i do get in, thinking about hoow i will describe it, but what if he doesnt believe me, but what if i sound weird or look weird. I can NEVER look somebody in the eyes when talking to them..i walk with my head down..i have SEVERE social anxiety and i HATE it!!!!

 

I think weed makes it worse for me as well, if I'm in a social setting. If I'm alone or with a verrrry close friend it's awesome.

 

im a alchoholic,, but because of my phobia,, if ya wanna call it that ,, i never drink till im done with society,..

i never smoke,, even on weekends here in my comfort zone till im done with my responsibilities,, an ive got a couple 3 beers in me,..

then on my home turf,, ill take a couple hits..

we travle outta town for work a good bit,, an i always demand puttin a towel under the door to the hallway an if possible crackin a window,, an always turnin the bathroom fan on before anyone smokes..

yeah,, i guess for some herb aint the best release..

but i love gettin baked on a friday or saturday night an bangin on a drum..


its all relavent to this brain skewq..