Comments on: Life With Social Anxiety http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html Social Anxiety Disorder - Learn how to cope with anxiety, panic attacks and other phobia. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:46:44 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: tokiohotel89 http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-135 tokiohotel89 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:46:44 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-135 I'm only 15 and i have social anxiety. i dont have it very bad, but i do have it. I always need someone to accompany me when im going somewhere with people i dont know. My friend actually ditched me for her boyfriend and left me in the hall by myself. i started to have rapid breathing and i backed into the lockers trying to get myself away from the people looking at me. I slowly made my way down into the cafe knowing full well that people woulf look and judge me when i entered, so i avoided lunch and sat in the bathroom clutching my stomach cos i was so hungry. :( I used to be afraid of talking in front of other people, but i can only talk to groups of up to 13 or 15 people. any groups bigger i cant barely talk cos im so scared that the people i dont know are watching me and thinking mean thoughts about me. Ive been this way since i was little. ive had a rocky past and highschool doesnt make it better. I was always a shy girl and never talked in class for fear i would give the wrong answer. im very smart and often in my classes the teacher will say something and i will know the answer when no one else does, i just dont raise my hand. i want so badley to overcome this, and thankfully i am. im facing my fears. ive been doing better on my own and have even walked into the lunchroom ALONE 4 times this year! :D I also raise my hand maybe once every class. and i have a lot more self confidence then i did in 8th grade. i thought that social anxiety disorder could never be treated for me, but im doing it all myself. ive had many experinces where ive avoided giving speeches or faked sick to get out of doing a presentation, but thats all in the past. i still have SAD, but its VERY minimal and i believe that i might get over it all! I'm only 15 and i have social anxiety. i dont have it very bad, but i do have it. I always need someone to accompany me when im going somewhere with people i dont know. My friend actually ditched me for her boyfriend and left me in the hall by myself. i started to have rapid breathing and i backed into the lockers trying to get myself away from the people looking at me. I slowly made my way down into the cafe knowing full well that people woulf look and judge me when i entered, so i avoided lunch and sat in the bathroom clutching my stomach cos i was so hungry. :( I used to be afraid of talking in front of other people, but i can only talk to groups of up to 13 or 15 people. any groups bigger i cant barely talk cos im so scared that the people i dont know are watching me and thinking mean thoughts about me. Ive been this way since i was little. ive had a rocky past and highschool doesnt make it better. I was always a shy girl and never talked in class for fear i would give the wrong answer. im very smart and often in my classes the teacher will say something and i will know the answer when no one else does, i just dont raise my hand. i want so badley to overcome this, and thankfully i am. im facing my fears. ive been doing better on my own and have even walked into the lunchroom ALONE 4 times this year! :D I also raise my hand maybe once every class. and i have a lot more self confidence then i did in 8th grade. i thought that social anxiety disorder could never be treated for me, but im doing it all myself. ive had many experinces where ive avoided giving speeches or faked sick to get out of doing a presentation, but thats all in the past. i still have SAD, but its VERY minimal and i believe that i might get over it all!

]]> By: Mitch9911 http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-108 Mitch9911 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:58:09 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-108 Wow, people like me. Odd, the people in this message chain have something in common - an interest in law school. I also applied but never went. I recently found out I have SAD (self diagnosis). Life has been difficult but we strive. I am happily married, 5 kids, good work position but could do so much more. But won't. Don't want the attention. <br>I can tell you that Toastmasters can help, but for me it has not cured my issues. I have been a member for over 16 years and even served as President multiple times. What it has done for me is that when I am cornered into having to get a presentation (all my other covert and overt efforts to get out of it have failed) I can get thru it most times. So far so good. I cannot imagine seeking out a speaking opportunity. <br>It is crazy but so encouraging to know there are others like me (not happy for you).<br>I continue to seek a daily supporter that is also a sufferer. I can also be reached at yahoo under my name. I have no ulterior motives other than relief of this monster appropriately called sad. Wow, people like me. Odd, the people in this message chain have something in common – an interest in law school. I also applied but never went. I recently found out I have SAD (self diagnosis). Life has been difficult but we strive. I am happily married, 5 kids, good work position but could do so much more. But won't. Don't want the attention.
I can tell you that Toastmasters can help, but for me it has not cured my issues. I have been a member for over 16 years and even served as President multiple times. What it has done for me is that when I am cornered into having to get a presentation (all my other covert and overt efforts to get out of it have failed) I can get thru it most times. So far so good. I cannot imagine seeking out a speaking opportunity.
It is crazy but so encouraging to know there are others like me (not happy for you).
I continue to seek a daily supporter that is also a sufferer. I can also be reached at yahoo under my name. I have no ulterior motives other than relief of this monster appropriately called sad.

]]> By: Serenity31 http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-102 Serenity31 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:24:28 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-102 Hi Lydia, <br><br>I've kinda felt the same way throughout my life. I haven't been diagnosed with SAD but I have a feeling that it's something I suffer from. I've pretty much managed to go through college without participating in class. My big fear is to make a mistake, say something stupid, mispronounce something, etc. and have others think that I'm stupid. Miraculously, I graduated with top honors. This year I started law school at a top 10 school. I lasted 2 weeks. Somewhere between the first and second week I completely crumbled. The cold calling in front of a 90 people class really shattered me. I got so nervous (I wasn't even called on but just the possibility freaked me out) that I stopped eating and sleeping for a week. I couldn't concentrate on my readings and that just made me feel more and more stupid as I couldn't keep up with class room discussion. I was given anti-anxiety medication during this time but that just made me drowsy in class and didn't help much with sleeping. By the end of week 2 I was so emotionally distraught, I had to withdraw from law school. At the time, I questioned whether I wanted to be an attorney and used that as the main excuse for my decision to withdraw. However, now I'm questioning that in itself and whether in fact it was my social anxiety that beat me down to a pulp. I've suffered from depression from an early age but have always been able to cope, function and follow-through with things. Right now I'm trying to work on this issue to see if law school is something I want, but a large part of it will have to be me working on the SAD issue. Right now I will try EMDR and I also want to try Toastmasters. Sorry for the long message. I guess I'm just wondering how you coped with the law school experience having SAD. Hi Lydia,

I've kinda felt the same way throughout my life. I haven't been diagnosed with SAD but I have a feeling that it's something I suffer from. I've pretty much managed to go through college without participating in class. My big fear is to make a mistake, say something stupid, mispronounce something, etc. and have others think that I'm stupid. Miraculously, I graduated with top honors. This year I started law school at a top 10 school. I lasted 2 weeks. Somewhere between the first and second week I completely crumbled. The cold calling in front of a 90 people class really shattered me. I got so nervous (I wasn't even called on but just the possibility freaked me out) that I stopped eating and sleeping for a week. I couldn't concentrate on my readings and that just made me feel more and more stupid as I couldn't keep up with class room discussion. I was given anti-anxiety medication during this time but that just made me drowsy in class and didn't help much with sleeping. By the end of week 2 I was so emotionally distraught, I had to withdraw from law school. At the time, I questioned whether I wanted to be an attorney and used that as the main excuse for my decision to withdraw. However, now I'm questioning that in itself and whether in fact it was my social anxiety that beat me down to a pulp. I've suffered from depression from an early age but have always been able to cope, function and follow-through with things. Right now I'm trying to work on this issue to see if law school is something I want, but a large part of it will have to be me working on the SAD issue. Right now I will try EMDR and I also want to try Toastmasters. Sorry for the long message. I guess I'm just wondering how you coped with the law school experience having SAD.

]]> By: LauraLydia http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-99 LauraLydia Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:55:41 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-99 I just discovered this site too. But I see, April, that you posted nine months ago? Is this site still active? <br><br>Anyway, I've had SAD pretty much all my life, but had no idea what it was for most of that time. I thought it was just me and was forever trying to leave this or that situation, or this or that part of me, behind. Or I thought that once I resolved my self-esteem issues, I'd be okay. Well, having SAD can result in your self-esteem taking a beating, that's for sure. But I think my self-esteem was basically okay. It was the SAD that was the problem. It still is. In fact, it's funny how, over time, I realize more and more how it's impacted my life. Choices in career, never letting myself move ahead or trying for anything, choices in marriage, etc.<br><br>In a lot of ways, I've just kept myself distracted. I had two kids (my son is now 23, my daughter 15), I went to law school (how's that for a bad choice? I still love the subject matter, but needless to say, I am not a litigator), and now, as my kids obviously need me a whole lot less, I'm at complete loose ends. (I've been divorced for ten years.) I want people in my life and want to do something about meeting more people -- but that all seems a much better idea in theory than in practice. On any given night, it always seem so much easier to just go home than to do anything to actively change my situation.<br><br>I guess that's it for now. So. Anybody out there? Anybody feel the same? I just discovered this site too. But I see, April, that you posted nine months ago? Is this site still active?

Anyway, I've had SAD pretty much all my life, but had no idea what it was for most of that time. I thought it was just me and was forever trying to leave this or that situation, or this or that part of me, behind. Or I thought that once I resolved my self-esteem issues, I'd be okay. Well, having SAD can result in your self-esteem taking a beating, that's for sure. But I think my self-esteem was basically okay. It was the SAD that was the problem. It still is. In fact, it's funny how, over time, I realize more and more how it's impacted my life. Choices in career, never letting myself move ahead or trying for anything, choices in marriage, etc.

In a lot of ways, I've just kept myself distracted. I had two kids (my son is now 23, my daughter 15), I went to law school (how's that for a bad choice? I still love the subject matter, but needless to say, I am not a litigator), and now, as my kids obviously need me a whole lot less, I'm at complete loose ends. (I've been divorced for ten years.) I want people in my life and want to do something about meeting more people — but that all seems a much better idea in theory than in practice. On any given night, it always seem so much easier to just go home than to do anything to actively change my situation.

I guess that's it for now. So. Anybody out there? Anybody feel the same?

]]> By: Brian Collins http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-70 Brian Collins Mon, 04 May 2009 19:28:42 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-70 SAD do exist and yet only a few can understand them. Sometimes, they are already experiencing it, but either they lack knowledge or would constantly deny. I have suffered SAD, and the only way to get out from that situation, is to first "ACCEPT" that you have it, so you'll know how to deal with it.<br><br>I am highly motivated to change, maybe that's why, I don't have to see a psychiatrist for treatment. Instead, I talked this through my sister, mom, and aunts, asked for some great advice. I also read books and tried to search over the internet for self-help sites, and sites that help me <a href = "http://www.masterpickuparts.com" rel="nofollow"> in communicating with the opposite sex. </a><br><br>Awareness of SAD is the initial stage for change. I can now say, that I know how to express myself in social situations, especially in <a href = " <a href="http://www.masterpickuparts.com/system/inner-game/%22" rel="nofollow">http://www.masterpickuparts.com/system/inner-ga...</a>> conversing with the opposite sex. </a> Though I am not yet perfectly over SAD, I know for sure that I am getting there. SAD do exist and yet only a few can understand them. Sometimes, they are already experiencing it, but either they lack knowledge or would constantly deny. I have suffered SAD, and the only way to get out from that situation, is to first “ACCEPT” that you have it, so you'll know how to deal with it.

I am highly motivated to change, maybe that's why, I don't have to see a psychiatrist for treatment. Instead, I talked this through my sister, mom, and aunts, asked for some great advice. I also read books and tried to search over the internet for self-help sites, and sites that help me in communicating with the opposite sex.

Awareness of SAD is the initial stage for change. I can now say, that I know how to express myself in social situations, especially in <a href = ” http://www.masterpickuparts.com/system/inner-ga...> conversing with the opposite sex. Though I am not yet perfectly over SAD, I know for sure that I am getting there.

]]> By: April http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/coping/life-with-social-anxiety.html/comment-page-1#comment-22 April Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:44:08 +0000 http://copyright-kit.com/?p=28#comment-22 I just found this web site. I have had SAD for all my life and didn't know what it was called. I stupidly thought that the massive amounts of alcohol (liquid courage) that I consumed from teen years to early 40’s helped socially, although I usually embarrassed myself more in some way or another by overindulging - I finally quit drinking because I decided that I would no longer make an intoxicated fool of myself at a Christmas Party ever again (that was 10 years ago). I took Paxil for many years and other meds, but hated the side affects. Now I don’t take anything and just stay safely at home most of the time. My parents called it extremely shy. I call it painful. I met both of my husbands while intoxicated, and have divorced them both. Sober I meet no one. <br><br>I was invited to a Christmas party this year and I was half way there and turned around and went home. I convinced myself that I was going to be the only single person there, that my make-up looked awful, that my hair looked like crap, and what I was wearing wasn’t good enough. My cruel boss had told me previously in the year that no one liked me. I heard her voice (in my head that night) telling me that no one likes me. OMG why would I go to a party where the only people I know are employees that don’t like me? Crazy thing is I know that I am liked and that she is mean. Something took over and convinced me that I would be a fool to show up. So I went home and cried. I just found this web site. I have had SAD for all my life and didn't know what it was called. I stupidly thought that the massive amounts of alcohol (liquid courage) that I consumed from teen years to early 40’s helped socially, although I usually embarrassed myself more in some way or another by overindulging – I finally quit drinking because I decided that I would no longer make an intoxicated fool of myself at a Christmas Party ever again (that was 10 years ago). I took Paxil for many years and other meds, but hated the side affects. Now I don’t take anything and just stay safely at home most of the time. My parents called it extremely shy. I call it painful. I met both of my husbands while intoxicated, and have divorced them both. Sober I meet no one.

I was invited to a Christmas party this year and I was half way there and turned around and went home. I convinced myself that I was going to be the only single person there, that my make-up looked awful, that my hair looked like crap, and what I was wearing wasn’t good enough. My cruel boss had told me previously in the year that no one liked me. I heard her voice (in my head that night) telling me that no one likes me. OMG why would I go to a party where the only people I know are employees that don’t like me? Crazy thing is I know that I am liked and that she is mean. Something took over and convinced me that I would be a fool to show up. So I went home and cried.

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