Has anyone ever dealt with social anxiety?!
Question: I'm talking real, diagnosed social anxiety, not that you are afraid to speak publicly. I need some answers about this disorder.
Answers: I'm talking real, diagnosed social anxiety, not that you are afraid to speak publicly. I need some answers about this disorder.
i've had this pretty much all my life (37)now.basically the best help is proper diet,exercise.stay away from caffiene and sugars.medication works very well in my situation also.40mg of celexa.everyone is different so that medication might not work well for you,but their is many kinds to choose from.hope i helped a little bit.just remember you are not alone.hope you get feeling better real soon!
i know i have it, im slowly getting over it. Find something that you want to brag about. get a little cocky.
My sister has that. She gets wicked scared and she cant go out in big places alone. She has meds for it now.
See social anxiety/shyness, and self confidence, in sections 9, and 38, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Here is an exercise that can help you. It is called "Act as If." When you are in a social situation, act as if you are outgoing. Talk more, smile at everyone, ask questions, speak in a normal or excited tone, not a meek tone. Watch some of your outgoing peers, and imitate the style of their social behavior.
Research shows that when you "act as if" continually, your image of yourself begins to conform to your new behavior. In this case, you will gain self-esteem and self-confidence, and begin to see yourself as socially normal, not shy. You will become more socially successful, and this will motivate you to continue your new social behavior until it becomes a habit.
Try this for a month, in every situation you can. I am confident that you will become much more comfortable and outgoing. One form of therapy is to go somewhere that nobody knows you, and deliberately make an utter fool of yourself: put on a paper hat, and scream out: "I'm queen/king of America!", or something else ridiculous, then get back in the taxi, (warn the driver of your intentions, first) or car, and leave. People will point, and say: "Look at that idiot". But, you're probably not up to the stage where you can do that, yet (I can, and I used to be shy). Regard it as your final test: once you have accomplished it, the barrier will be broken; just don't go too far, the other way! Learn to laugh at yourself, and give a big, cheesy grin when others see you do something foolish, as we all do, occasionally. It is endearing, if you don't do it too often. Use positive affirmations: for example: "I am very likable and other people feel comfortable around me".
Write down all of your self limiting beliefs; then write down the positive counter of them, (exact opposite) and repeat them and imprint them into your mind.
Most importantly: Force yourself to approach somebody and initiate some sort of communication. Start out small by asking the time and directions and gradually go bigger. Rewind your mistakes. Let's say you want to change an annoying laugh that you have, when you hear something funny, your old laugh will come out. You have to immediately think of what you wanted to happen, (i.e. your new, practiced laugh) and then do it immediately. It will be a little bit late, but slowly you will start to pair the two together, and eventually your brain will become conditioned to switch the first for the second. It usually takes 30 - 40 repetitions, to instill a new habit, with most people, so I estimate a similar amount, in the reprogramming process.
I'm beginning to question wether I have social anxiety or not. Its not that i am afraid to speak i just don't know what to say. Sometimes at school i will be stting with my friends and i have no idea what to say or talk about. I always feel awkward. It's almost like i feel dislocated from them. and i can tell people feel awkward talking to me too. People always tell me that i am quiet and i am (only in social settings).They always tell me that i'm sweet to but i am sick of being known as sweet and quiet. I want people to know that i am more than this.
I have dealt with this all my life. I actually start sweating really bad as soon as I go outside my front door. It is so humiliating. I don't have a single friend in the world. I also feel like I am the center of everyone's focus when I am in a public place. I was that kid at school that ate lunch by himself. It is really sad. I know how you feel. I have been diagnosed by many psychiatrists. I also developed schizoaffective disorder in my early twenties and my life is in shambles. I am on numerous medications including benzodiazipines for the social anxiety and that led to a major addiction problem. The drugs the doctors give me have led to me being arrested and all sorts of other trouble. I have been going to therapy since I was 9 and I still have not found a way to overcome this. At this point in my life I have just given up hope that things will get better. Believe it or not it is better this way.