Social anxiety - what could i do ?!
Question: I don't take buses, im scared of people who might be watching, even though i know that no one is really looking at me, i literally can't help but think everyone is.
I don't go out in public without anyone, and i like to stay in my house.
I don't like to get up in front of large crowds.
and parties are rather intimidating to me..
help pleaseee
Answers: I don't take buses, im scared of people who might be watching, even though i know that no one is really looking at me, i literally can't help but think everyone is.
I don't go out in public without anyone, and i like to stay in my house.
I don't like to get up in front of large crowds.
and parties are rather intimidating to me..
help pleaseee
One often fails to comprehend the actual meaning of agoraphobia. This is what you have or are describing.
It is said to be the fear of marketplace or the fear of open free spaces. It is actually a fear of panic attacks and thus the patient learns the art of ignoring certain sites and sounds. Overcoming agoraphobia is important.
The panic attacks are very place specific. The various sensations experienced are extremely real and true and hence control becomes a pivoting factor. Patients suffering from agoraphobia often cannot control their thoughts and emotions- this is a major factor of this disease.
The situation is weakening and the sufferer often feels safe just inside his room. They usually build a "safe zone" for themselves. This zone keeps them away from the weird thoughts, once outside this place they tend to feel scared and the anxieties build up. The fear is the constant factor. Safe zone comprises of the neighborhood generally. Hence people whom the patient trusts and has his or her faith in need to accompany him or her to any place outside the "safe zone".
Flight
The patients always seek measures to flee from the situation. They position themselves near the exits such that they can run away as soon as possible in case there is some problem. They can slip out unnoticed. Agoraphobics hate being seen in the midst of an attack or at the time when they cannot control themselves.
Agoraphobia is similar to a situation where your mind is being raped in the literal sense of the term.
It is like having to deal with something that you do not want and also being scared of it.
Like, while moving from Point A to Point B as part of their therapy, however close they might be to Point B , they impulsively wish to return home i.e. Point A midway. They feel too taken up and overwhelmed and want to run away from that situation. The Point B might have been closer, yet they want to go back to Point A as they consider that point to be their home.
However this is incorrect. One should always keep to and accept whatever he or she is feeling .We all know that carrying it out in actuality is difficult. However if the fear can be confronted, then it will be much easier to combat the problem and overcome agoraphobia.
**Alter your thinking processes.
Seek help as soon as you start experiencing the signs and symptoms of agoraphobia. This disease just creeps into your system. The only way you can overcome the disease is by facing your fears consciously. We know this is extremely difficult but it needs must be done in order to overcome agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia alters the way you think. You must resist this. You need to stop thinking "what if something happens". Practice will make it perfect.
Patients often cannot locate the doctor who is equipped to deal with such diseases and also offer a proper treatment. Mental disorders are often looked down upon; people suffering from mental disorders are not treated with the sympathy that is conferred on handicaps.
It is quite impossible for others to comprehend a patient's situation or feelings. Hence agoraphobia can lead to splitting of relationships. It can completely destroy any kind of commitment. The patient is expected to come out of it by himself or herself- others do not really understand all that he or she feels.
Please talk to someone about this, like we said earlier, it will help, start at home and then at school (counselor) and then go from there. It can be over come to a degree.
i have the same thing. i went to the doctors and got depression pills. they worked for me but that might have just been because i was adjusting to highschool. ask your doctor tho, it's what he prescribed me.
Getting a grip and then a life would be your first port of call.
don't be such a p*ssy. you don't need a doctor or pills. people are idiots, take control instead of a pill.
i know what your going through...do things that will help tp relax your body..i dont think u should go looking for that magic pill because it doesnt exist...it WILL only make u worse in the end because ul get on a pill that relaxes you..but then ul need it for EVER and this can lead to so many problems..
all i can say is
GET YOUR MIND OFF OF YOUSELF
dont isolate yourself.it will only make thing worse
try to be real...if u feel disconnected from everything..its prob from your anxiety and the only way to help this is to stop hiding ur anxxiety ..if u feel anxous..then let yourself feel that...this is why i say get active like do things naturally to help yourself
be real ..alot of teens go thru this but what makes urs worse is that your thoughts are circling thru ur head..dont take everything so seriousely..
idk if that helped at all sry
shoodawg is as a$$, but to an extent, he is right.
you can overcome this to be more functional and have significantly less stress/anxiety without the use of medication and without counseling. I did.
Get some dark sunglasses, and wear them everywhere you can. Get a pair of cheap glasses with lightly colored lenses to wear in places where dark glasses aren't an option. It takes a good deal of pressure off when people can't clearly see your eyes.
Get a small cd player or radio (beltclip) with earphones. Listen to it in the public places when you don't have to talk to a person. Or you can just pretend to listen to it with the headphones on your head. Mostly, people won't bother you because they will think it would be rude. Also, whether they are talking about you or not, you say you are paranoid, so whether they are or not, you will appear to not be able to hear them if you have earphones on your head. This keeps you from feeling like you have to stand up for yourself against possibly imaginary insults.
Bring a book or magazine to read on bus or anywhere you might have to wait in line or sit/stand idle for any amount of time. Read it. Again, people will think it's rude to bother you when you are reading, and it will give you someplace to put your eyes.
'Just do it'. Try to get on the bus, or go to anyplace in public where you will feel so scared/ paranoid, without thinking. Make your mind as quiet as possible, and your feet quick. Don't give your mind a chance to protest.
Remember, all you have to do is live and eventually die. That's all you have to do. And embarrassment, shame, public ridicule, rejection...all those ugly things we fear won't matter one iota when we are all dead.
I have the same problems. Initially visit a doctor and talk about your symptoms, they may suggest anti-anxiety pills to start with (not anti-depressants, they won't help - you're depressed because you're anxious so if you attempt to deal with the anxiety any depression should ease) but they should always also follow up with an offer of counselling or therapy of some kind. The general idea is that as the counselling goes along the need for the tablets should recede. Sometimes the tablets can be useful to get you to a point that you're able to see a counsellor.
A lot of Drs are far more enlightened about mental health issues (far more than some of the people who post on here that's for sure!!) than they were even 10 years ago, most good doctors wouldn't see the tablets as a long term solution anyway.
This is a process, it won't resolve itself overnight, but you have made a good start by realising that you need help. If you go via the Dr, medication and counselling route you should find that things will ease over time.
The "disguise" ideas posted above are good - I've been able to make good use of them on occasions, but I've only been able to get to that point by having the initial medication. I hope you are strong enough to be able to do it without, but I wanted to reassure you that the meds needn't be long term.
In the meantime don't forget that those who say "get a life" are usually people who if they had a life wouldn't be on here dissing people who are truly trying to help themselves when they don't know where else to turn!
This was your first baby step to taking back control of your life - you should be applauded for it not abused - Good Luck
Theres cognitive behavior therapy and meds. See psychologist.
I also have social anxiety. First I have gotten a psychiatrist to prescribe medication to help with my condition. I take Celexa. He also tried Zoloft. Second I have a therapist I see each week. I discuss this problem with her. She gave me referrals to group meetings and clubs that would be safe for me to go to. She also encouraged me to do research on my computer on public street safety. The main reason I am isolated is due to fear of people or moving objects doing harm to me. She told me there are safer times of the day, week. There are places that are safer than others. After my research I found out that the safest time of day to be in public is 9:00am to 2:00pm Sunday through Thursday. The safest time to ride the bus if absolutely necessary in my area is 9:00am to 12:00pm. I suggest you get professional support and research your area on public safety like I did. Your police department keeps statistics on crime. Once you have this information it may make you feel a little less afraid to go out at safer times and places. I also carry a personal alarm and pepper spray in my bag. It gives me a little more confidence that I can defend myself if attacked.