How do I explain Social Anxiety to my parents?!
Question: How do I explain Social Anxiety to my parents!?
The other day I was dining out with my father and because of SA I chose a seat in the corner of the restaurant to sort of hide from people!.!.!.then today my mother was talking about this with my father and said: "What's this with you hiding away in a corner!? What do you think is wrong with you!? This has got to stop!"!.!.!.I've tried to explain SA to them but either they don't want to listen or they don't get it!.!.they seem to think it's just something I'm acting or I can control!.!.!.do any of you have the same problem!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
View the information and weblinks for 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)!. It will teach you that, although it isn't actually pleasant, you will survive; be stronger for the experience, and the next time (should you need to repeat this type of therapy) will be considerably easier!. Remember: "A fear avoided is a fear strengthened; a fear faced is a fear reduced!." 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!.
Although there are anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) available, these come with risks, and the possibility of side effects, habituation, even addiction, and withdrawal problems, and are unsuitable for young people!.
Try having a cup of "Tension Tamer", herbal tea, by Celestial Seasonings, (from supermarket tea, or health food aisles) or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable)!. C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option!. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk!.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce "sugar spikes"!. Valerian has also been recommended, but some people experience "valerian hangovers"!. Ensure you know how you react to it, before doing something potentially dangerous, like going out on the roads!. The idea is to use the above like water wings, to provide initial, short term support, while you become proficient in the above techniques!. Mountain dew contains caffeine, which is bad for any form of anxiety!.
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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)!. It will teach you that, although it isn't actually pleasant, you will survive; be stronger for the experience, and the next time (should you need to repeat this type of therapy) will be considerably easier!. Remember: "A fear avoided is a fear strengthened; a fear faced is a fear reduced!." 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!.
Although there are anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) available, these come with risks, and the possibility of side effects, habituation, even addiction, and withdrawal problems, and are unsuitable for young people!.
Try having a cup of "Tension Tamer", herbal tea, by Celestial Seasonings, (from supermarket tea, or health food aisles) or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable)!. C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option!. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk!.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce "sugar spikes"!. Valerian has also been recommended, but some people experience "valerian hangovers"!. Ensure you know how you react to it, before doing something potentially dangerous, like going out on the roads!. The idea is to use the above like water wings, to provide initial, short term support, while you become proficient in the above techniques!. Mountain dew contains caffeine, which is bad for any form of anxiety!.
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Yes, as a matter of fact I do, and my husband also!. That's why we don't go out to eat!.
Anyway, have you been diagnosed with this disorder by a DR!.!?
If so, it would probably help to have the DR!. explain!.
My husband and I take a medication to help ease the problem but it doesn't cure it!.
Find any excuse to see a DR!. and then explain your SA to him/her!. It seems kind of sneaky, but if your parents aren't taking you seriously, you need a DR!. on your side!. Hopefully then you can get some treatment and also the support of your parents!.
Good luck! I know how bad SA sucks!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Anyway, have you been diagnosed with this disorder by a DR!.!?
If so, it would probably help to have the DR!. explain!.
My husband and I take a medication to help ease the problem but it doesn't cure it!.
Find any excuse to see a DR!. and then explain your SA to him/her!. It seems kind of sneaky, but if your parents aren't taking you seriously, you need a DR!. on your side!. Hopefully then you can get some treatment and also the support of your parents!.
Good luck! I know how bad SA sucks!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Don't try to explain SA!. Just explain the behavior, without giving it that label!. I used to always sit as cornermost as possible, because I did not want anyone that I could not see to be able to see me!. I imagine it's a similar thing!. (In fact, I can also imagine someone doing the same for power rather than defense!.)
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alot of parents and old school generation did not and still do not believe in mental illnesses and depression !. Most of them have the attitude "suck it up and get over it"!. Maybe get a book or download some info and give it to them to read!. Tell them they have to read it to understand u to be closer to u becoz they will understand!. They may be scared and in denial and this is normal at first but persist with it and they will listen eventually!. Good luck Www@Answer-Health@Com
Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc!.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc!.
Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level!.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication!. There's this strange herb called "St John's Wort" - it is said to be more effective than Prozac!. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings!. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John's Wort works like prozac!. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc!.
The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced!.!.!. you have that "learned behavior" in your mind!. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this!. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction!.!.!. There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to!.!.!.!.
Extracted from Source!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level!.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication!. There's this strange herb called "St John's Wort" - it is said to be more effective than Prozac!. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings!. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John's Wort works like prozac!. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc!.
The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced!.!.!. you have that "learned behavior" in your mind!. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this!. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction!.!.!. There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to!.!.!.!.
Extracted from Source!.Www@Answer-Health@Com