Social Anxiety and Depression.?!
Question: Social Anxiety and Depression!.!?
So, I'm 20 and I live in a very small town!. I was diagnosed with social anxiety when I was in kindergarten!. I've had a pretty rough past!. With my parents divorcing, me, my mother, and brother had little to no money for food!. My mother tried suicide and within that year I lost my best friend to suicide, my grandmother passed, and my 1st cousin!. I don't think I ever fully dealt with it and I think some of problems stem from the resentment toward my father!. and some toward my mother!. I'm almost 21 years old!. I really don't have any friends!. maybe like one!. i'm single!.!. i was going to school and i got so nervous I couldn't go anymore!. I have huge ambition but in a way I think this town and my mother are holding me back, i'm very shy, and i'm lacking self confidence like no other!. I'm really depressed and I rarely leave the house!. I can't afford a therapist or anything!. So basically what I am asking for!. Is any advice on how to get outta of this!? Anything that help me overcome both of these without going on meds!.!?!?!?
Your help is much appreciated!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Your help is much appreciated!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I have similar problems to yours, and know it can be really hard especially when you know you're capable except for the anxiety holding you back!.
First of all, most states have state-run mental health facilities that offer counseling (and even medication) on a sliding scale based on income!. If you don't work or make very little money, the help may even be free!. Do a Google search for "mental health" "sliding scale" and then the name of your town or the closest bigger city to you!. If nothing comes up, try your state!. You can also contact the psychological department of the school you were attending, they are there to help you and might be able to point you in the right direction!. Don't discount professional help because you can't afford it!.
As for self help, what counseling does is teach to to recognise what causes your anxiety, and change your outlook!. The most important thing to remember is that you judge yourself harder than anyone else, and most people are facing similar problems even if they hide it better!. The worst thing that can happen in any situation is often not actually that bad, when you stop to think about it (especially since you are so strong from what you have already been through), and any actual criticism can be learned from if you can separate your feelings from the situation and not take it so personally!.
It's important to get involved in things you love doing, to build your self confidence!. This can start at home, and then when you feel ready, find activities in your community!.
It's also really important to find support from other people!. Online communities can be a good start to find likeminded people, and having someone to talk with (even online) can boost your confidence!. There are forums for grief, anxiety and so on!. There are also places online to find friends in your area, like okcupid!.com!. It's sort of a free dating site, but in my experience very good for making friends and talking with other people!. Just be careful, and don't meet anyone without taking safety precautions!.
Do you have an understanding relative in a bigger town that might let you stay with them a short time while you try to move forward!? What about online classes with a community college!? Good luck with everything, I hope this at least gives a few ideas!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
First of all, most states have state-run mental health facilities that offer counseling (and even medication) on a sliding scale based on income!. If you don't work or make very little money, the help may even be free!. Do a Google search for "mental health" "sliding scale" and then the name of your town or the closest bigger city to you!. If nothing comes up, try your state!. You can also contact the psychological department of the school you were attending, they are there to help you and might be able to point you in the right direction!. Don't discount professional help because you can't afford it!.
As for self help, what counseling does is teach to to recognise what causes your anxiety, and change your outlook!. The most important thing to remember is that you judge yourself harder than anyone else, and most people are facing similar problems even if they hide it better!. The worst thing that can happen in any situation is often not actually that bad, when you stop to think about it (especially since you are so strong from what you have already been through), and any actual criticism can be learned from if you can separate your feelings from the situation and not take it so personally!.
It's important to get involved in things you love doing, to build your self confidence!. This can start at home, and then when you feel ready, find activities in your community!.
It's also really important to find support from other people!. Online communities can be a good start to find likeminded people, and having someone to talk with (even online) can boost your confidence!. There are forums for grief, anxiety and so on!. There are also places online to find friends in your area, like okcupid!.com!. It's sort of a free dating site, but in my experience very good for making friends and talking with other people!. Just be careful, and don't meet anyone without taking safety precautions!.
Do you have an understanding relative in a bigger town that might let you stay with them a short time while you try to move forward!? What about online classes with a community college!? Good luck with everything, I hope this at least gives a few ideas!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm sort of stuck like this too!. You just need support!.!.!. from other people!. For me tho, it's been nearly impossible 'cause I'm so shy, I get scared of encouragment and close up more!. But the more I open up and accept help from people, the easier things are getting for me!. I wish you luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
There is something that , that may help!. It's a three part series that has been helpful to some people I know!. I don't know if you can relate to it, but give the first part a try, at least 5 minutes!.
I don't know if you have High speed internet, so I'm going to send the three audio!.
I know I wouldn't have understood it when I was 21, but your generation is way ahead of where mine was!. I hope it is of use to you!.
If I can be of further help, you may message me!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
I don't know if you have High speed internet, so I'm going to send the three audio!.
I know I wouldn't have understood it when I was 21, but your generation is way ahead of where mine was!. I hope it is of use to you!.
If I can be of further help, you may message me!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Tell the child in you you will love and nourish it everyday,no longer the scared deprived child,that will never happen again!.!.We all carry the inner child in us!.!.Look you had things put on you as a child that should never happen but you coped!.!.Your going to have to fight but feel you are a fighter and winner!.!.If it comes to it move,reject stupid peoples labels!.!.Yes dont go on the meds dont need them!.!.You can afford to live as you want,//Where theres a will always a way!.!.!.Confidence will only come through achievement!.!.!.!.Are you depressed or miserable distinct difference!.!.Do not let go of your dreams!.!.!.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
wow, you sound like me!.
i've got social anxiety, i'm very shy, lack self confidence and i live in a small town!.
seeing as you can't afford professional help you may just need to think more positive about yourself!. there are some people that have it worse than you!.
i've just been moving on from a breakup!. my shyness and lack of confidence got on my boyfriends nerves!. he didn't think that i had anxiety!.
anyway i have been forcing myself to not think about him by watching tv, reading and going out to talk to people, which is really hard for me!. i'm trying to make myself more social because i miss what my bf and i had and could of had for longer!. i keep thinking that i was so bad at being his girlfriend that i shouldn't date again!.
do you have a goal in life!? try thinking of one!. mine is to become a stage lighting designer and it is keeping me going in my studies and making me not lose hope about finding a job!.
never give up on your ambition!. whatever it is!. if it requires you to move away from home, then try to get part time work, then continue to work towards your dream!. save enough money and then you'll have enough to move out of town and pursue your ambition!. a job may help you get over your social anxiety!.
just stay positive and if you get negative thoughts try to shake them off by giving yourself little distractions!. if that doesn't happen say "stop thinking about it" again and again until the negative feeling goes away!.
or you could look at this site: www!.emofree!.com
they use acupuncture (expect instead of needle use fingers) to treat people with emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, phobias, relationship problems, etc!. it helped to make me less afraid of spiders and is helping me to get over my recent breakup!. it's going to take time for me to get past my anxiety though, but i won't give up and i hope you won't too!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
i've got social anxiety, i'm very shy, lack self confidence and i live in a small town!.
seeing as you can't afford professional help you may just need to think more positive about yourself!. there are some people that have it worse than you!.
i've just been moving on from a breakup!. my shyness and lack of confidence got on my boyfriends nerves!. he didn't think that i had anxiety!.
anyway i have been forcing myself to not think about him by watching tv, reading and going out to talk to people, which is really hard for me!. i'm trying to make myself more social because i miss what my bf and i had and could of had for longer!. i keep thinking that i was so bad at being his girlfriend that i shouldn't date again!.
do you have a goal in life!? try thinking of one!. mine is to become a stage lighting designer and it is keeping me going in my studies and making me not lose hope about finding a job!.
never give up on your ambition!. whatever it is!. if it requires you to move away from home, then try to get part time work, then continue to work towards your dream!. save enough money and then you'll have enough to move out of town and pursue your ambition!. a job may help you get over your social anxiety!.
just stay positive and if you get negative thoughts try to shake them off by giving yourself little distractions!. if that doesn't happen say "stop thinking about it" again and again until the negative feeling goes away!.
or you could look at this site: www!.emofree!.com
they use acupuncture (expect instead of needle use fingers) to treat people with emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, phobias, relationship problems, etc!. it helped to make me less afraid of spiders and is helping me to get over my recent breakup!. it's going to take time for me to get past my anxiety though, but i won't give up and i hope you won't too!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com