Social Anxiety Disorder

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Social Anxiety Disorder is not a fun disorder, and is often times hard to endure.

I've had to deal with this condition ever since the last few years of elementary. It hindered a possible social life in Junior High, I only had a few friends. It's also kept me from speaking in public, or presenting reports in class, or doing other simple things. I've gotten better over the past two years, and have made the best progress since last September. But I still suffer from anxiety symptoms in certain social situations, such as a pounding heart, shaking, and confusion. It doesn't stop me from socializing. It just takes hard work to overcome fear.

Some people, in worse cases, feel symptoms of anxiety in nearly every kind of social situation. As for others, a specific situation triggers anxiety symptoms. Those situations can run anywhere from: Social events such as parties to even just using a public restroom.

Does anyone else here have Social Anxiety Disorder, or possibly anxiety symptoms in general?

I had Social Anxiety Disorder. I got talk therapy and Prozac from a therapist and the anxiety disappeared.

I'm not sure if I social anxiety disorder or not.

I'm always somewhat tense and uncomfortable in new social situations but it's not exactly a cold sweat / terror type of anxiety. More just not being able to relax and get out of my own head enough to socialize. Around new people I constantly find myself over-thinking what I should say next rather than just talking naturally. Around people I know well I'm generally not anxious though.

What I do suffer tremendous anxiety from is any situation where I need to "sell myself" or push a specific agenda. It's part of a general revulsion I have towards political maneuverings. I hate doing it. I can't stand job interviews, formal meetings etc. Things like asking for a favor, negotiating, or asking a boss for a raise - these things do make me feel extremely uncomfortable.

Yeah Marshall that's like social anxiety. I would do the same thing in a group conversation, but I had racing thoughts and a feeling inside of not wanting to be there.
I got social anxiety when I dated a guy who was really social. He and his friends would sit and have small talk for hours. I didn't realise that it was normal for me to not know what to say so I really tried to say something. I never did or what I said would end up embarrassing me. And he didn't talk to me about relationship things and started to ignore me so I would get anxious about that too. I used to have anxiety attacks almost every week I was with him.
After that relationship ended I saw a psychologist and did cognitive behavioral therapy (no meds). It took a few months for the anxiety to go.

Yes I have it. But I overcome a lot. Well what I mean is I only do socialising on my terms, I don't feel bad about doing socialising I don't want. I would be extremely phobic if pushed into social situation I am not comfortable at. It is a good solution. I haven't had a panic attack in a long time thankfully. Though I still do have anxiety daily and a lot of it is inherent.

I met my two friends of a social anxiety website. We have all made great progress. We all have different reason for having it. ASD tend to put a whole dynamic of SA. However there are some advantages, which I am happy to discuss.

My old shrink helped me with social skill, she did eye contact exercises with me, put me onto a CBT book. These all helped. It is something that takes time it is not something that happens overnight.

The weird thing is every now an then we encounter the hard core from that SA site used to go and it isn't a comfortable time at all it is like treading on egg shells, you feel really SA again. That is what SA does to you. It is hard to appreciate just how negative you were until you are on the other side.

I know it probably doesn't sound nice to say that about them. Not all are cynical, but quite a lot are to be honest. They probably have a good reason for being so, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush unless you want to live in exile. Resentment is always round the corner. Most SA are not on the spectrum and want a "normal" social life. it is understandable they are frustrated.

For me it wasn't like I didn't like my own company. I have fine on my own. I can spend months without interacting socially. One of my friends is the total opposite and can't spend a second. I just wanted to have friends, and I didn't have reciprocal friends before 23.

I don't have social enxiety disorder officially but the signs are all there.

i have it too.
and i do agree its no fun

I have social anxiety and have had for as long as I can remember. Every single social situation makes me incredibly anxious, even if it's with someone I've known for years and years. I'd give anything to be able to speak in public without anxiety and discomfort.

Same here.

But I still take an effort to publicly speak when I need too, despite my anxiety towards it. The anxiety means nothing if you over come it.

I used to have bad anxiety over just chatting with a stranger, or going on a date, or talking to someone I don't know over the phone. But after doing such social things for years, over coming the anxiety, it tends to fade away. But to publicly speak, and to be the center of attention, still nerves me to this day.

the part where you talk about the symptoms of anxiety, i get them quite alot when i meet up with friends or a group of people. it is annoying. i havent got anxiety disorder, but i have symptoms. do you have any stratagies for coping with it? i try deep breathing which kind of works, though takes alot of practice

When I was about 10 I was forced to join a drama group to try to overcome my extreme anxiety. Standing up on a big stage shaking from head to foot and stammering through a few lines whilst trying not to cry wasn't exactly what I would call fun. I hated every second of it and was always pushed to the back of the group and ignored, not that I really minded that. By the time I left I was more socially anxious than I had been for years and flat-out refused to join any other sort of club or group.

It's good that some of your anxiety has faded and I think it was really brave of you to make the effort. I hope that can happen to me some day. When I was younger I always thought that by the time I was this age I wouldn't find it so hard, but if anything it's just got more prominent over the years to the point that I don't even bother trying to connect with people any more. I'll talk if someone talks to me because I hate to be rude but the conversation never lasts long, however hard I try.

Last edited by Hala on 23 Apr 2009, 6:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

DXed with it, but I don't have a problem speaking in public if I'm well-prepared. If I have to speak extemporaneously, sometimes I'll still have a minor panic attack.

The reason I'm OK in public is that my parents had me performing (singing) in front of audiences since I was five years old. Practice can help with this problem, but it can be really hard to keep putting yourself into situations that are so uncomfortable.

Socializing, or just anticipating socializing in smaller groups of people I don't know very well can still be very difficult . . .

Z

I had to be in a mini shakespeare play when I was around the age of 11-12. I was probably just as anxious as you were. I empathize.



All it takes is action, courage, and time to build confidence. As long as you aren't spineless, you can make the long trek. The anxiety may always be there, but the anxiety means nothing if you don't let it bring you down.

Thanks very much for your help, you've given me some hope for the future.

I probably have it. To me, Social Anxiety Disorder and Aspergers sound almost identical because they both involve trouble with social interaction but I'm sure there's a difference. Nevertheless I probably have both.

Pretty much the same thing here, it's been with me ever since I was a child. Although I have not been officially diagnosed, I'm absolutely sure I have Social Anxiety Disorder; it would explain the increase in pulse, my mind rushing to the point of dizziness sometimes, shaking, stomach aches and a driving need to get [/i]out[i] of certain situations. It can get absolutely unbearable at places like parties (which I have ceased attending altogether) and even introducing myself and going to say hi. Group conversations get really uncomfortable for me too. And similarly, I won't ignore people who try to talk to me but sometimes, especially with intimidating sort of people, it gets to be too much. However, I find that my conversational skills and general ability to cope with socializing do far better while communicating over the Internet.