Randall,

Glad you still have your job. I have social anxiety too. Most of the time that isn't my main issue, but there are times when it really makes me uncomfortable or even gets me into trouble. The worst was last December, just a couple of days before Christmas, and my husband insisted that I go to Walmart for him to get a present for his boss. The store was so crowded I couldn't get through the aisles, and I can't stand to be in anybody's way, but was constantly bumping into people, not having room to get out of an aisle so someone could get through, etc., to say nothing of trying to get to the things I needed - if someone was blocking the aisle I needed, I had to either go away and come back later, or try to find a place where I could wait without being in anyone's way. It was awful. I finally got out of there, anxiety level at maximum, and another truck had parked next to mine, leaving like 6 inches of space. Someone was sitting in the truck. I got in my truck, started it up - the only way to get out of the parking spot was to go straight forward (I had pulled all the way through when I parked so I wouldn't have to back up), and a car came and stopped, right where I needed to go, and I didn't have room to turn the other direction. They just sat there staring at me, waiting for my parking spot. I had to try to get out of the way and get out of there, so I tried to maneuver around so that I could go right instead of left, but hit the car behind me, only my anxiety level was so high that I didn't know it. So I went home, and had a visit from the police, citation for hit and run, mandatory court appearance. The next two months were an example of what happens when social anxiety and depression bounce off each other, setting each other off. Not pretty. It was, literally, more than I could deal with.

I'm a musician too. I'm fine in a choir or performing with a group, but put the spotlight on me and I panic and screw up.

So anyway, know that you are not alone. There are really good treatment options for social anxiety - you will find a lot of information at that website, but you'll get the most help if you talk to a therapist about it. Good luck to you!

<font color=red>"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." -Harriet Braiker</font color=red>