Whoswho. Thank you so much for replying. It means a lot, and what you said made a lot of sense to me. Thank you.

I'm still trying to figure out what happened for me. I am naturally not an anxious person! Or at least I never thought I was. I certainly would have never said I had social anxiety; I was always the life of the party and loved to be the centre of attention. Actors! I've been thinking a lot on who I use to be, and how I want to get back to that. I'm using it as motivation to get better and worth through things.

I feel like I'm working backwards on Exposure Therapy, lol. My mom accompanies me most places, although I've been trying to take steps away from that this week since her ankle is broken and she can't really accompany me anywhere. With the exception of one freak out on the bus home (which I ended up posting a threat about as I was on the bus from my phone so I could keep busy) I've been okay.

I'm coming to realize that there is no "cure" to anything that isn't at lest 50% willpower and determination. Though I don't think I can do it based only on my willpower, I know I can do about half of it, and I think I'm going to start there. I like how you put it. "How can I function even with anxiety?" I am going to have to keep that in mind.

Ladybird, thank you as well for sharing your experience with me, and your sons experience.

I too have a massive phone phobia. I always have, and it use to extend into giving my order to a waiter, and even buying something at the cash register. For me I think it's based in a "am I acting appropriately, omg I'm standing out, because I'm stupid, they're laughing at me, I'm going to be that girl who everyone laughs at!" I always feel judged on my purchases, and orders, even online if I order multiple times from the same site! I never want to end up as an internet meme or something, and I always feel like I'm doing something wrong. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to do anything on the phone on my own... which sucks because I love take out food! The only people I can talk to on the phone are people I've met often in person.

My T's not too much of a problem in himself. We're still in the getting to know you stages. And the Skype didn't bother me too much because I know him, but I don't want to feel like I'm wasting his time or something. I've already missed appointments from being 45 min late or getting the wrong time and stuff. I started feeling bad about all of that ages ago, and it only compounds.

I would love to sit my parents down and tell them to make me do it on my own, but I'm scared. Despite my bravado above, I am still petrified and I don't want to get rid of the training wheels because I don't want to fall (to use a metaphor). I will have to just suck it up at some point. *deep breath* Regardless, I'm going to push really hard not to give in, even if it's at the point where the fear is physically painful.

Quick note on the washing: when I start getting really worked up on it, I'm going to start convincing myself it's not my anxiety that I need to wash my clothes at my parents, but because I can't afford to wash them at my house! Regardless, I'm going to try and do the laundry with my sister (who's visiting) today.

And a final note for Ladybird. Most 20 year olds live either on their own or with a room mate. It's not uncommon to find people still living at home, but it's socially frowned upon unless it's obviously cultural. ie, if you're Italian, it's not a bad thing to be living at home, but if you're "wester" then it better be for financial reasons or else, wtf man!? Even if you're having financial problems it's better to be trying to live away from your parents than it is to depend on them. Or at least as far as I've experienced that's the idea in "mainstream western culture".

Thank you both so much for replying. I'm sorry I couldn't reply faster, but a lot has been going on. I am working on an essay for school, and an exam that I am likely going to fail because I know **** all about Islam (which is what the exam is on)! My issue is not the religion, but all of the arabic words I have to know! And names and dates! Gah!

Alright, I'm going to get back to work. I just wanted to reply because I've been trying to find time to just sit and write it out. Thank you both so so so much for your replies, they were extremely helpful and encouraging and enlightening. I hope both of you are doing all right, and if it's okay for me to say it, I promise I'm going to fight to get past this for you two as well as myself. I know that's weird... but it's true.