Hello Everyone:

It's been a long time since I've posted here, but I was hoping to get the advice of many of the wonderful members.

Several months ago I was searching the wonderful world wide web when I realized the source of many of my problems over the years. I am 99.99% confident that I am a sufferer of Social Anxiety Disorder. I am okay with this due to the fact that it answers many of my questions, however my family is not. My husband has told me that I just have to, "Get out there and do the things that cause anxiety/panic attacks, because if I do then with time it will get easier." My mom, dad and sister have insinuated that I should just get over my whining and stop hiding behind excuses. They also seem to get great pleasure out of poking fun at me saying that my problem lies within the fact that I am afraid of glass doors which is not the case. This hurts more than anyone could ever imagine. My husband and I got into quite an arguement over this last night. I told him that I think he views Social Anxiety as a cop out and while he denied it, he countered my comment by saying that maybe if I talk to someone they can help me get over it. I don't feel that it is something that people can just get over. I cried my eyes out and told him that I am tired of trying to convince everyone of what I have and how terrible it is! My "disease" has progressed to the point where I will only go out in public with my husband or another comfort figure and when I do have a social event to go to, more often than not I end up getting myself physically sick over the thought of going.

What can I do??? How can I get everyone to take me seriously?? How do I gain respect from my husband, family and others whom either don't know about or don't care to know about the disease? Why does it take people hurting themselves to get the attention and/or compassion that they deserve?? Where do I go from here and how do I keep it from ruining my marriage?

Also, my husband stated that he believed that if I did go to a Psychiatrist and get diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder that maybe I would be eligible to collect Disability. Does this sound right to anyone?

Please advise!