[Alliecat72]

Hi I am a newbie here...but I suffer from social anxiety disorder. I have for quite awhile. I am on Effexor it was working well but I think I need a higher dose. I have been avoiding people except my boyfriend who I live with. I have been treating him like crap. It's PMS which my symptoms seem to be much worse during PMS. I have so irritible and moody it's starting to really get to me. I have an appointment to see my doctor on Nov 7th so in the meanwhile I just have to deal...but it's so depressing lately. I am 33 years old, no job and living in a lower class apartment building than I am use to. I moved here to be close to my parents who live just down the street. The building itself is ok but the rent is so cheap that it attracts the usavory type of people here. I think I feel out of place but I love this apartment. I am just such a mess these days that I am trying to figure out what is making me feel so off..besides my lovely chemical imbalance.

[JustBen]

Welcome to the forums, Alliecat72. I don't have SA myself, but I do have friends with it, so I understand how hard it can be to deal with. Hope you like the forums. We've got great people here.

[kimmydawn]

welcome, alliecat! i suffer social anxiety occasionally when my general anxieties are very high. i can only imagine what it is to suffer on a regular basis. have you talked to dr about the feeling that you're needing a higher dose of meds.

i can sure relate with the PMS as well...it just magnifies everything and what's not even there.

i'm glad you're here. keep talking

[roblobster]

Hi Alliecat!

I have social anxiety too... it sucks, doesn't it? I get depressed about it too at times... it seems to have affected my life for so long in so many ways that sometimes I'd rather just throw my hands up and become a hermit. Wish you luck at your doctor appt. and hope you stick around!

[Myzen]

Hi alliecat,

I echo the others here. This is the place to be if you are feeling like isolating. You can work with your feelings here and then step back into 3d when you feel better.

IMHO social anxiety is often part of a wider depression/ anxiety thing and we need to address the whole package really. Finding out what's going on with other sufferers is a good way of finding your own level. I've had a couple of diagnoses from doctors but I felt that they were just ticking boxes; they hadn't known me over time or in the different contexts of my life.

It was by relating with people here,and reading posts in all the sections that I came to understand where I am. It takes a while, I would say don't give up, stick around.

Good thoughts. M