social phobia

Been having a lot of anxiety, I'm supposed to see a friend today and my heart wont stop racing. I don't want to see anyone, I just want to lock all my doors and crawl into bed and hide from everyone. I haven't been been out of my house in weeks for fear of seeing or talking to people, but I'm feeling all cooped up and isolated now. I really do want to see people, make connections, friendships, but it's just so hard. I don't know how I'll even be able to see my friend today, just thinking about it is giving me a panic attack! She's stuck with me along time and I feel so bad for always avoiding her, she really doesn't deserve to have someone like me as a friend..

just wondering...what is it about people that scares you?

I feel the same some times its hard
maybe you can get something from your dr

I'm not even sure, people just make me nervous. I've had bad experiences with them since I was a kid, I was made fun of and picked on a lot. All the friends I've ever had have always just dumped me for no real reasons so it's kind of left me with a sour feeling towards most people. I guess what scares me most about people is their thoughts, which may sound a little weird and I can't really explain it. I'm not really scared about their judgements, well sort of, but it's what they do with their thoughts, how they act on them. I guess I feel like everyone is just out to get me

Probably time to see the Doctor to get some meds and if you are on them now, maybe you need a med adjustment to help you feel better. I hate anxiety. It is the most terrible feeling. I have dealt with it off and on for twenty years. I have good meds and now I have no more panic attacks just occasional scared feelings. Thats bad enough though. No one likes to be frightened.

I think you had some good insight into the "why" of your anxiety. I think its also about "to thine own self be true"....Its important we listen to ourselves about what causes the anxiety before we get into something that really triggers it.

I hope you feel better. Thanks for posting

I have always said,

Nobody can hurt you if they don't touch you.
If they touch you knock their damn socks off.

yea? that must have been quite hurtful, being picked on like that by others. Again, it would have felt quite hurtful being rejected by those kids with no explanation. So it's no wonder why people make you feel nervous. You don't feel confident enough to be able to handle rejection and not take things personally now that you're older? It sounds like no-one was there to step in for you as a kid, but you could always learn coping strategies now that you're an adult. CBT, assertiveness, and mindfulness for example. Just need to be proactive/take self-responsibility.

What shape would people acting on their thoughts take? You believe that people are always out to get you? so you're anticipating confrontation/rejection and your best method of dealing with that is to avoid it altogether...stay at home? What would you do if someone was cruel to your face? why would you accept that what they say is true and go into self-doubt (it is a judgment after all)?

I truly feel your pain here. I have had severe anxiety/social phobia for the longest time, and I believe it stemmed from when I was a little kid and got bullied all the time. And I also feel your lack of being unable to explain what and how people make you panicked. It feels like they are always judging you, and even though you tell yourself you aren't afraid of what they think, and believe you don't, something about it still bothers you; what's going on in their heads, what they are thinking. I'm not really sure if it describes you or not, but I know for me, I don't really know why I am so afraid of people. It has a lot to do with what you said, their thoughts, their actions, how they act on their thoughts. It's frustrating, and nerve-wracking, and I can't shake it off no matter what I do.
I very rarely get out of the house, and when I do, it is usually with my family. I have convinced myself that I don't need people, and don't want to be around people.

The only difference between you and I is that I legitimately do not want to be around people. I could care less for them anyways, and my severe anxiety just gives me another reason to avoid them. I think this might be incorporated into other issues I have though, so I think I'll just stop there. c:

I agree with those who spoke above; it's time to see a doctor. And if you're anything like me, even that will make you nervous. But nothing will ever get solved if you don't see a doctor, and you very well may need therapy as well. I am on medication now, but it hasn't helped me any. I'm on a very low dose though, and I believe it can help me, I just need to try something different. c:
Find a good therapist, one who specializes in Social Phobia and Anxiety. It sounds like you may have Panic Disorder as well, much like me. Trust me, there are therapists out there that can help you out along the way!

It will be a long journey, but it will be worth it, especially since you long for social relationships! I will be trying to get better as well. <3

Best of luck!

I could have written that post myself. I go through the same thing time and time again. Hugs to you and I hope you can overcome this

You've described me very well! I've been in therapy for a little over a month now and I still have problems takling to my T. Actually, because of recent discoveries my social problems have been pushed aside for more 'urgent' problems and in my opinion they arent urgent problems at all. And this is where I have a slight problem with therapy, they don't really listen to my concerns or the problems that I want help with, it's very frustrating! Hopefully they'll start listening soon

Good luck to you too!

I feel as if I could have written your post