[alwayssad78]

Hello,

I suffer from a lot of mental health problems including social anxiety. I do not go in to social situations that much because I am afraid of being around people. I take online classes because I do not like being in a big crowd. It is easier for me to post online then it is to talk in person. Anyone else have these issues? How do you control them?

Thanks!

[Travelinglady]

Hello to you, too! I'm sure you are not alone in your social anxiety. Maybe someone who can relate to your experiences will come along soon. Hang in here!

[l8blmr]

Hi. I've been diagnosed with social anxiety. The fear of judgement is a major component. Often there's the belief that one is basically flawed and when your terrible secret is discovered you'll be rejected. I'm only recently learning that others are more kind, loving, and forgiving than I'd realized. Learning to accept yourself and revealing yourself to others is the way to come out on the other side.

[volatile]

i have them too. I barely leave my house. I don't know how to stop it. I know techniques so I don't panic but i would still rather not leave.

[gracez]

Hi alwayssad,

I'm sorry that you're suffering this way. It's no fun to feel alone or uncomfortable around people. I've been severely depressed most of this year and try to hide avoid being around people as much as possible. I can't fake being happy anymore, and can't stomach fake conversations or small talk.

I'm glad you feel able to post online because I appreciate reading your post.

Grace

[Fuzzybear]

[rossiv46]

I barely leave my house also. Battling social phobia as well, but therapist told me you just have to get out there. Was taught breathing techniques to avoid panic attacks and have anxiety meds but I just gotta jump in and swim.

[l8blmr]

I had to laugh at myself. I was reading the socially awkward penguin memes on reddit.com and I could relate to all of them. Then I got to the one that said: "reads socially awkward penguin memes on reddit, can relate to all of them"

[CharactorAssassin]

As I was saying In another post. I'm pretty sure we need to "habituate to the stimulus."
For me I try to go out as much as I can to not be affected by strangers.
I try to commit to do a 45 min a day walk. I'm finding this helps a lot with some music.
music that helps you feel cool or relaxed.
Go to the park. Visit family. Sit with a coffes at a coffee shop with a newspaper or device.
walk around the neighbourhood and treat yourself. Its a day by day thing I think it may get easier. Don't think about smalltalk. don't critize youself if you feel like a drooling idiot after talking to someone. Forget about it. its not necesssry. People understand. Smalltalk my arse. you don't have to be that person. Go inside your body and relax instead. Smalltalk may surface but to hell with gdmaned smalltakk enough already AAAAAAh

[livefast3315]

I'm in the same boat. I'm too depressed and annoyed to laugh and smile and just don't have the energy anymore. I just don't want to be around people and I only leave the house if I have to. I hate small talk and I'm just tired of people and life in general. If I go to the grocery store, shopping mall or nail salon I just want to leave and get out of there asap.

[kaliope]

I rarely leave my house either. but I have safety zones. my home, my car, my place of employment. I am confident at work and can talk to people there. I go to two events per year, so I have all year to prepare myself for going. when I have to go shopping, I prepare myself days, if not weeks ahead of time and extend my safety zone to include a bubble around me when I venture into the store. to go out to dinner and the movies, I have one friend who goes with me all the time so that makes it safe. the events I have to go to, I try to get a friend to go with me so I am not alone. when there, I pretend I am at work, where I am confident, so I can talk to other people if I am approached. I am starting college in the fall. when I went last, that is when I started having panic attacks. I hope that I have a better handle on it now.

Originally Posted by alwayssad78

Hello,

I suffer from a lot of mental health problems including social anxiety. I do not go in to social situations that much because I am afraid of being around people. I take online classes because I do not like being in a big crowd. It is easier for me to post online then it is to talk in person. Anyone else have these issues? How do you control them?

Thanks!

I take pronranolol beta blockers 40mg twice a day. this helps with breathing which in turn helps me to be less paranoid about people watching me. I also started going to a mind mental health group and we all go out for a drink. it helps me that they are so encouraging and it doesnt matter to them if i sometimes just sit quietly. Can you go out at all in a group and be left alone to just get used to the atmosphere? I have bipolar with social anxiety and things just seem to have been changing for me since the pronranolol.