[skyscraper]

Hi

I was told by my old therapist that there's a possibility that I could have social anxiety disorder. I wasn't all too sure about that because I've never had a panic attack before. When I see the word ''anxiety'', I automatically think panic attacks. I know that I'm socially inept and awkward, but I was just wondering if it is possible to have S.A.D and not have panic attacks?

[Ipod1]

Hi, yeah I don't see why that couldn't be possible. And anxiety isn't just panics attacks it's constant dread and worry for me with occasional panic attacks. Most social anxiety is people think they're going to do something embarrassing or faint or something in front of others and just kinda dwell on that, or a number of other things. Just my two cents.

[Ipod1]

But then again you could just be shy. I'm a little awkward sometimes too and worry what people think about me :/

[skyscraper]

Thanks for answering. I know for a fact that I'm not just shy. I worry way to much about what other people think about me and other things that go with social interaction.

[lancetrot]

Hi
Agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder most often go hand in hand with panic disorder. When agoraphobia is diagnosed without panic disorder, severe anxiety is felt but not to the level that it propels a panic attack.

[Phoboxyl]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Hi

I was told by my old therapist that there's a possibility that I could have social anxiety disorder. I wasn't all too sure about that because I've never had a panic attack before. When I see the word ''anxiety'', I automatically think panic attacks. I know that I'm socially inept and awkward, but I was just wondering if it is possible to have S.A.D and not have panic attacks?

Sky, I am not a psychologist but I can give you my opinion on your diagnosis if you list your symptoms. You do not have to have panic attacks to be social phobic. Panic is a separate disorder that can be associated with social phobia when it is severe.

A lot of people with SA have anxiety "spikes" instead of attacks. They feel an intense surge in anxiety, red face, tingles, chills of dread/shame down their spine, sweating, shaking, stuttering perhaps, and usually intense depression. This is associated with an over-powering need to extricate themselves from the situation causing that feeling. Spikes are different from panic attacks in that they don't completely overwhelm a person to the point of collapse or near collapse. It's primarily a difference of degree.

[distantfuego]

I have social anxiety, and I rarely have panic attacks.

[bipolarmedstudent]

I have social anxiety, and almost never have panic attacks. Instead, I just avoid social situations (to an extreme degree).

Same here...haven't officially been diagnosed, but I believe I have always suffered from SAD & I've never had a panic attack either.

[2bme]

Also have SA. Get very little panic attacks, but a lot of dread in any situation. So I avoid and stay inside out of harms way most of the time.

[Rose76]

I've had social anxiety since I was a toddler. Almost all my life, I never had panic attacks. My social anxiety was sufficient to cause me extreme sensitivity and isolation, as a child. I think that right there means it is a disorder. For you, also, I would say the same thing.

I forced myself out into the world, and I came to seem to function normal at times. That doesn't mean it isn't there underneath. I think that, if anyone has had real social anxiety when they were young, they will always have it, as a factor to be contended with.

Some years ago, I developed something new. I began getting pretty serious chest pain when I am extremely anxious about anything, social or otherwise. I had it two mornings ago, worrying about my finances.

I think people manifest anxiety in different ways. Anxiety can fuel all kinds of symptoms. I don't think that not having panic attacks means you don't have a serious anxiety disorder. My anxiety disorder lasted for many years into adulthood before causing the chest pain.

I think you, yourself, are the best judge of whether your anxiety in social situations is a big enough bother to say itthat rises to the level of a pervasive disorder. Do you plan things you do, sometimes, based around trying to avoid getting social situations to an extent that just is not normal? In cafeterias, I was always afraid that, if I went to join people to eat, they might not want me at their table. Now I force myself to join others, and it has gotten much easier. Still, the anxiety just comes through in other ways.

I think it is fear of rejection. Don't let it control you. Try and do things that seem a bit difficult. Sometimes, you will be hurt. Tell yourself that's not the end of the world when it happens. Good Luck.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I've had social anxiety since I was a toddler. Almost all my life, I never had panic attacks. My social anxiety was sufficient to cause me extreme sensitivity and isolation, as a child. I think that right there means it is a disorder. For you, also, I would say the same thing.

I forced myself out into the world, and I came to seem to function normal at times. That doesn't mean it isn't there underneath. I think that, if anyone has had real social anxiety when they were young, they will always have it, as a factor to be contended with.

Some years ago, I developed something new. I began getting pretty serious chest pain when I am extremely anxious about anything, social or otherwise. I had it two mornings ago, worrying about my finances.

I think people manifest anxiety in different ways. Anxiety can fuel all kinds of symptoms. I don't think that not having panic attacks means you don't have a serious anxiety disorder. My anxiety disorder lasted for many years into adulthood before causing the chest pain.

I think you, yourself, are the best judge of whether your anxiety in social situations is a big enough bother to say itthat rises to the level of a pervasive disorder. Do you plan things you do, sometimes, based around trying to avoid getting social situations to an extent that just is not normal? In cafeterias, I was always afraid that, if I went to join people to eat, they might not want me at their table. Now I force myself to join others, and it has gotten much easier. Still, the anxiety just comes through in other ways.

I think it is fear of rejection. Don't let it control you. Try and do things that seem a bit difficult. Sometimes, you will be hurt. Tell yourself that's not the end of the world when it happens. Good Luck.

Yes, I plan everything I do based around trying to avoid social situations. Mostly in school though. I don't even go to the cafeteria. Everyday I go to the library and hide from people. I cannot function well in the cafeteria (or in any social situation). I don't know why but I get very anxious and I start to lose control of myself. I don't like eating in front of people and I don't have any friends. So that's some other reasons why I don't go in the cafeteria. I want to have friends but it's just so hard for me to make them. I don't know how to have a conversation with people. I've been like this my whole life. When I'm at home and the door bell rings, I get a sudden panic/anxious feeling in my chest, I stop everything I'm doing, and I go hide somewhere. I've been doing that since I was really little and even at 15 I still do it!

Wow, your very brave for doing that! I could never see myself joining people to eat. I'd be so terrified that they wouldn't want me at their table and that they would be tell me to leave. I agree. I think it is a fear of rejection too. I hate being rejected. My mom even rejects me. Anyway, thank you for the advice. Maybe one day I'll step out of my comfort zone and try doing something that seems a bit difficult.

[Rose76]

((((skyscraper)))) There is no ifs or ands about it. Social anxiety has a strangle hold on you. If your therapist is still mulling this over . . . trying to decide, well - maybe your therapist needs to WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION. I hate it when people get paid to occupy a chair and there is no accountability to demonstrate in a measurable way that they are assisting you to improve. Still, I been there and done that. It seems so nice when you have fear of rejection to have someone in front of you who you don't have a big fear of rejection from. That DOES NOT mean the process is doing you one dang bit of good. Only thing that helped me was partial hospitalization cause I was forced to interact with others.

I had the option of coming home for lunch in grammar school. I took that option so it also got me out of recess. In high school, I spent lunch time in the girls' room fixing and refixing my hair and makeup. Now and then, I would go into a stall, so my presence at the mirror would seem so constant. But I have an ornery streak. One day, after a year of this, I was just so dang hungry, I said to myself, "I'm getting something to eat no matter what it costs my pride." Got my tray of food and sat at an empty table. Oh, did that lunch taste good. I think I read a magazine while eating. I did that for weeks, till a nice girl in my English class came and gave me a formal invitation to join her table. She kept doing that every day. One day she said, "Don't make me come and get you all the time. You know where we eat, so just come on over." She was a rare person, and I trusted her, and I do hope life has been very good to her. She became my first high school friend. And it wasn't out of pity. I found out she really liked me. She was a cheerleader, so you can't pre-judge people. Now tears come to my eyes. Not sure why.

Unlike you, I was the belle of the ball in my on home around my own family. When you mentioned becoming fearful in you own home, I suspected that something else was different. I suspected that you had gotten some harsh treatment from a family member. (That really wasn't my problem.) Then you mentioned that your Mom rejects you. I thought - so there we have it, or a good part of it. Recovering from parental rejection is a whole lot harder, I would think, than getting a grip on uncomplicated social anxiety. (Not that it is ever uncomplicated.)

I won't pretend to have all the answers, but I have an abusive sibling. Based on trying all different thinks on that front, I would make this recommendation. You are going to have to put up a wall between you and your Mom. That's unconventional advice, I know. I stand by it. All the therapy in the world - even if your Mom would go, which she won't - is going to change nothing. If you can still love her - that's fine. Your wall can have some windows in it. You can watch her through the windows. Let her have a peak at you, now and then. Say "Good Morning" and "Good Night" warmly to her if that seems to work okay.

By a "wall," I mean don't let her engage you on her terms. Since you are still young, that is going to be hard - for you, maybe impossible. I take it you still live with her. I had to do that with my father, from about age 16, and I did love my father. But he was a domineering control-freak. I was a very well-behaved kid, but just ornery enough that I wasn't going to be controled, beyond reasonable. I obeyed and respected my father. But I kept kind of aloof. I kept my distance. If he wanted to chat with me, and he did because he actually liked me, he had to watch what he said. If not, I'ld let that conversation become real one-sided, real soon.

Your ability to refrain from talking, which, like me, your probably real good at, can become a secret weapon - your strength. Learn to simply not comment on something that is said to you that is not said in good will. Learn that you don't have to defend your decisions to anyone, unless you end up in court. It might not be wise to share things with Mom, if she tends to screen what you say, looking for something she can find fault with. Stay with safe subjects - like the weather. And don't be overly inviting to let her use you as her captive confidant.

The library is not the worst place in the world to spend your time. It was my second home. I came to be a lover of libraries. Spend your time there well.

I think you're more brave than you know. And less strange than you might think - all humans hate to be rejected.

[with or without you]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Hi

I was told by my old therapist that there's a possibility that I could have social anxiety disorder. I wasn't all too sure about that because I've never had a panic attack before. When I see the word ''anxiety'', I automatically think panic attacks. I know that I'm socially inept and awkward, but I was just wondering if it is possible to have S.A.D and not have panic attacks?

Yes. I never had panic attacks until about 18 months ago. Up to then, nothing.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by with or without you

Yes. I never had panic attacks until about 18 months ago. Up to then, nothing.

What was it like? Having a panic attack. I panic a lot but I've never had a panic attack.

[buttercup17]

oh okay this was very helpful thanks