[tajk]

I was diagnosed with BPD last year but I am still struggling with something and I don't know if I have an Anxiety disorder or not. I have always just chalked it up to shyness. I really want to become involved with people and make some more friends but I just panic when I have to talk to people and always say something stupid. People have said that they think I am stuck up which I am not. I tend to make up excuses to not go to social events. My Great Nana had BPD and my Nana has always been really worried about what people think. A few years ago she started not leaving her neighborhood , then she wouldn't leave her block then she wouldn't leave her yard, then her house. Now she lives in three rooms of her house. She is so much like me that I am scared that is how I will end up. Is it possible to have BPD and an Anxiety disorder? I am scared to go to my pdoc and ask I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac.

[misty324]

I don't think you would be perceived as a hypochondriac. Anxiety disorders seem to often "pair up" with other diseases. I know that's the case with me. I have depression as primary, anxiety/panic disorder as secondary and also have ADD and OCD.

I don't know if it's been medically proven, but I tend to believe that we are predisposed to one mental obstacle, that others could very well accompany it.

Hearing you say people think you are stuck up sounds like I could have written that sentence! I get that same comment a lot because it takes me a while to "warm up" to people. You could very well just be shy like you say, but you owe it to yourself to talk to your dr. about it.

Good luck!
Namaste,
Misty

[AAAAA]

I am one of those people that would never leave the house. I am usually in my bedroom. I don't know how it started, or when it went from a luxury not to have to leave to a necessity.

I do know that there are meds to help me. I'm not a social butterfly by any means, but I am able to get by with the meds!

[tajk]

Thanks a bunch for the comment.

[sunshinesue]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
AAAAA said:
I am one of those people that would never leave the house. I am usually in my bedroom. I don't know how it started, or when it went from a luxury not to have to leave to a necessity.

I do know that there are meds to help me. I'm not a social butterfly by any means, but I am able to get by with the meds!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

You are so much like me. I used to love going out shopping in town and visiting relatives for a chat and coffee. I was hardly ever in the house. Recently though, after a dose of the flu which left me prone to panic attacks again after being almost free of them for five years, I've been scared to leave the house in case I have a panic attack outside.

Sue

[AAAAA]

The meds are very helpful, but they are addictive and that runs in my family so I only take them when I absolutely positively cannot take anymore.

There are some antidepressants such as Effexor that has an anti anxiety component in them.

I really have become quite the pill pusher, but I'm serious, better living through better medication!

[Perna]

I have found from my great age :-) and anxiety that one can't just go out and start meeting people and end up with friends, etc. It doesn't work like that. I believe people who readily join groups and enjoy that sort of thing don't already have anxiety disorders!

For me, I started very slow and just greeted anonymous people like those at stores, librarians, and other service people. Then I worked my way up to actually have a conversation with grocery clearks, asking about their day, etc. Sometimes now I will enter conversations between two other "public" people, make a joke or comment.

I find it easier to talk in a classroom so take classes; I practice thinking of things to say and "talking" by posting a lot in communities like this and going to chats, etc. I think a lot of working with anxiety is practice, finding little things that help and practicing them and looking for new tips to add to one's repetoire, etc.