[AzulOscuro]

I go on giving steps forwards, day after day, so much that I even surprise myself. Everything has changed: Relation with my family, I keep and look for contact with my friends, I’m open to make new friendships, open to interact with unknown people. I don’t feel fear asking for things or information to unknown people, I’m much more spontaneous and much more myself without any barrier.

It all began with mindfulness to accept myself and let myself make mistakes, taking a mistake as something inevitable, something to learn from and that won’t ever imply that I’m any less for making them. and Also following advices to do tasks that could make me stronger and satisfied. Little by little.

Since my last depression, lasting till last October, I’ve been a balance person and pretty happy. So, today that it’s October, 2nd, I guess it’s kind of my anniversary.
So, I want to say to myself: Olé! Vamos!

I don’t forget you, folks! All of you who suffer social anxiety and I wish you all the best.

[Skeezyks]

Thanks for sharing your success!

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for sharing

[AzulOscuro]

Nice while it lasted 😀 Now, my feet are on the ground. 🥲
I don’t know whether people or myself turn yourself into reality.
I know that I have changed but not sure about people noticing it. Once they put on a label you’re lost.

[Fuzzybear]

Hey Azul, I'm sorry things are rough right now. I think that if you know you've changed, then what some people might think isn't so relevant. But I know it can still hurt, and does hurt if those ''people'' are our relatives. Hold onto your Truth! I'm guessing maybe you're dealing with some judgmental/narrow minded people, idk. Hoping things get better for you soon!

[AzulOscuro]

Thank you, Fuzzy.
It said things happen for a reason. I’d say sometimes for more than one.
But, you know, positive is life and negative is an opportunity to learn. 😀

I’m only happy being myself and if some people don’t appreciate how I am, out of modesty, I’m pretty Ok as a person. Their lost. I’m gonna focuses at being myself with myself.
I may seem conceited but I’m just normal conceited. 🤣

[AzulOscuro]

Update: Bad moments are only an opportunity you have to think and become stronger.

[Rose76]

I was going to congratulate you on a happy anniversary. Then I read your next post. I hope you didn't lose faith in your progress. A year of doing well is nothing to sneeze at. Build on past success. Setbacks happen. They don't negate all that you did right.

[AzulOscuro]

Thank you, Rose. I had a relapse but now I’m at the same point of progress. So, I’m doing well.
And, you’re right. Looking back, taking into account your past success helps. 😀

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by AzulOscuro

Thank you, Rose. I had a relapse but now I’m at the same point of progress. So, I’m doing well.
And, you’re right. Looking back, taking into account your past success helps. 😀

I'm so glad for you.

[AzulOscuro]

Do you also have social anxiety?

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by AzulOscuro

Do you also have social anxiety?

Yes.

I mostly post about my recurring episodes of depression. However, truth be told, my more fundamental problem is social anxiety. It leads to me spending too much time alone. Then isolation leads to depression.

I'm in the midst of an episode right now. I've hardly been leaving my apartment for days.

[AzulOscuro]

Yes, I know you are having now a hard time. I know it for your posts in depression thread. I also have episodes as such.

Here, the same. Depression is a manifestation of my anxiety. Self-esteem’s role is very important in these cases to cope with anxiety and keep the depression at bay. The problem is that bettering a damaged self-esteem is not so easy and a long road. It’s kind of a change in mindset. I got it. And this is my main achievement in all my life. Because, before I always believed myself the last person, the less meaningful person in the world. That is why it’s my best achievement.

How is your self-esteem going, if you don’t mind to reply?

[Rose76]

I don't think I've ever experienced any big loss of self-esteem. Growing up I received plenty of favorable attention. I've had my failures. They haven't made me think badly of myself. I've never been someone who gets pushed around easily. But, for some reason, I don't easily get to know other people. Also, I don't expect others to like me. I've been told that I'm hard to get to know. I would say that I'm not real skillful at socializing. Experience leads to skill. I never spent much time involving myself in activity where I would gain experience. Being around others often has felt very stressful to me. I worry I'll say the wrong thing. Generally, I like people, but I feel I'm too different from them. Everyone is unique. We're all different. But I think I'm really peculiar, or that others find me peculiar. That's not to say that I have a poor opinion of myself. I just don't expect others to want much to do with me. I guess it boils down to fear of rejection.

No one fits in well everywhere with everyone. I think you have to keep trying out different involvements to discover where you click with others and can share having something in common. My trouble is I'm not making much effort. Somehow, I just don't expect to find much satisfaction outside of myself. So my pursuits are solitary. It becomes a lifestyle that's hard to get out of.

[AzulOscuro]

It sounds more to avoidant personality disorder or at least, traits of this disorder.

Ever were diagnosed?

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by AzulOscuro

It sounds more to avoidant personality disorder or at least, traits of this disorder.

Ever were diagnosed?

No, I'm not formally diagnosed with that. I certainly have traits.

I know what's wrong with me. I know what it takes to overcome avoidant tendencies. I've pushed myself to do things all my life. That's really all you can do. That's how you gain experience and become more socially skilled. I'm fine in certain contexts, where I'm sure of what my role is. For a short interval, I could convince most anyone that I'm perfectly normal. But I'm not.

[AzulOscuro]

Originally Posted by Rose76

No, I'm not formally diagnosed with that. I certainly have traits.

I know what's wrong with me. I know what it takes to overcome avoidant tendencies. I've pushed myself to do things all my life. That's really all you can do. That's how you gain experience and become more socially skilled. I'm fine in certain contexts, where I'm sure of what my role is. For a short interval, I could convince most anyone that I'm perfectly normal. But I'm not.

You made a portrait of me, too. Here it’s exactly the same. I was diagnosed with Social Phobia, traits of avoidant personality and anxiety.
I live the same you’ve described for all my life.

[walkingthecow]

My Uncle once said, "Normal people are people you don't know to well."

[AzulOscuro]

Originally Posted by walkingthecow

My Uncle once said, "Normal people are people you don't know to well."

It’s true. Normality doesn’t exists. It’s only an artificial term. 😀