[jlaudeman]

I myself have social anxiety and BPD, and i have a girlfriend who has social anxiety but who has never been to a doctor and not on meds for it. I myself dont think my case of social anxiety is as bad as hers and I am trying to help here every way I can. Currently I am reading Painfly Shy and its helping me and I give her advice on what I read. I really feel she needs to be on meds and thearpy to help your anxieties, but her father doesnt want her to be. She said she saw a school councleor about it and they called home to her dad and then later he got upset at her because he thinks she can be cured 'naturally' I want the best for her and so I am coming here to ask for your advice so I can help her with the support she isnt getting. She is really a shy and reserved person and the thing that worrys me most about her is her eating. She says she doesnt eat lunch at school because she thinks everyone is watching her and then she says it causes lack of concentration in class. But while she is home she will eat junk food often. She is really thin as it is and weights under 100 pounds. She said she cant even eat in front of me when its just us two. She can eat little things and junk food though. She told me later that she doesnt eat because she has a fear of throwing up and that if she does that then she will start becoming bulimic. As far as i know she doesnt binge and purge. What can I do to help her get over this fear of people watching her eat. Thank you for your help.

[Taipans]

Her dad sounds like a naive know it all. I have run into a lot of people that act the way he does. It’s almost impossible to change their skepticism. She is going to have to stand up to her father and insist on seeing a doctor. If he won’t allow it then if you don’t mind making things messy she can go to her school counselor again and ask family services to help. She has rights and deserves medical treatment just like everyone else. This sounds very sticky and I commend you for wanting to get her help. I know I wasn’t any help but I do wish you all the luck.