[Bentay]

So as some of u may know my therapy for SA ended a while back (in Jan) but I have one final session on Wed (long story). I know therapy really helped, but Im still SO anxious about things, like I dread making social telephone calls, being open with ppl, just knowing if what im doing is right when im interacting with people socially, as I fear being judged or looking like an idiot- its all too scary for me still.

It just makes me sad & I feel its my fault that after two years in therapy I should have had the tools to be able to interact with ppl and just be 'normal'

Has anyone else been in, or is receiving therapy for Social Axiety ? i would love to hear your experiences and if therapy helped and how long it took. Thank you.

[HazelGirl]

I do not have social anxiety, but I do have general anxiety, and I know that the best way to become less afraid of something is to just do it, even if you're terrified. And then do it again and again and again until it's no longer as scary.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I'm dealing with general anxiety and social anxiety...I've been with my T for almost 5 years now, she's given me tons of tools, I'm on Xanax, and tonight at Target, I started to have an anxiety attack.

There are many things that are easier for me now than they were when I first started therapy. There are some things that are still so hard! There are some social situations that I will probably never be comfortable in, so I choose to just avoid those as much as possible.

There is no set time for how long learning to deal with anxiety can take, and I don't think there's a set method. I think it's different for each person, because while the symptoms can be similar from person to person, the triggers can be vastly different.

I once asked my T if I would ever be able to be "normal" and she asked me what I considered normal. I told her "not feeling anxious," and her reply was that I will probably always feel some level of anxiety - that's the way I'm wired. For me, that's normal. I can learn tools to deal with the anxiety, but there will always be some level there that I will have to either tolerate or try to lessen to a level that I can tolerate.

[gypsy pink]

Originally Posted by Bentay

So as some of u may know my therapy for SA ended a while back (in Jan) but I have one final session on Wed (long story). I know therapy really helped, but Im still SO anxious about things, like I dread making social telephone calls, being open with ppl, just knowing if what im doing is right when im interacting with people socially, as I fear being judged or looking like an idiot- its all too scary for me still.

It just makes me sad & I feel its my fault that after two years in therapy I should have had the tools to be able to interact with ppl and just be 'normal'

Has anyone else been in, or is receiving therapy for Social Axiety ? i would love to hear your experiences and if therapy helped and how long it took. Thank you.

I have social anxiety since I was a child and at 60, I still do. Generic Xanax helps me but as far as ever feeling "normal", so far I have not. I dread the phone as well, and avoid social functions. Counseling has helped somewhat but I may go over a year or two without seeking it. This very well be something I have to learn to live with. Thanks for sharing, you described the way I feel much of the time.

[Perna]

It took age, experience, and a whole lot of therapy time/support to get over being afraid of my shadow Mostly being exposed to really really scary things and finding out I didn't die was the biggest help. Back in 2007 I actually agreed to be on a "panel" and tell my story and I forgot what I was going to say (my own story and I forget? LOL) but because of my age, experience and all the therapy I'd had I was able to weather the really awkward pause, find and pick up the thread and continue through. Giving myself experiences like that throughout my life have helped me the most.

[nottrustin]

I have a very hard time it large crowds where I don't feel I have my bubble of space around me. Especially if it line of people all jammed together and walking. The only way I have figured to deal with it is as soon as I find an opening to get out of the line I do.

Today we went to the christening of a navy ship there were about 20,000 people there..when were were jammed in a line (short period of time) I just moved to the side when I couldn't handle it anymore. When were seated for the ceremony I was fine