Does anyone here suffer from Social Phobia?

Question

If you have it could you tell me how you are dealing with it? Has it affected your life significantly?? Are you scared of public speeches? or even being within a very small group of unknown people??

Answer 1

I don't have it, but I have a close friend who does. I'm somehow able to convince her to stand up in class and speak or various things. Maybe you need just the right person to talk to or agood influence to help start gettin you out there and it may take time. BUT, then you'd be better off

Answer 2

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy worked best for me. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried meds, individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 3

I have no problem functioning in small groups. When I am by myself in large crowds or cities, however, I start to suffer from social anxiety. I feel this way because, based on past experiences, I fear that other people will start to single me out, taunt me, say things to me, and talk about me to their friends. I also become very uncomfortable when random people stare at me for extended periods of time. Wishing that I be invisible obviously won't do me any good, so I usually listen to my mp3 player when walking in big cities and try to blend in with the crowd the best I can when I go to sporting events, concerts, festivals, etc. I'm just glad that I am no longer attending university (enrollment = 25-30k) because that was four-and-a-half years of hell for me.

Answer 4

I was very hesitant to go into crowded public places, or where tall buildings surrounded me, or where there were loud sounds. That period of my life occurred during a time of severe depression. Fear engulfed my days and I stayed close to home. Panic attacks occurred any time I would enter a library.

With Therapy and medications and time I treated my depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD. Today I can go anywhere (except heights and dark loud places) without problems. .As the depression subsided, so did the symptoms of fear of people and places.

During the strongest emotions and fears my husband walked with me in crowded places, shielding me from people's questions. I found this to be helpful.

I know of one person who has such strong symptoms when he goes out amongst people, that his psychologist was able to get him a companion-working-dog (like the seeing eye dog) and he is now living on his own in an apartment, and able to go out on his own with his dog. This is a vast improvement in his quality of life.

Answer 5

my brother suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder.... not sure if its the same thing but he has to check all the doors before going to bed (about 20 times) wash his hands after going to the toilet ( 30 times) checking that the fire is off before going to bed (15 times) oh, and the lights (50 times)....... is this similar????? If not, how could I help him?

Answer 6

oh honey yes i used to in high school, i was painfully shy and even in partner/group assignements i cud never muster up the courage to ask someone to be my partner/work with me/let me in the group...it was awful...inside i was dying to be social and talk to everyone...i have no idea why i was so shy, now its not so bad..but im outta high school and married....theres counselling for it and stuff...good luck to u sweetie

Answer 7

actually proceeded to have a big fight and used it to get out of going to a barbecue with husbands workmates that i don't really know and don't really want to
hate social chit chat , never know what to say to people anyway

Answer 8

yes,when I'm around more than one or two people,my heart starts pounding and I even turn red.I don't know why but I know if you force yourself to over come it,it will get easier every time,and eventually God(Jesus) will heal you from it.