Social Anxiety! Please need any and all advice!!!?

Question

HI
I am a 19 year old male who suffers from social anxiety disorder/phobia. I don't go out much and do much of anything. Including pleasure work or school "I dropped out of HS". I only have 2 or 3 people who i call friends but even them i don't hang out with very often. I never do things people my age should be doing. Hanging out at the mall..dating...ect... I spend a lot of time alone which is fine with me i have gotten use to it over the years. The only thing I'm worried about is starting work and/or school but the thoughts of leaving my comfort zone and actually doing these things terrify me. Almost to the point where id rather just die then to go threw the anxiety. (hope I'm making some sense here) I don't know where or who to turn to. I do not have the family support that i need (they all think this is just an excuse) and i just really fell trapped. I don't have any money for therapy and medication so there out of the picture for now. So i need any and all advice. PLZ don't judge me & TY.

Answer 1

i dont think that anyone can understand what anxiety disorder is if they've never had it. but your family should still be a support for you. i go to a counseling center that will work with my income - its been a life saver. i see a cognitive behavioral specialist. i cannot tell you how much she has turned my life around. a few things i learned that i can share - avoidance is making it worse! dont trap yourself. keep in mind when you feel anxious that its a natural reaction just at the wrong time. your brain is telling you that your in danger when you are not. take deep breathes in through your nose and release slowly through your mouth. keep telling yourself "i can do this". it will pass. i wish you the best of luck, trust me, if i can overcome my anxiety disorder, anyone can.

Answer 2

You could further your education over the Internet and find a future in working from your home. That is what my husband and I are looking in to. Or find a job that has no to few others to deal with. We totally understand what you are going through. Once upon a time it wasn't so important for every one to be so social. Now days if you want to be separate from the pack then some thing must be wrong with you. That is all I have, you will have to pursue what it is that works for you. Good Luck

Answer 3

Hi there, I just laugh about my past 3 years of panic now. I was not able to go anywhere without carrying xanax. Fear of having another attack was the most important subject of my days.When i first found joe barry's web site i started to cry because of my happiness.

Free audio to end anxiety and panic attacks fast?

Answer 4

i know exactly how you feel. i suffered from anxiety for a long time and i would get these panic attacks in the middle of class and no one would even believe me. i know how you feel on the lack of family support, too. my mom has a mental illness and my brother is abusive and my dads clueless, so i had no one to turn to.
but one day i just realized that it was up to me to change. so the next time i felt a panic attack coming on, i just told myself to stop.
i started bringing my Ipod to school, so that when i started feeling anxious, i would ask to go to the restroom, where i would listen to one or two songs, and i would just kind of snap out of it.
i would never really have friends over or anything, but now i realize that until i beat these fears of being social, they will haunt me forever.

good luck.

Answer 5

Hello JJl, I know how you feel, you're not alone i suffer from same disorder.I recommend you go out there and seek hobbies that you like like playing sports or hitting the gym, that's going to give you some boost in your life. I've been taking some fish oil tablets and they help a lot to cope with anxiety too. just my 2 cents

Answer 6

is there a county mental health facility you can go to?? have you spoken with your family doctor?? walmart now has a lot of prescriptions for $4.00, which is great for people without insurance...do you have a free or low cost clinic?? i really think you need to research your area and find out what options you have...i'm sorry your family is not supportive...i know that's really important for treatment...was your social anxiety diagnosed by a doctor??? i don't understand why your parents wouldn't take that seriously?? good luck

Answer 7

Look into a free clinic possibility in your area. Or if you are 18 or over go and apply for a medical assistance card. Then see a doctor and get some medication...you need it desperately !

Answer 8

See social anxiety at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 9.