I have had social anxiety disorder for about 5 years now. I have even filed for SSI because I just can't seem to overcome it, and it definately affects my day-to-day life. However my education is leading me to a very social career path, and I really need to work to get over this anxiety problem. I never used to be like this before I had my first child, and I don't know why I can't seem to shake it now. What sort of things can I do to possibly ease myself back into being social?
2007-08-23 15:50:11 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Oh, and the reason I don't want medication is because I've tried 2-3 meds and either they haven't worked, or I become a zombie. I have 3 young children to take care of, I can't be experimenting with meds.
2007-08-23 16:08:16 · update #1
Try to gradually work with yourself in getting into social situations. Do one on one contacts, just being a part of a group, knowing several people together, larger groups etc. The idea is to succeed with less difficult situations and gradually gain some confidence that you are willing to try the next step.
2007-08-23 15:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by Simmi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was so shy as a kid that I was labelled mentally retarded (developmentally disabled in today's lingo) even though that was far from the case. What I did really helped me, and nowadays, most people cannot tell that I am shy. Well, nobody can tell. If I had not dealt with it when I was young, I would have been in the same boat that you are in. So. . .as a kid, I signed up for theater productions during junior high. In senior high, I signed up for debate and speech teams, and model united nations and (i think it's called?) student congress. So then I could fake that I was confident pretty good. As a young adult, I lectored in my large Catholic church. I became a board member of a club, then president (and you had to get up in front of a lot of people for that, too). Then I went to graduate school and was a teaching assistant and was on the graduate student council. More talking in front of others. I had to force myself to do these things, because I was so shy, but on the other hand, I was pretty good at it, so my help was needed. I was absolutely terrified, and could never sleep the night before i did it. So, practice, practice, practice. You can learn some specific skills by FORCING yourself to ask someone on the bus to move, do it over and over, until you can do it confidently. FORCE yourself to ask someone the time of day. FORCE yourself to ask a salesperson for help with something. Those kind of ritualized interactions are the easiest to start with, they are over quickly and then you can have some time to recover from your fear. The fear will be less and less each time. It's not much different than working on a fear of snakes, you have to increase your exposure more and more and gain confidence as you see that nothing bad happened. Good luck!! With hard work, you WILL do WELL!
2016-04-01 12:02:03 · answer #2 · answered by Cynthia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem. I went to a therapist first and she was going to try hypnosis with me and have me record it so I could take it with me and listen to it. I didn't have much faith in it so I went to my family doctor and got on Alprolozam (anxiety medication). It actually doesn't make me feel "not myself" I haven't had any panic attacks since. I would suggest if you don't want to try medication to try a therapist and do hypnosis. Best of luck to you.
2007-08-23 16:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by sheena4m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
See a psychiatrist. I know one of the reason someone social anxiety person doesn't meet a psychiatrist is a fear by anxiety but you are not socializing with a psychiatrist but he is gonna help you and he is paid.
2007-08-23 16:16:39 · answer #4 · answered by pcgamer1987 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it were me I would try to get the help of a therapist. You seem a little fragile and should not risk doing anything that could give you set-backs.
2007-08-23 16:00:53 · answer #5 · answered by Rocky Raccoon 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋