| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 6/24/2008 6:04:58 AM | Hi :)
I have dealt with this since I was a very little girl. Funny how something can hit a person even at that age, huh? I have been to countless theropists and on who knows how many anti-depressents.
I have "cleared up" more in the past 5 years than I had in the 20 before due to three things.
1. Spirituality/Zen
Have started meditating and centering. Finding the peace within myself. I try to find little things that make me smile all day. Even keep a smiling journal beside my bed. Everyday, I write down 5 things that made me smile that day. I am Pagan, but I would think any religion/spiritual path can do this really.
2. Working Out and Eating Better
The first month I was in the gym was better medicine for me than all those years of medication and theropy.
Granted, my trainer was the only person I really talked to for a couple years. The only person I looked in the eye and interacted with. But as time progressed, I opened up. The people at the gym were extremely friendly and generally seemed to care if I lost weight.
3. Dune (no laughing)... yes, the book Dune by Frank Hurbert.
"I must face my fear.... Fear is the Mind Killer" I am terrified of people and crowds and going outside. I am scared of lots of things. But I have to remember that "Fear is the Mind Killer" and that "I must face my fear". I am afraid of getting burned... but I cook anyway. I am afraid of rejection, but I am on a dating site. I must face my fear!
In it they talk about not waiting for the eye of the storm for peace, but finding peace within the chaos of the storm itself. A thunderstorm can be extremely beautiful... once you overcome the fear of lightning and thunder. Your life can be the most beautiful thing you can imagine.... once you overcome the fear of the lightning and thunder.
.....Anyway, that's how I overcame my Anxiety and fears.
Oh, another thing..... sometimes, they are laughing as us.... sometimes "they" really ARE out to get us. For me, realizing this also helped me realize that I don't need to let them find me :)
Good luck! | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 6/24/2008 8:03:24 AM | | http://www.elle.com/beautyspotlight/14013/marijuana-anxiety-disorders.html | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/2/2008 6:08:33 AM | I can relate. I don't feel comfortable around large crowds. Meeting with friends is okay but not if it's going to a club downtown where there's people looking at you and judging you from every angle. If it's a Social Event where I have to be there, I'll just try and find something to do, like help in the kitchen, away from the crowd. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/3/2008 5:02:30 PM | Can't you just get into the mindset: You don't care what people think of you anymore.
Wouldn't that be the easiest remedy? Makes sense to me.
This helps too:
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/4/2008 12:29:55 AM | | I can't believe there's a thread on this. I'm glad because the public is pretty ignorant about this disorder (go awareness yeah!). Anywho, I'm an "SAer." I've had SAD since about age 11, being extremely shy and with selective mutism before then. Telling an SAer to stop caring what people think about them is kind of like telling an anorexic to go eat or something. I think if that worked there wouldn't be people on the support forum I go to today, of which there are sooooooo many lol. It's complex...Well, just wanted to identify myself as another sufferer here since there's this thread... | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/4/2008 12:46:56 AM | You're right, Jingles - if only it were that easy
I have SAD because the seratonin my brain secretes is being reabsorbed back into my system too fast so I'm not getting any benefits from it
The Paxil puts seratonin in my system - the feel good hormone and it is a wonderful feeling | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/4/2008 5:25:27 AM | lots of good info here. one therapy will NOT work exactly for each person. we are the same but then we are all unique.
i had a huge problem that i could not look into ones' eye while talking. i went into a career that forced me to do that. i interpret for the deaf and you MUST look at them, esp their facial makers to know what is being said.
i now look into the yes of whom i am with. now (DEEP SIGH) i have been told or have noticed that my "looking into their eyes" is too much and uncomfortable for some. sheeeeeesh
sad is a real thing. my son moved to washington sate and had special lights put into the breakrooms for sad-seasonal affective disorder. that did help many there.
there is also: highly sensitive person HSP. that disorder will make crowds and activities difficult too. i have a friend with this.
http://www.hsperson.com/ | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/4/2008 9:41:33 PM | | I used medical marijuana and atavin it helps alot now I really never did like going out I'm a real loner I used to go out all the time when I was a kid, my drinking days...Now I'm starting to go to the store and I got alittle volunteer thing..Now we got this huge fire here and I'm not really supposed to go out because I have problems breathing..And I know I shouldn't smoke pot but I quit cigarettes and it's not as bad as those.. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/27/2008 1:35:48 AM | I've been the same way for years. I get nervous when I talk to some people, its hard to look them in the eye. It depends on the peson. If its someone on my same level then Im not so bad, but if its someone like a boss, teacher, etc I consider above me then its worse.
I talked to a lady about this once in a chat room. Her andher family ran a Nudist Club. I thought going there and just stripping off and letting it all hang out might help a person get over shyness and nervousiness. Im kind of thinking if that doesn't cure it nothing will. There's no clubs near me so I haven't tried it yet. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 7/27/2008 7:37:02 PM | I have a friend who suffers with this condition and in alot of ways it had really restricted there life. It got to the point where she couldn't go anywhere without experiencing anxiety. Her doctor prescribed Lexapro and I couldn't believe the change in her. She just became alot more relaxed and now she can go just about anywhere. She said she still feels anxious at times but knows how to control it now.
The mind is a very powerful thing, if you can control that then your halfway there. The medication just helps gets the chemicals in the brain functioning again. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 8/8/2008 9:56:16 PM | | I have social anxiety too but it's all I've ever known. I've had it all my life | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 8/9/2008 7:27:25 AM | | I've had depression my whole life too. I had a rough childhood. But I'm doing good these days I have a lot going for me so I'm happy. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 9/27/2008 6:42:58 PM | | I don't really know how to work on this. I've got it really bad. I get too nervous around people and don't know what to say most of the time beyond "Hi." Now you can see why I've never been on a date. | |
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| Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted: 9/28/2008 1:00:51 AM | Just as something simple, you could try eating a few bananas as a bit of a boost?
They contain tryptophan, which is great for helping to keep your head up and happy! | |
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