I have an appointment tomorrow, and im kind of nervous about it. I went in a couple weeks ago to get a refill on abien that i use for insomnia. I was asked by the doctor if I ever talked to a therapist to see why I have problems with sleeping. The doctor was really nice and scheduled me for an appointment. I was a little relieved that someone asked me. I have always been too scared to seek a therapist on my own.

I'm not sure how to go about discussing my fear of social situations. Last week, I was around a group of people that I didnt know too well. I'm not sure if it was a panic attack, but I started to tremble a little, my palms started to sweat, and I froze the whole night and didnt say a word. Its a problem that I feel has held me back for awhile, and I'm not even sure if it can be fixed. I end up with racing thoughts at night on how everything is going wrong. I freeze up in interviews, cant get a job, and dont have any friends. Life feels hopeless, and it seems all that i have going for me is school.

I was mainly just looking for advice on what to expect and how to start the conversation off about SA to the therapist. I dont want to waste any time tomorrow, and I'm hoping this will lead to some results. Thanks for reading! :clap

AUDIO SESSION #1: Introduction to the series, why therapy must be "solution" oriented (i.e., we must find a permanent solution to the symptoms of social anxiety), definition of social anxiety disorder and related issues, explanation of cognitive and behavioral therapy and how it works separately and together to help us overcome social anxiety, the scope of the problem, history, statistics, degrees, severity, or "levels" of social anxiety, how long it takes to get "better" and what this means, avoidant personality disorder, and what we know today about overcoming social anxiety. Social anxiety can be overcome because the human brain can change ... and you can be leading a completely different life. not based on anxiety and fear. Don't believe the charlatans and hucksters who say a vitamin or a pill will change your life. In addition, do not believe the hopelessness and helplessness that you hear from other sources. The series is focused on practical, real-life solutions that will reduce and extinguish the awful effects of social anxiety in your life. AUDIO SESSION #2: How and when to practice on your worksheets in the accompanying booklet, the physiological picture (i.e., what is really going on inside the brain as we get better), how we will begin permanently changing our brain's chemical and electrical pathway system (i.e., our neural pathways) in the brain. Specific cognitive therapy methods we discuss, with a full explanation and printed handout: 1. How to calm yourself in social situations and remain in control This is a specific strategy that will begin to work fairly quickly -- although everything must be given time to work. You will be able to begin slowing and calming yourself down anywhere. In social situations, this method will allow you to be calmer while you keep your focus external (i.e., on other people and what is happening around you). When you practice this method until it is automatic, anxiety will not be able to fog up your mind and cloud your concentration much longer. 2. How to stop automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), part #1 we begin to notice, catch, and stop our automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), and then learn not to use them -- we have other, healthy rational thoughts and better things we can be doing with our time. 3. Using rational coping statements to reduce irrational anxious feelings we sink two or three rational (truthful) facts into our minds about anxiety -- and we keep practicing (i.e., rehearsing and repeating) these two or three rational statements until they occur to you naturally in the real world when you are in a typical social anxiety situation. This is not a cure in itself, but it begins to provide concrete help, like all the other methods, strategies, and techniques we will be adding.