Social Anxiety Support

MeMe89 · 11-03-2009, 08:02 PM

What I mean by,"Its happening again," is that my semester in college is basically mirroring my high school years of being a loner. Everyone in my class is so social and outgoing, and Im just there. Im so detached from everyone and being an outsider is not comfortable. I don't know what to say or how to incorporate my ideas in the group or classroom setting. It is soo hard for me, its like a person afraid of heights but have to go bungee jumping. I have to talk in class, I have to do presentations in order for me to get a better grade(especially since Im not good test taker). Im being forced to do something that is out of my element. And what's up with people always having to point out that Im quiet. Its so annoying, when my teacher does attendance or call my name she says,"I didnt even notice you were there, youre so quiet." Im like what?, no one else says anything, but you're pointing me out. ( I feel so welcome in you're in class(sarcasm) Im just upset with school, I dont feel it is for me. Should I just drop out because of my personality/anxiety disorder? By the way, Im a junior and supposedly pursuing a teaching career but apparently Im too gentle for it. I might change careers.

TATA · 11-03-2009, 09:30 PM

Hey there! I went back to college last spring. At first I could not even come to the teacher to ask something because of the anxiety. With time and effort I'm getting better, I sometimes talk in class, I was able to give quite a few presentations, but I rarely socialize with the classmates though. But comparing to my first two years of college, I'm actually doing great right now.
So, I can relate to you and can tell you that by pushing yourself you will feel less and less anxiety.
And i'm also going into teaching, but special ed.

Prakas · 11-03-2009, 09:48 PM

No, don't drop out just because your quiet. Thats just crazy talk. There are so many people here that are attending highschool and college with the same problems. Its a struggle, but you will live when all is said and done. SA won't kill you, don't let it stop you from following your dreams either.

CarlyKathleen · 11-03-2009, 09:59 PM

I have alot of the same problems im a freshmen in college and i had high hopes that everything would suddenly change because i was in a different school...but i didnt change haha so im still that quiet girl at the back of the class hoping not to be called on..i still have hopes that I can change though

Neptunus · 11-03-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prakas

No, don't drop out just because your quiet. Thats just crazy talk. There are so many people here that are attending highschool and college with the same problems. Its a struggle, but you will live when all is said and done. SA won't kill you, don't let it stop you from following your dreams either.

If you think about it, you are going to have the same problems with a job too. Might as well work hard to get through school so that you can at least get a "good" job... if you're going to suffer (and let's hope you'll be much better by then) then you might as well make a good salary.

chunkylover53 · 11-03-2009, 10:13 PM

Don't drop out. You will regret it. If it gets so bad that you can't cope, then take a semester off to focus on yourself. I would let your teacher know your troubles and/or speak to a uni counsellor. I turned bright red and generally made a fool of myself on my first day of one of my classes this semester (we had to introduce ourselves- boy, did I mess that up), and my lecturer has been so kind and understanding towards me. I'm probably a bad person to be giving advice since I have dropped out of a course, but let me tell you, I regret it practically everyday.

Setolac · Yesterday, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeMe89

What I mean by,"Its happening again," is that my semester in college is basically mirroring my high school years of being a loner. Everyone in my class is so social and outgoing, and Im just there. Im so detached from everyone and being an outsider is not comfortable. I don't know what to say or how to incorporate my ideas in the group or classroom setting. It is soo hard for me, its like a person afraid of heights but have to go bungee jumping. I have to talk in class, I have to do presentations in order for me to get a better grade(especially since Im not good test taker). Im being forced to do something that is out of my element. And what's up with people always having to point out that Im quiet. Its so annoying, when my teacher does attendance or call my name she says,"I didnt even notice you were there, youre so quiet." Im like what?, no one else says anything, but you're pointing me out. ( I feel so welcome in you're in class(sarcasm) Im just upset with school, I dont feel it is for me. Should I just drop out because of my personality/anxiety disorder? By the way, Im a junior and supposedly pursuing a teaching career but apparently Im too gentle for it. I might change careers.

We are in the same exact situation except for the career though. I am also pursuing a career that requires me to be more social and quite opposite to my personality.

It's amazing how everything you just said applies to me, I also hate it when teachers and other people point out how quiet I am..

11-03-2009, 08:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
MeMe89 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 15	Its happening again... What I mean by,"Its happening again," is that my semester in college is basically mirroring my high school years of being a loner. Everyone in my class is so social and outgoing, and Im just there. Im so detached from everyone and being an outsider is not comfortable. I don't know what to say or how to incorporate my ideas in the group or classroom setting. It is soo hard for me, its like a person afraid of heights but have to go bungee jumping. I have to talk in class, I have to do presentations in order for me to get a better grade(especially since Im not good test taker). Im being forced to do something that is out of my element. And what's up with people always having to point out that Im quiet. Its so annoying, when my teacher does attendance or call my name she says,"I didnt even notice you were there, youre so quiet." Im like what?, no one else says anything, but you're pointing me out. ( I feel so welcome in you're in class(sarcasm) Im just upset with school, I dont feel it is for me. Should I just drop out because of my personality/anxiety disorder? By the way, Im a junior and supposedly pursuing a teaching career but apparently Im too gentle for it. I might change careers.

11-03-2009, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
TATA Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New York City Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 242	Hey there! I went back to college last spring. At first I could not even come to the teacher to ask something because of the anxiety. With time and effort I'm getting better, I sometimes talk in class, I was able to give quite a few presentations, but I rarely socialize with the classmates though. But comparing to my first two years of college, I'm actually doing great right now. So, I can relate to you and can tell you that by pushing yourself you will feel less and less anxiety. And i'm also going into teaching, but special ed. __________________ Scientists have found the gene for shyness. They would have found it years ago, but it was hiding behind a couple of other genes. Jonathan Katz

11-03-2009, 09:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Prakas Status: Failure - Life Sucks Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delaware Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 424	No, don't drop out just because your quiet. Thats just crazy talk. There are so many people here that are attending highschool and college with the same problems. Its a struggle, but you will live when all is said and done. SA won't kill you, don't let it stop you from following your dreams either.

11-03-2009, 09:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
CarlyKathleen Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south carolina Gender: Female Age: 19 Posts: 20	I have alot of the same problems im a freshmen in college and i had high hopes that everything would suddenly change because i was in a different school...but i didnt change haha so im still that quiet girl at the back of the class hoping not to be called on..i still have hopes that I can change though

11-03-2009, 10:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
chunkylover53 Status: Marvellous. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Gender: Female Age: 28 Posts: 135	Don't drop out. You will regret it. If it gets so bad that you can't cope, then take a semester off to focus on yourself. I would let your teacher know your troubles and/or speak to a uni counsellor. I turned bright red and generally made a fool of myself on my first day of one of my classes this semester (we had to introduce ourselves- boy, did I mess that up), and my lecturer has been so kind and understanding towards me. I'm probably a bad person to be giving advice since I have dropped out of a course, but let me tell you, I regret it practically everyday.