Social Anxiety Support

relyt · 10-31-2009, 05:42 PM

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've lurked the pages of this website on and off for a couple of years now. As of late, I've taken to being as proactive as I can about overcoming my social anxiety. I've been to a few therapists over the years who have helped me considerably. But seeing as how my problems continue I have come to the realization that only I have the ability to bring about real growth. What it boils down to is that there is no one to hold your hand when you (or at least me) are at your worst. And despite that last sentence being utterly negative, I have been trying to change my thought pattern to one that is engulfed by postivity and optimism. It's been very hard, but I look forward to forging some relationships on this here forum and exchanging support and advice with the rest of you great people.

Thanks

millenniumman75 · 10-31-2009, 05:52 PM

Welcome, Relyt!

TorLin · 10-31-2009, 09:34 PM

HELLO relyt

Welcome to SAS !

Toad Licker · 11-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Hey relyt welcome.

relyt · 11-01-2009, 10:48 PM

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I have to admit that I saw milleniumman75's reply right after I'd posted my thread, but avoided replying right away. It's funny how nerve-racking simply posting a written statement on a public webpage can become to a sufferer of social anxiety. Anyway, I feel stupid now for not replying sooner to anyone. It's sort of a defense mechanism I use with e-communication these days. I ignore my phone sometimes becuase I am scared, but also because it gives me some sense of power. I was still anxious tonight since I had planned to access the forum again to see what kind of activity had happened on thread. Once I saw how nice the greetings were, I realized how distorted my thinking had become. Even now, as I'm typing, cognitive distortions are eating away at my serenity. I'm wondering if I am going on for too long, focusing too much on myself, or going to suffer some sort of humiliation at the hands of anonymous SA'ers. All irrational, I know, but it's still hard for me to ignore those thoughts. Writing this out is helping an awful lot. If I could type cathartic posts like this at a bar or party, it sure would be nice...definitely not practical though, lol.

Rayacle · 11-01-2009, 10:55 PM

wow you sound like me, i am also new and always wonder what possible replies i may get. i have been posting in other forums to try to lessen the anxiety and so far so good, and if they start junk whatever the mods will handle it right?

i create lots of false scenarios myself, and working to stop thinking so negative. today i am practicing positive think! i will just talk and not worry and see what happens! if you wanna talk feel free to contact me, im extremely compassionate and empathetic and like people to feel comfortable around me. hope these forums are better than the last one i was on hehe.. and good luck to you! maybe fill your profile out a little? i think it helps so people can find simple ways to relate so i added a brief profile for now, but ill add more later.

ok! bye for now

relyt · 11-01-2009, 11:10 PM

Hey, thanks man. You're exactly right in regard to worrying about people being rude. So what! I just forget sometimes though, and return to old, unhealthy ways of thinking. Positive thoughts are definitely where to find relief. I think they're even more important than knowing and understanding the cognitive distortions.

Rayacle · 11-01-2009, 11:19 PM

yea i have studied cognitive thinking and even had to do an essay in college on it before, but honestly it helped knowing the process i guess, but it didnt help me feel better. the more decent people i can find and talk to, the more i think i feel healed. i had someone rude to me in an old forum before, but they were banned and gone forever. i try to remember that now, in these forums the mods dont mess around, this is a place of healing ,not a flame war battleground!

good luck on your journey too! we will find our peace..just need to keep fighting the negative junk

Peter Attis · 11-01-2009, 11:38 PM

10-31-2009, 05:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
relyt Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Greetings Hello everyone, Just wanted to introduce myself. I've lurked the pages of this website on and off for a couple of years now. As of late, I've taken to being as proactive as I can about overcoming my social anxiety. I've been to a few therapists over the years who have helped me considerably. But seeing as how my problems continue I have come to the realization that only I have the ability to bring about real growth. What it boils down to is that there is no one to hold your hand when you (or at least me) are at your worst. And despite that last sentence being utterly negative, I have been trying to change my thought pattern to one that is engulfed by postivity and optimism. It's been very hard, but I look forward to forging some relationships on this here forum and exchanging support and advice with the rest of you great people. Thanks

10-31-2009, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton-Cincinnati, OH Gender: Male Age: 34 Posts: 38,655	Welcome, Relyt! __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better!

10-31-2009, 09:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
TorLin Status: MayTheForceBeWithYou Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male Posts: 17,058	HELLO relyt Welcome to SAS ! __________________ MTFBWU (May The Force Be With You) - TORLIN AIM, MSN, YIM: T0RL1N Skype: Tor_Lin Visit me at; ToryLing.com \| LivingAnxious \| Facebook \| Myspace \| Last.fm

11-01-2009, 10:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Toad Licker Status: Broken Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: A Fruitloop Daydream Gender: Male Age: 44 Posts: 29,631	Hey relyt welcome. __________________ All will wither, go to sleep The ones you love you may not keep All you touch will fall apart The dreams you kill will break your heart There's no mercy, there's no rest The void will scream within your chest No one knows and no one will So leave this place that makes you Ill - Madder Mortem

11-01-2009, 10:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rayacle Status: Healer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Midwest USA Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 32	wow you sound like me, i am also new and always wonder what possible replies i may get. i have been posting in other forums to try to lessen the anxiety and so far so good, and if they start junk whatever the mods will handle it right? i create lots of false scenarios myself, and working to stop thinking so negative. today i am practicing positive think! i will just talk and not worry and see what happens! if you wanna talk feel free to contact me, im extremely compassionate and empathetic and like people to feel comfortable around me. hope these forums are better than the last one i was on hehe.. and good luck to you! maybe fill your profile out a little? i think it helps so people can find simple ways to relate so i added a brief profile for now, but ill add more later. ok! bye for now __________________ Click here to read my story of Social Anxiety Disorder and Depression [--------- Positive Thinking is the Key ---------] " Because we deserve happiness too!" -Rayacle

11-01-2009, 10:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
relyt Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I have to admit that I saw milleniumman75's reply right after I'd posted my thread, but avoided replying right away. It's funny how nerve-racking simply posting a written statement on a public webpage can become to a sufferer of social anxiety. Anyway, I feel stupid now for not replying sooner to anyone. It's sort of a defense mechanism I use with e-communication these days. I ignore my phone sometimes becuase I am scared, but also because it gives me some sense of power. I was still anxious tonight since I had planned to access the forum again to see what kind of activity had happened on thread. Once I saw how nice the greetings were, I realized how distorted my thinking had become. Even now, as I'm typing, cognitive distortions are eating away at my serenity. I'm wondering if I am going on for too long, focusing too much on myself, or going to suffer some sort of humiliation at the hands of anonymous SA'ers. All irrational, I know, but it's still hard for me to ignore those thoughts. Writing this out is helping an awful lot. If I could type cathartic posts like this at a bar or party, it sure would be nice...definitely not practical though, lol.

11-01-2009, 11:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
relyt Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Hey, thanks man. You're exactly right in regard to worrying about people being rude. So what! I just forget sometimes though, and return to old, unhealthy ways of thinking. Positive thoughts are definitely where to find relief. I think they're even more important than knowing and understanding the cognitive distortions.

11-01-2009, 11:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rayacle Status: Healer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Midwest USA Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 32	yea i have studied cognitive thinking and even had to do an essay in college on it before, but honestly it helped knowing the process i guess, but it didnt help me feel better. the more decent people i can find and talk to, the more i think i feel healed. i had someone rude to me in an old forum before, but they were banned and gone forever. i try to remember that now, in these forums the mods dont mess around, this is a place of healing ,not a flame war battleground! good luck on your journey too! we will find our peace..just need to keep fighting the negative junk __________________ Click here to read my story of Social Anxiety Disorder and Depression [--------- Positive Thinking is the Key ---------] " Because we deserve happiness too!" -Rayacle

11-01-2009, 11:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Peter Attis Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 134