Social Anxiety Support

flowwjoe · 12-22-2008, 07:44 PM

I came across the forum today and decided to seek the support of other people who have similar problems. I have a long history of social anxiety disorder since childhood. Kids can be really cruel and impressionable on you when you are the most vulnerable. Anyways, it got alot worse in high school....I would avoid presentations/speeches; hide out in the bathroom for the entire class and accept a failing grade just to avoid being the center of attention. Now that I am "all grown up", I still suffer from social anxiety alot, especially at work. When I am put "on the spot" I turn beet red, I start to sweat, my mind goes completely blank and I want to run and hide. I feel like I cant breathe. I know when it is happening and I wish I could stop it but I cant. I know other people notice and it makes it even worse. I especially feel like I am more guarded about my personal life than everyone else. I dont like to answer questions or explain anything about myself to people who are just being superficial. I guess I like to keep my personal life my own business. I had a bad divorce and child custody battle, I dont like explaining to anyone what I've been through. I feel like my co workers are asking questions just to be nosy and intrusive. I also suffer from depression but have never been suicidal. So, thats the short version of my story....Basically I am curious to see what treatment others have received for this condition and any medication that have been helpful....

Meds I have tried through my life...
Serzone
Prozac
Effexor XR
Cymbalta
currently on Wellbutrin for the last year but it doesnt help.

Also xanax as needed (but this seems to affect me the next day and I get too tired from it..so I dont really like it).

I have a Dr's appointment tommorow. I will be asking to try something new. I am already overweight so anything that is going to likely cause more weight gain I am not interested in trying it.

Thanks for listening!!!!

millenniumman75 · 12-22-2008, 08:01 PM

Welcome, FlowwJoe!

Toad Licker · 12-22-2008, 09:14 PM

Hey flowwjoe

Cypress · 12-22-2008, 09:41 PM

Welcome flowwjoe!

mind_games · 12-22-2008, 11:41 PM

Hey flowwjoe

Laconic1 · 12-23-2008, 08:54 AM

Hi flowwjoe! I never took any prescription meds for my condition. Instead, I got high to take the edge off of my general anxiety and I drank to curb my social anxiety. I quit all that stuff over a year ago. Currently, I'm seeing a psychologist every couple of weeks for CBT.

gloria57 · 12-23-2008, 12:08 PM

Hi flowwjoe - welcome to SAS!

I am not currently taking any meds; I have taken Prozac, Zoloft and
Wellbutrin in the past. I just feel more comfortable without meds; hopefully I can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Ally · 12-23-2008, 12:19 PM

Welcome to the forum!

dontcare · 12-23-2008, 04:42 PM

12-22-2008, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
flowwjoe Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Hi! I came across the forum today and decided to seek the support of other people who have similar problems. I have a long history of social anxiety disorder since childhood. Kids can be really cruel and impressionable on you when you are the most vulnerable. Anyways, it got alot worse in high school....I would avoid presentations/speeches; hide out in the bathroom for the entire class and accept a failing grade just to avoid being the center of attention. Now that I am "all grown up", I still suffer from social anxiety alot, especially at work. When I am put "on the spot" I turn beet red, I start to sweat, my mind goes completely blank and I want to run and hide. I feel like I cant breathe. I know when it is happening and I wish I could stop it but I cant. I know other people notice and it makes it even worse. I especially feel like I am more guarded about my personal life than everyone else. I dont like to answer questions or explain anything about myself to people who are just being superficial. I guess I like to keep my personal life my own business. I had a bad divorce and child custody battle, I dont like explaining to anyone what I've been through. I feel like my co workers are asking questions just to be nosy and intrusive. I also suffer from depression but have never been suicidal. So, thats the short version of my story....Basically I am curious to see what treatment others have received for this condition and any medication that have been helpful.... Meds I have tried through my life... Serzone Prozac Effexor XR Cymbalta currently on Wellbutrin for the last year but it doesnt help. Also xanax as needed (but this seems to affect me the next day and I get too tired from it..so I dont really like it). I have a Dr's appointment tommorow. I will be asking to try something new. I am already overweight so anything that is going to likely cause more weight gain I am not interested in trying it. Thanks for listening!!!!

12-22-2008, 08:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton-Cincinnati, OH Age: 34 Posts: 34,523	Welcome, FlowwJoe! __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better!

12-22-2008, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Toad Licker Status: Broken Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: A Fruitloop Daydream Age: 44 Posts: 22,279	Hey flowwjoe __________________ Take me down to the Devil I'm not afraid of a little sin To burn away these dead dead days And pison my sorrow 'til it slips away Out of my heart and out of my hands Through my fingers and onto the land The high tide comes to carry out to sea The hell we raise so we can be cured We can be free - Crooked Fingers

12-22-2008, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
mind_games Status: is undagoin a s/w uprade Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Zealand Age: 23 Posts: 755	Hey flowwjoe __________________ >Power Of Silent Conversation: http://www.purposepowercoaching.com/site/?p=168 >Shyness & Social Anxiety - A Self Help Guide: http://www.scribd.com/doc/7199393/Sh...elf-Help-Guide >http://www.succeedsocially.com

12-23-2008, 08:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Laconic1 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: A prison of my own making... Age: 27 Posts: 80	Hi flowwjoe! I never took any prescription meds for my condition. Instead, I got high to take the edge off of my general anxiety and I drank to curb my social anxiety. I quit all that stuff over a year ago. Currently, I'm seeing a psychologist every couple of weeks for CBT. __________________ Speak sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.

12-22-2008, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cypress Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Who knows Posts: 511	Welcome flowwjoe!

12-23-2008, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
gloria57 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 22	Welcome Hi flowwjoe - welcome to SAS! I am not currently taking any meds; I have taken Prozac, Zoloft and Wellbutrin in the past. I just feel more comfortable without meds; hopefully I can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy.

12-23-2008, 12:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ally Status: Wise One Join Date: Jan 2007 Age: 19 Posts: 8,370	Welcome to the forum! __________________ Do It. Believe It. Live It. There is no charge for awesomeness.

12-23-2008, 04:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
dontcare Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,306