Social Anxiety Support

wineandcheese · 11-03-2009, 06:16 PM

There's going to be a little work celebration for me this week. HOW do I get through this? My worst problem is that my hands shake and I'm going to have to be eating. Any advice as to make things easier? I'm going to try to stay away from caffeine this week to hopefully help the jitteryness.

matty · 11-03-2009, 07:43 PM

I fear that too. I dread the idea of leaving because they will give me a going away party. Which means me center of attention and making a thank you speach.
In work functions I normally just find someone I am semi comfortable with and stand/sit with them. Then I just laugh at there jokes and hope the time goes quickly.
What sort of celebrations are they?

wineandcheese · 11-04-2009, 04:01 AM

A birthday thing. It's not going to be a big thing, but still could be 20+ people. That's a LOT to handle for someone with SA. Work is my biggest place of anxiety. I read Valium can seriously calm a person down, but with my luck, it'd make me crazy wacky.

At least with a going away party, you won't be coming back!

matty · 11-04-2009, 02:42 PM

True that, But it is still the focus on me at the time.
I have been lucky that my birthdays have been on the weekend the past few years

Valium hey, You could be completely relaxed or the life of the party.

Dont know if thats your answer.
Hope it goes well for you.

anonymous2 · 11-04-2009, 03:43 PM

this has happened to me. and once it's over and done with you'll feel pretty good for being put through that

and i twitch a lot when i'm in situations like that. just try and focus on your birthday and don't stress it too much. i tend to over-analyze everything for no reason. so just try to keep your mind focused on having a good time. and keep taking deep breathes and stay calm. i'm sure you will do just fine

goodluck<3

Peekyboo · 11-04-2009, 03:52 PM

The thing that really helps me is to just keep telling myself that there's nothing wrong with me lol i know it may sound a little lame but i think deep down a lot of us with sa just inherently think that there is something different, unusual, or just plain wrong with us. Not true, but its something we have to deal with. You'll be just fine

have fun and smile

Amocholes · 11-04-2009, 04:08 PM

You can always talk to your boss and tell him or her that you're really not comfortable with the whole thing and would they mind not doing it.

wineandcheese · 11-04-2009, 07:45 PM

I feel like it can put people off to be like NO don't do anything. Doing that can draw even more attention in a negative way.

The thing that scares me the most is not being able to control my shakiness. Sometimes I can, sometimes it's downright horrible. That's why I'm not having any caffeine and limiting my sugar intake. Wish I was on some anti-anxiety meds or something but I'm not on anything right now.

wineandcheese · 11-04-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peekyboo

The thing that really helps me is to just keep telling myself that there's nothing wrong with me lol i know it may sound a little lame but i think deep down a lot of us with sa just inherently think that there is something different, unusual, or just plain wrong with us. Not true, but its something we have to deal with. You'll be just fine

have fun and smile

I know I'm mental, I just need to find better ways of hiding it.

GnR · 11-04-2009, 08:40 PM

You could ask your doc for some Inderal, which combats strictly the physical side of anxiety (shaking, sweating, getting red). It's not addictive or dangerous to my knowledge so he would probably let you try it. Benzo's are a different story (valium, xanax), they're much tougher to get a script for.

kaye · 11-04-2009, 08:51 PM

sometimes you can just acknowledge that you're nervous, people understand, since we all experience it. Since these people already know and accept you, they will be more inclined to deal with and accept your shakiness, even if you are.

Usually just feeling "OK" about my nervousness and accepting myself just as I am, however that may be, decreases the nervousness. Feeling I can't mess up makes me more tense.

Also focusing on breathing, that's a big help, especially breathing out, since that signals to the nervous system you're safe. Focus on breathing, bc when we tense we hold the breath, and that keeps making you tense. So if nothing else just breathe! And let the thoughts pass, pass, pass, let them go, and just breathe, and accept yourself as you are.

I have a glass of wine to help calm me : )

Take care! Happy Birthday !!!

wineandcheese · 11-05-2009, 07:15 PM

Yes I love to relax with a glass of wine, but that's not really an option for this! I wish it was!

Thanks for all the advice.

11-03-2009, 06:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
wineandcheese Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 69	Advice, Tips Please! There's going to be a little work celebration for me this week. HOW do I get through this? My worst problem is that my hands shake and I'm going to have to be eating. Any advice as to make things easier? I'm going to try to stay away from caffeine this week to hopefully help the jitteryness.

11-04-2009, 04:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Amocholes Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hello my freaky darlings! Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 12,599	You can always talk to your boss and tell him or her that you're really not comfortable with the whole thing and would they mind not doing it. __________________ In the kingdom of the blind, the one legged man is king.

11-04-2009, 08:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
kaye Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NoCal Age: 47 Posts: 271	sometimes you can just acknowledge that you're nervous, people understand, since we all experience it. Since these people already know and accept you, they will be more inclined to deal with and accept your shakiness, even if you are. Usually just feeling "OK" about my nervousness and accepting myself just as I am, however that may be, decreases the nervousness. Feeling I can't mess up makes me more tense. Also focusing on breathing, that's a big help, especially breathing out, since that signals to the nervous system you're safe. Focus on breathing, bc when we tense we hold the breath, and that keeps making you tense. So if nothing else just breathe! And let the thoughts pass, pass, pass, let them go, and just breathe, and accept yourself as you are. I have a glass of wine to help calm me : ) Take care! Happy Birthday !!! __________________ Are you highly sensitive? http://www.hsperson.com http://www.highlysensitivesouls.com

11-03-2009, 07:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
matty Status: Falling Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 202	I fear that too. I dread the idea of leaving because they will give me a going away party. Which means me center of attention and making a thank you speach. In work functions I normally just find someone I am semi comfortable with and stand/sit with them. Then I just laugh at there jokes and hope the time goes quickly. What sort of celebrations are they?

11-04-2009, 04:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
wineandcheese Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 69	A birthday thing. It's not going to be a big thing, but still could be 20+ people. That's a LOT to handle for someone with SA. Work is my biggest place of anxiety. I read Valium can seriously calm a person down, but with my luck, it'd make me crazy wacky. At least with a going away party, you won't be coming back!

11-04-2009, 02:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
matty Status: Falling Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 202	True that, But it is still the focus on me at the time. I have been lucky that my birthdays have been on the weekend the past few years Valium hey, You could be completely relaxed or the life of the party. Dont know if thats your answer. Hope it goes well for you.

11-04-2009, 03:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
anonymous2 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: My own world Gender: Female Posts: 7	this has happened to me. and once it's over and done with you'll feel pretty good for being put through that and i twitch a lot when i'm in situations like that. just try and focus on your birthday and don't stress it too much. i tend to over-analyze everything for no reason. so just try to keep your mind focused on having a good time. and keep taking deep breathes and stay calm. i'm sure you will do just fine goodluck<3

11-04-2009, 03:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Peekyboo Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 34	The thing that really helps me is to just keep telling myself that there's nothing wrong with me lol i know it may sound a little lame but i think deep down a lot of us with sa just inherently think that there is something different, unusual, or just plain wrong with us. Not true, but its something we have to deal with. You'll be just fine have fun and smile

11-04-2009, 07:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
wineandcheese Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 69	I feel like it can put people off to be like NO don't do anything. Doing that can draw even more attention in a negative way. The thing that scares me the most is not being able to control my shakiness. Sometimes I can, sometimes it's downright horrible. That's why I'm not having any caffeine and limiting my sugar intake. Wish I was on some anti-anxiety meds or something but I'm not on anything right now.

11-04-2009, 08:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
GnR Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Vancouver Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 79	You could ask your doc for some Inderal, which combats strictly the physical side of anxiety (shaking, sweating, getting red). It's not addictive or dangerous to my knowledge so he would probably let you try it. Benzo's are a different story (valium, xanax), they're much tougher to get a script for.

11-05-2009, 07:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
wineandcheese Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 69	Yes I love to relax with a glass of wine, but that's not really an option for this! I wish it was! Thanks for all the advice.