Has anyone even overcome SA on this site?

[brendarn]

I don't think they would just abandon the rest of us if they did, I know if I knew how to change my life around I would be sure to come back and share how. Reading other people talk about how social anxiety makes them feel and act used to make me feel like I wasn't alone anymore and a bit relieved, but now I'm starting to realize that it just doesn't end.

You have the 16 year olds making a thread about how they want to give up and you have the 20 year olds telling them that its going to get better and they still have their whole lives ahead of them. Then the 20 year olds say the same things about themselves and the 30 year olds tell them they are still young. Why are we all lying to each other? You don't believe that BS when someone tells it to you so why tell it to someone else? Some people just don't have a place in the world. Why should suicide be a taboo subject? Its not any worse than hating yourself and being miserable all the time. I don't want to be a 30 year old still trying to figure out whats wrong with me, I know whats wrong with me.

I'm 20, I don't have a girlfriend, I never had one and never will. I can't talk to anyone, even people in my family. I am constantly worrying and aware about the way I act and what other people are thinking of me and I am deathly afraid how interactions will go.

The only sure way to beat SA is to die lets really help each other and talk about an easy way out.

[Hopeful25]

People on this site have overcome SA. They probably don't post in the frustration section that often though. I don't criticize them for that, but I agree with you in that if I got over my SA and knew the people on here were suffering I'd try to help them out. I did so on a regular basis not too long ago, but I got tired of the forum rules, and it's a pretty long story so I won't go into the details, but I agree with that part anyways.

Some of the members that have overcome SA have posted some very helpful threads, like this one by LucidVision. There are a few others that I really like also, but I don't feel like spending time digging them up honestly (I forgot what they were titled anyway).

I've made vast improvements since I was at my worst, I can honestly say my anxiety isn't nearly as bad. My depression and loneliness is another battle, but I'm confident I'll figure that out eventually (hopefully sooner rather than later).

If you really feel like you're contemplating suicide, please use one of these resources for help. While I believe SA never really completely goes away (without drastic improvements in your life situation), it can certainly be treated, I'm living proof of that. Your self esteem also seems like an issue, that's just as serious, in my opinion, as your depression and your anxiety. I highly recommend therapy (if you're not already going).

Best of luck to you.

[Luker]

Here's a post that I made that might help: http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/...matrix-188126/

I think that experiencing SA within society is more normal than not experiencing SA.... There's something inside of you telling you that something's not right. (if that makes sense.) Don't try to fight it, try to use it as a tool to help you figure out what it is that isn't right.

[ManOfFewWords]

Don't worry, you still have a lot of years ahead of you. It will get better!

[ManOfFewWords]

But seriously,

http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/...and-up-188097/
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/...riends-179821/
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/...-store-181169/

[Joe G]

Originally Posted by brendarn

I don't think they would just abandon the rest of us if they did, I know if I knew how to change my life around I would be sure to come back and share how. Reading other people talk about how social anxiety makes them feel and act used to make me feel like I wasn't alone anymore and a bit relieved, but now I'm starting to realize that it just doesn't end.

You have the 16 year olds making a thread about how they want to give up and you have the 20 year olds telling them that its going to get better and they still have their whole lives ahead of them. Then the 20 year olds say the same things about themselves and the 30 year olds tell them they are still young. Why are we all lying to each other? You don't believe that BS when someone tells it to you so why tell it to someone else? Some people just don't have a place in the world. Why should suicide be a taboo subject? Its not any worse than hating yourself and being miserable all the time. I don't want to be a 30 year old still trying to figure out whats wrong with me, I know whats wrong with me.

I'm 20, I don't have a girlfriend, I never had one and never will. I can't talk to anyone, even people in my family. I am constantly worrying and aware about the way I act and what other people are thinking of me and I am deathly afraid how interactions will go.

The only sure way to beat SA is to die lets really help each other and talk about an easy way out.

The fact is it never goes away. You just have to find ways to deal with it the best you can. Everyone is different and everyone's lives are different. What works for me may not work for you but that doesn't mean there is no hope. I didn't get married until I was 26 and kind of gave up looking. And one day I met my wife and we have been together ever since. When I was 20 I took that time in my life to just work on me and make myself better. Find what it is you are good at and make a life out of it. More than likely you'll meet someone with the same passion and fall in love. Your right sometimes are old selves has to die before we can be reborn. Not real death just give into the anxiety and come out on the other end having faced your fears.

I often talk to myself when I get nervous and about to freak out. I tell myself to remember the hard work you put in to get here. You have to train your mind the same as you do your body. Condition your brain to think you can do this and shut out any negative thoughts from entering. It's a war going on inside and only you can decide who's going to win. Do you live to go home and see your family or do you lay down and die without putting up a fight? Dieing is easy living is the hard part. I don't know about you but I was given this life to live and by god I'm going to fight for it. Here some motivation for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRM0cAqAY9c

[socialphobia23]

Originally Posted by Joe G

The fact is it never goes away. You just have to find ways to deal with it the best you can. Everyone is different and everyone's lives are different. What works for me may not work for you but that doesn't mean there is no hope. I didn't get married until I was 26 and kind of gave up looking. And one day I met my wife and we have been together ever since. When I was 20 I took that time in my life to just work on me and make myself better. Find what it is you are good at and make a life out of it. More than likely you'll meet someone with the same passion and fall in love. Your right sometimes are old selves has to die before we can be reborn. Not real death just give into the anxiety and come out on the other end having faced your fears.

I often talk to myself when I get nervous and about to freak out. I tell myself to remember the hard work you put in to get here. You have to train your mind the same as you do your body. Condition your brain to think you can do this and shut out any negative thoughts from entering. It's a war going on inside and only you can decide who's going to win. Do you live to go home and see your family or do you lay down and die without putting up a fight? Dieing is easy living is the hard part. I don't know about you but I was given this life to live and by god I'm going to fight for it. Here some motivation for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRM0cAqAY9c

Not it can go away it just depends on how hard you try. Social anxiety is just being insecure of who you are, eventually you will find yourself if you put in the effort.

[MoniqueS]

I don't think I'll ever fully overcome it, but I've made so much progress. But it is always something that will be there to some extent. But it is up to all of us to choose to try and move forward or else the negativity will destroy you.

I will probably always want to be a part of a forum like this though. I find for the most part it is more helpful than it is destructive. And I have a lot of compassion for anybody going through this. I can speak the most openly to people who I know understand and won't look at me like I'm crazy.