[sigh]

After a death of someone very close to me, SA mixed with depression came up. Had some feelings of mediocrity (like a period of not feeling too good) before hand though.

I have a few questions and thoughts and it would be great if anyone could answer/share similar things haha

- What i feel, to explain it is i can't go out to a place where anyone i know could be... or even people within 5 years of me (17) make me edgy, awkward etc.

- Basically fear of being seen which has extended to being out in public.... Not agoraphobia ill happily leave the house at night .

- Pretty much cut off social and other ties, fallen a year behind in my education :blank. Started Doing homeschooling which sucks just under 2 years left to go till Uni, getting pretty damn lonely and i regret not fighting through the SA earlier to prevent it getting worse i basically avoid situations now...

- Not into the operah/doctor phil type stuff :b

- Q: Whats some good jobs for someone like me, male btw so no secretary haha

- Q: What would you guys recommend i do, I was thinking about maybe getting a laptop for study/work and going overseas/interstate just to get some sun and relax whilst working on talking/getting out... but i haven't been doing anything for a while so i don't know how plausible that is

- Q: Turning 18 soon, feeling like travelling (i guess) but don't have the confidence you know finding own place there organizing everything and entirely self dependent.... but has anyone with SA just gone on holiday and found things better in another country ? I would like to get into the clubbing etc but it would be a bit weird by myself...



:no geez having this sucks it seems to be an invisible wall around you, the brain can do amazing things huh.

 

[sigh]

would really like assistance on the matter, sorry about the length

 

[sigh]

bump :<

 

[tutliputli]

After a death of someone very close to me, SA mixed with depression came up. Had some feelings of mediocrity (like a period of not feeling too good) before hand though.

I have a few questions and thoughts and it would be great if anyone could answer/share similar things haha

- What i feel, to explain it is i can't go out to a place where anyone i know could be... or even people within 5 years of me (17) make me edgy, awkward etc.

- Basically fear of being seen which has extended to being out in public.... Not agoraphobia ill happily leave the house at night .

- Pretty much cut off social and other ties, fallen a year behind in my education :blank. Started Doing homeschooling which sucks just under 2 years left to go till Uni, getting pretty damn lonely and i regret not fighting through the SA earlier to prevent it getting worse i basically avoid situations now...

- Not into the operah/doctor phil type stuff :b

- Q: Whats some good jobs for someone like me, male btw so no secretary haha

- Q: What would you guys recommend i do, I was thinking about maybe getting a laptop for study/work and going overseas/interstate just to get some sun and relax whilst working on talking/getting out... but i haven't been doing anything for a while so i don't know how plausible that is

- Q: Turning 18 soon, feeling like travelling (i guess) but don't have the confidence you know finding own place there organizing everything and entirely self dependent.... but has anyone with SA just gone on holiday and found things better in another country ? I would like to get into the clubbing etc but it would be a bit weird by myself...

:no geez having this sucks it seems to be an invisible wall around you, the brain can do amazing things huh.

Hi there, sigh

The symptoms you describe are typical of someone with social anxiety disorder. They match mine pretty much exactly. You're not alone! I also worry about answers to the questions you've asked, so I'll try to give you some helpful advice. First of all, it's great that you feel able to get a job, because a lot of people with SAD can't manage that. I had to get a job out of neccessity but I think it really helps to have some kind of routine you have to stick to, and to be around people on a regular basis, even if you can't talk to them. I remember seeing a thread in the 'workplace' forum on here about ideal jobs for SAD sufferers, you should check that out. Jobs where you would be working with people older than you might be more comfortable for you than with people your own age, admin-type jobs where you work alone, or maybe in a library which is a quiet environment where you're not under pressure to talk all the time.

If you have the money to travel, I'd say go for it! Decide on somewhere you'd really love to visit, do some research on the area and the culture, and make it into an adventure for yourself. I think it would be a great way to build up your confidence. You could learn some basics of the language there and practice making conversation with the locals, without the pressure of having to talk constantly - if you're not fluent in the language, it doesn't matter if you can't think of something to say. I find being in another country completely changes my mood, because I'm focussing more on the surroundings than trying to control my anxiety. Going somewhere new can be really therapeutic. I hope you make some plans soon!

 

[sigh]

great post, thanks i guess ill try find a part-time entry level job or borrow from family (don't really know how much i'd need though haha!)

Things seem such a great idea in my head then once reality kicks in my mind tells me get out of it somehow.

 

[tutliputli]

I know what you mean, I tend to need someone else's approval or encouragement to actually be bothered with doing anything. But I think it's a great idea to go somewhere new and fresh. If I had the money I would go to Japan. I know that'd be a particularly expensive trip, but I'd love it so much Where are you thinking of going?

Yeah, you can just work part-time and save up enough to go somewhere within a few months, if you don't have living costs to pay for too. That's why I couldn't afford to go anywhere at the moment. I'm glad I've given you some ideas

 

[sigh]

I know what you mean, I tend to need someone else's approval or encouragement to actually be bothered with doing anything. But I think it's a great idea to go somewhere new and fresh. If I had the money I would go to Japan. I know that'd be a particularly expensive trip, but I'd love it so much Where are you thinking of going?

Yeah, you can just work part-time and save up enough to go somewhere within a few months, if you don't have living costs to pay for too. That's why I couldn't afford to go anywhere at the moment. I'm glad I've given you some ideas

Japan would be great, I'm just thinking not knowing the language and all that would be difficult..

I'm from Australia but i would like to visit maybe the Holland, Prague or some place where most people speak English but the culture is very different. Perhaps i could sort it out to go to a school in one of those places for my last year of school but that could effect my results so I'm not quite sure, and I'm not to clued up on how i would organize all that .

I hope you decide to go on your trip and have a great time + an increase in confidence