Living with social anxiety disorder..

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 07:21 PM

I have social anxiety disorder and depression..I have been on meds to control it for a few years..also been in therapy. I never meet people that have this disorder also..so I wanted to know if anyone out there deals with this as well. I would like to hear stories of how you came to be diagnosed and what your life is like now.

awnestj · 02-12-2008, 07:37 PM

i haven't been diagnosed yet, but i've read online articles and it seems to describe me exactly...have you had good luck with any meds?

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 07:49 PM

What has worked for me is welbutrin and celexa. Welbutrin treats depression and celexa is a drug to treat anxiety and panic attacks. A good alternative to drugs is an herb called valerian root. When I have trouble sleeping I take valerian root tea and it helps me sleep really well. Good luck!

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awnestj

i haven't been diagnosed yet, but i've read online articles and it seems to describe me exactly...have you had good luck with any meds?

What are some of your symptoms?

Nurseman · 02-12-2008, 07:52 PM

I have often thought I had it too. I am HORRIBLE in social settings. I can go to a wedding, but the reception is hell.
I haven't been to a party in YEARS.

I'm told Xanax is supposed to be good for this. Anybody have any good results with it?

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nurseman

I have often thought I had it too. I am HORRIBLE in social settings. I can go to a wedding, but the reception is hell.
I haven't been to a party in YEARS.

I'm told Xanax is supposed to be good for this. Anybody have any good results with it?

What do you feel like when you go to a reception?

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 07:56 PM

I usually start to get really hot and sweaty...then I feel a little dizzy and feel like I can't say anything right or normal. Sometimes I feel faint and need to sit down. I hate this feeling...also sometimes I feel like I am watching the world in front of me on t.v. It's weird...like I am not really living it just watching it.

itsallgrand · 02-12-2008, 08:03 PM

Amongst the various labels I've received, trouble with social anxiety was one of them.

Somehow I think it makes a difference, that it wasn't something I lived with my entire life - but was more conditional and in tow with other problems. I was primarily in treatment for PTSD , and all the full stuff that goes with that. These things tend to cluster.
So there were problems with depression, and my psychiatrist actually showed me how a lot of my ways of being lined up quite to the 'borderline personality disorder' spectrum.

I've made tremendous progress. I'll focus on the social anxiety issues here.

Whereas before, there were times that even being on a bus or in a restaurant or even meeting with friends was iffy (more days than not of it seemingly like too big a hill to climb, more torturous than ever being fun!) - now there are few situations that trigger anything more than the mildest social anxiety for me. It's mostly residual. More "average" and conquerable realistically in my own mind, go out there and do it challenges.

"go out there and do it" used to be the most loathsome words in the world to me before. Gawd, how I hated them.

As far as meds, there was a brief time I was put on antipsychotics. That was a disaster, and that was before I found my present wonderful pyschiatrist. It was all wrong.

There a short while where I attempted the anti anxiety medication, taken as needed' - ha! and for me, they were not! My panic after the medication wore off - as I refused any anti depressant drugs - was pure hell. I decided to go without any meds at all.

So no meds, cognitive behavioral therapy and specialized therapy for a long time. Plenty of slow exposure , meeting small goals, a lot a lot of work.

Depending on where you are starting from, honestly I say from the bottom of my heart - if someone in the condition I was in even a few years ago can be where I am today - you can overcome this!

There are SO many people struggling with social anxiety, all along the spectrum, so however it feels to be where you are right now Know that you are not alone!

shoppingGirl · 02-12-2008, 08:14 PM

Itsallgrand,

I have come a long way also. A few years ago I couldn't even get to the grocery store. I would drive there and then have to turn around a leave because I just couldn't go in. Sometimes the day before I had an appointment my anxiety would get so bad that i was in bed all day, sick with anxiety. I actually got quesy and felt like throwing up it was so bad. Now I never have a problem doing grocery shopping, well, i shouldn't say never...but not very often anyway, lol.

awnestj · 02-12-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna_solon

What has worked for me is welbutrin and celexa. Welbutrin treats depression and celexa is a drug to treat anxiety and panic attacks. A good alternative to drugs is an herb called valerian root. When I have trouble sleeping I take valerian root tea and it helps me sleep really well. Good luck!

Cool, thanks. a certain incident happened at my job and it seems like something my co-workers would have been able to laugh off. I, however, felt humiliated and i avoid going into the breakroom when anyone else is in there. i've completely alienated myself from my coworkers and can't get over what happened. i also blush really easily when i feel uncomfortable...often during social settings. sometimes my body feels really tense. i also used to drink a lot because it made me feel more comfortable.

02-12-2008, 07:21 PM	#1
shoppingGirl Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 360	Living with social anxiety disorder.. I have social anxiety disorder and depression..I have been on meds to control it for a few years..also been in therapy. I never meet people that have this disorder also..so I wanted to know if anyone out there deals with this as well. I would like to hear stories of how you came to be diagnosed and what your life is like now. __________________ You know your in love when you can't sleep because reality is better than your dreams...

02-12-2008, 07:37 PM	#2
awnestj Offline Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 77	i haven't been diagnosed yet, but i've read online articles and it seems to describe me exactly...have you had good luck with any meds? __________________ "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

02-12-2008, 07:49 PM	#3
shoppingGirl Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 360	What has worked for me is welbutrin and celexa. Welbutrin treats depression and celexa is a drug to treat anxiety and panic attacks. A good alternative to drugs is an herb called valerian root. When I have trouble sleeping I take valerian root tea and it helps me sleep really well. Good luck! __________________ You know your in love when you can't sleep because reality is better than your dreams...

02-12-2008, 07:56 PM	#7
shoppingGirl Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 360	I usually start to get really hot and sweaty...then I feel a little dizzy and feel like I can't say anything right or normal. Sometimes I feel faint and need to sit down. I hate this feeling...also sometimes I feel like I am watching the world in front of me on t.v. It's weird...like I am not really living it just watching it. __________________ You know your in love when you can't sleep because reality is better than your dreams...

02-12-2008, 08:03 PM	#8
itsallgrand Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: following my grace... Gender: None Specified Posts: 6,788	Amongst the various labels I've received, trouble with social anxiety was one of them. Somehow I think it makes a difference, that it wasn't something I lived with my entire life - but was more conditional and in tow with other problems. I was primarily in treatment for PTSD , and all the full stuff that goes with that. These things tend to cluster. So there were problems with depression, and my psychiatrist actually showed me how a lot of my ways of being lined up quite to the 'borderline personality disorder' spectrum. I've made tremendous progress. I'll focus on the social anxiety issues here. Whereas before, there were times that even being on a bus or in a restaurant or even meeting with friends was iffy (more days than not of it seemingly like too big a hill to climb, more torturous than ever being fun!) - now there are few situations that trigger anything more than the mildest social anxiety for me. It's mostly residual. More "average" and conquerable realistically in my own mind, go out there and do it challenges. "go out there and do it" used to be the most loathsome words in the world to me before. Gawd, how I hated them. As far as meds, there was a brief time I was put on antipsychotics. That was a disaster, and that was before I found my present wonderful pyschiatrist. It was all wrong. There a short while where I attempted the anti anxiety medication, taken as needed' - ha! and for me, they were not! My panic after the medication wore off - as I refused any anti depressant drugs - was pure hell. I decided to go without any meds at all. So no meds, cognitive behavioral therapy and specialized therapy for a long time. Plenty of slow exposure , meeting small goals, a lot a lot of work. Depending on where you are starting from, honestly I say from the bottom of my heart - if someone in the condition I was in even a few years ago can be where I am today - you can overcome this! There are SO many people struggling with social anxiety, all along the spectrum, so however it feels to be where you are right now Know that you are not alone! __________________ "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." Mal Pancoast

02-12-2008, 07:52 PM	#5
Nurseman Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 321	I have often thought I had it too. I am HORRIBLE in social settings. I can go to a wedding, but the reception is hell. I haven't been to a party in YEARS. I'm told Xanax is supposed to be good for this. Anybody have any good results with it?

02-12-2008, 08:14 PM	#9
shoppingGirl Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 360	Itsallgrand, I have come a long way also. A few years ago I couldn't even get to the grocery store. I would drive there and then have to turn around a leave because I just couldn't go in. Sometimes the day before I had an appointment my anxiety would get so bad that i was in bed all day, sick with anxiety. I actually got quesy and felt like throwing up it was so bad. Now I never have a problem doing grocery shopping, well, i shouldn't say never...but not very often anyway, lol. __________________ You know your in love when you can't sleep because reality is better than your dreams...