I thought it would be cool to dedicate a thread to overcoming social anxiety or maybe just anxiety in general. Maybe for those of us suffering we can doing 1 thing a day that scares us and post about it on here. Idk anxiety, specifically social anxiety has been kicking my ass. I’d like to get over it.
6 Likes
In my case it takes a while to get used to people. In the beginning I’m highly stressed but after a while I tend to relax more. The key is to invest time in people so you start feeling more comfortable.
2 Likes
I worked as an MHT for a year. I definitely got more comfortable talking with co workers and leading groups. But the sensations never really left, I would talk more and make jokes and stuff but there was always an undercurrent of fairly acute anxiety. Maybe it was the environment. Just worried I’ll never be able to control or reduce it.
2 Likes
Work relationships tend to be more superficial. At least in my experience. I focus my energy mainly on family members as those are long term relationships that are worth investing in.
2 Likes
My social anxiety is most likely rooted in paranoia and also the fact that I can only “mask” my symptoms for so long until the cracks show. Then people start to ask questions and I kinda just withdraw gradually over time. Doesn’t feel so great.
4 Likes
Same, I’m not convinced there’s nothing we can do about it though.
I remember this article from awhile back
2 Likes
This is true 
That Feeling Safe thing does sound really promising. I will say that CBT has also been relatively effective, but it’s like a muscle— if you don’t use it, you kinda lose it.
Small steps, but we’ll get there
2 Likes
I have to warm up to people. I feel overwhelmed at times when having to have a conversation with someone. People that I have a long time relationship with I have an easier time talking to. The internet has helped me with getting to have conversations with others so I’m thankful for that.
Ive had a recent resurgence in social anxiety… It sucks seeing the whole battle and having won it and then find myself looking at the same game board …
Bored with social anxiety yet its still there.
I know in my good stretches Im pursuing greater means outside my identity.
Like coding video games doing 3d art… Even just focusing on saving money or learning how to cook with a new medium.
The worst part is when the best tactic fails… Which for me is immediately looking at the clock and taking account of how minimal 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours is even.
When I say to myself oh f****** c**** ill be done with this in 3 hours and I’m still locked into momentary panic… Usually means I havent gotten enough sleep.
Not like getting good sleep is really an option… I have a job.
You ain’t alone… Remember that. If you are feeling like a crisis is setting in… Tell your advisor.
I wind up having a panic attack at odd times… Normally they pass… But sometimes its like hours of hell.
My managers at my job have been pretty reasonable… Granted ive only asked to leave 3 or 4 times in 5 years
Pregabalin used to help me a lot with this at first.
Not sure if it’s still doing something still, but I am asking to come off it
Went to the head shop earlier to get some juice. Also went through the drive through at Starbucks. Two things that have a history of making me anxious. Did fine minimal anxiety.
1 Like
I saw a very good therapist in New York. He was working with the ‘new science’.
He was providing me methods that were changing the way I was using my brain. In other words, I was feeling that I was using different parts of the brain. I was getting like the average person too much.
However, I had begun tapering Clonazapem, and anxiety was rebounding. It was unbelievable. The therapist told me you are going to feel it hit the body like a sensation (like an actual physical sensation) and that was precisely what was happening. He was re-engineering the brain. However, it was too much mental effort, and I had to switch countries after that.
1 Like
I think for social anxiety i get weird when i keep thinking “why are they looking at me” and also when i cant comprehend what there saying and just see lips moving and stuff.
1 Like
After complaining about this my whole life im finally looking for some medication. Im gonna try paxil out. My psychologist said if my anxiety were a 10 it would only knock it down to an 8. While mines at a 6 and i feel like a 4 would be a big help.
1 Like
Went out to eat with parents tonight for Christmas. Anxiety was pretty low until near the end of the meal. There was a family seated next to us that said merry Christmas as we left. I kinda just looked down and said thank you. Then heard them laughing and joking as we walked about, a little paranoid it was about me.
This topic was automatically closed 95 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.