what would you do?

[emms]

Hi all,
Well by now you've all heard my story before, I suffer from social anxiety to the point where it effects my everyday life.

Well here's the thing I've been doing a course 2 days a week for 5 weeks now, but it's gotten to the point where the anxiety is so bad it's making me sick. I'm ready just to quit.

I'm so frustruted I feel like I'm not normal and that there is something wrong with me. I go into the class room and I feel like everyone is judging me and thinking what a freak I am.

It's so bad I can't even do the work my mind just goes blank and I can't concentrate. Any ideas on what I should do? Sorry to ramble, but I just needed to get this out.

Thanks for reading

[cheekyduo]

Hi there,

I came in this section to see if anyone else suffers what I do, and saw your thread. Are you still going to your course, and has it gotten any easier?

I try to overcome the anxiety I get when I go to the shops (thats really the only public place I go to, other than playgrounds where I am not so bad), but I haven't had a single trip where it hasnt affected me. I get dizzy, freak out that I am about to pass out, think everyone is looking at me thinking I am a weirdo. I cannot go without one child in the trolley/pram to keep me distracted :(. I have no friends as I have pushed them all away, and same with family, so it is very hard. My husband is very loving and helpful, but really has no idea.

Feel free to pm me if you'd like a chat :).

[emms]

Hi there cheekyduo ,
Thankyou so much for you reply.

I ended up quiting my course as it was making me physically sick. I'm not happy about the decision but I just can't handle being around all those people.

It's really good to know that there are other people out there like me, as most of the time I feel soooo alone. I feel like I am wasting my life hiding from the world all the time. I don't want to be like this anymore it's so tiring.

Please feel free to post me anytime, maybe we could try and help each other though this.

[2Sunnyssideup]

Just read your posts and was wondering how you both are going?

Since having PND last year my social anxiety got really bad I went back onto medication. I've managed to get back to work and go to playgroup on a weekly basis but really find developing friendship extremely tough, the anxiety hits the roof, same with work at times.
It stops me thinking as you described and basically I end up in a type of shutdown mode where I just try to pretend I'm normal, because my mind is so consumed with the anxious thoughts and trying to fight them...I sometimes think I must come across as a real airhead and I find that I just end up doing or saying things to people that I know will go across okay.
I hate the restrictions it puts on my life, I would love to walk in someone else's shoes (without the anxiety). I often wonder what I could achieve if so much of my energy didn't go into the anxiety.

Love to hear from you both

[gizmoduckus]

I suffered from social anxiety for quite a few years and it just got worse and worse.

Even though it was the most frightening thing to do, I finally spoke to my GP about it and she referred me to see a therapist about it. The therapist helped me a lot by being able to talk situations out with her and also by doing some hypnotherapy. Because I was referred by the GP, I was able to claim the sessions through medicare and they didn't cost me anything.

These days, even though I still find social situations awkward, I find that I don't have panic attacks over it. I have learnt a few tricks to keep myself calm and able to get through it.

:hugs: I know how hard it can be but there is help out there if you want it.