How did you get over/better your social anxiety?

[chelseabrooks]

My social anxiety started developing about 2 years ago, and has just gotten worst over time. I'm constantly feeling like people are judging me, wondering what they're thinking about me and when I'm having a conversation with someone I'm constantly thinking about what to say next in the conversation so I don't say something stupid or whatever. I never used to be like this in high school and it sucks dealing with this now. I feel like I make everything so awkward and feel that people just think I'm weird. I'm on sertaline now, and I feel like that helps me sliiiiightly. Were you prescribed any medications that actually made you feel ALOT better? How did you get over/make better your social anxiety?

[alankay]

Experience, an ssri(prozac for me) to help make me less self conscious and a beta blocker(inderal) when tremor/racing heart was a major issue. Alankay

[Enduronman]

Although (zoloft) is approved for social phobia, it leads only to modest improvement in this condition. The sliiiiiggghhhhttly is all you're going to get. If it doesn't meet your expectations in regards to this disorder then there are many other things to try as far as meds go.

1. The 21st century has created much of this type of disorder because of information overload and the fact that you can connect with 1000's of people, anywhere, at anytime. Techno gadgets, communication, advertising, media exposure, yadda yadda.. It all plays into your condition in one way or another.
2. Accept the fact that although you think everyone is judging you, they're not..you're creating that idea in your own mind.
3. Social anxiety is created by general anxiety disorder itself, its just another branched circuit of this evil condition and can lead to other forms of anxiety, disorders, disease if left untreated and ignored.
4. I would suggest a re-visit to your Dr. and ask for an actual anti-anxiety medication designed to treat the root source of this issue.
5. I would also suggest finding a therapist too. This is a vital part of getting anxiety itself under some control because of understanding, learning, knowledge..Anxiety will try to prevent you from doing this, don't let it. Go meet a NEW person and build a NEW relationship with another person to help you make sense of this fear. There's honestly nothing to fear.

Its going to take work to reverse this 2 year process and zoloft alone isnt going to do that for you. You have to do the rest to succeed..

Goodluck!

E-Man.

[Unccmike49]

My therapist has said that basically give your self permission to be anxious, and that helps you own your condition. I too have social phobias, which started during my junior year of high school. In 2002, I was put on Paxil and Neurontin, as my psychiatrist said that combination works with each other to basically calm your brain in general. However, it can take up to 3 weeks to fully kick in.

Hope this helps!

[owl]

My therapist has said that basically give your self permission to be anxious, and that helps you own your condition. I too have social phobias, which started during my junior year of high school. In 2002, I was put on Paxil and Neurontin, as my psychiatrist said that combination works with each other to basically calm your brain in general. However, it can take up to 3 weeks to fully kick in.

Hope this helps!

I agree with this so much. It is helpful to acknowledge your anxiety. Instead of viewing it as a parasite, you have to view it as a visitor. So instead of hating yourself or thinking anxiety is a weakness, you just have to tweak some parts of your life to accommodate. Surprisingly, this has helped to reduce symptoms of anxiety for me.

[DragonLilly]

I used to be socially afraid to the point I would not even leave the house! I refused to have open windows "in case the neighbors seen me" and I refused to answer phone calls at all. I couldn't go anywhere without my mum or someone I trusted, even if I did I would burst into tears or get really angry. If I were to go to the doctor I would hide in the bathroom until called out because I was scared of all the people.

It took me a long while to overcome this and I found the more I worked on it the easier things got for me. So here's a list of things that I did to help myself:
-I went online and searched other people with the same fears as me to remind myself I wasn't "weird" or "abnormal" for being like I was.
-I accepted I was shy and that not everyone is destined to be great talkers.
-I decided that even if people judged me I didn't have to care. I had to remind myself that I was here to live not to keep other people happy.
-I got put on anti-depressants by my doctor.
-I started slow to get back out there. I started by making a trip to my mail box everyday to collect the mail. When I got used to that I began to walk to the end of my street and back. When I got used to that I walked to the shop..
-I forced myself to go places even if I felt like crying and/or passing out. I went to low social places to start with like the local park so I didn't have to talk to people if I didn't want to.
-I had to stop trying to read other people's minds. I taught myself not to care so much about hurting people and let them tell me when I was upsetting them. If they couldn't tell me then it was their problem, not mine.


Different things work for different people but I think the main point is to work on your self esteem if anything. After that you may need to find the trigger to any fears you may have of people, like for me it was due to bullying at school and abuse at home. I had to understand I had just been through a rough time and not everyone were jerks like I believed.

I personally take Pristiq as an anti-depressant. It took me many attempts to find the right medication, but I think this one has been the best.

Lastly, don't freak too much about 'normal'. There's no such thing. People behind closed doors all do some really weird stuff and will act childish or silly on occasion, it's human. Worry more about enjoying the things in life you do have. The rest will come with time. ;)

Oh and I nearly forgot. It's okay to be an ass and be hated every now and then, everyone has those days where they just need to vent and let's face it, we are not perfect. I say this because it was one of my biggest problems I had. I felt the need to keep the people around me happy at all times... and trust me it's impossible!

[ananxiousgirl]

I do meditation everyday. It helps.