Is there any hope for me at finding a good job?

[RandomUsername2015]

I'm 15 years old, Social Anxiety has taken over my life, to the extend where i don't go to school, and sit in my room all day doing nothing. I've been referred by my school to attend a community college, which i'm dreading, i wish i could just sit in a normal class like everyone else, and concentrate on work, do exams, go to university, graduate, and have a good life. But i don't think, and somewhat know, that'll ever happen to me. I live in a bad area, extremely bad, there is a lot of violence, drugs, alcohol, and druggies shouting at you in the street. the school i high school i attended is terrible, i know most, if not, the majority of teenagers would agree, i'm not over over exaggerating , but it is literally the worst, there is so much violence at it, i was once standing next to my friend when i first started, and boom, out of nowhere came an ice-filled bottle that struck him in the face. a couple inches closer and it would've hit me. i get bullied there. the teachers don't seem to care. Someone from the education department of my town visited to let me know what my options are. i could go back to highschool, or transfer to another one where i don't know anyone, or attend this community college. I have a passion for computers, as you can imagine, i spend most of my time on a computer. I don't think i'd ever be able to get a decent job in IT without going to school and getting the relevant qualifications. I'd love it so much if i could just feel normal in my own skin for one day, instead of worrying about everything else. I know you have to go to school, pass your exams to get to university. i'm in the United Kingdom may i add. i've thought about getting a tutor, but i'm not entirely sure if i would be able to acquire any good qualifications to get to university through that. i have spoke to my doctor about it, i was referred to some therapist, but didn't go to the follow up appointments. I feel so s**t about myself, i know i'm not living up to my full potential, it really sucks to know and see that. Is there any hope for me? in your opinion?/relate

[bizcoach]

There is so much hope for you that cannot even imagine.

I can remember avoiding social situations at age 4. Most people with SA don't have symptoms until the teenage years. Mine has been challenging.

The good news is that I learned to manage much of it by learning meditations, visualisation, and cognitive therapy from one therapist in very few sessions. I completed school, got jobs, got married and had kids. I adapted my role in society to fit my anxiety disorder. After a rough patch working in government and being on TV every week, I burned out with bad anxiety episode which kept me housebound for many months. It too two years to regain the strength to quit and start my own business where I controlled.My time and success potential by adapting my skills around any of my unresolved anxieties. The business became a debt free multi-million dollar success and I ran it from a office in my home while I hired others to manage staff and construction projects. I would drive out to jobs after hours and weekends to avoid uncomfortable interactios. I sold the company and retired in my early 50s.

Go meet the therapist and ask to learn ways to avoid an anxiety From becoming a full on panic. It will be worth the effort to learn these skills.

I was a basket case and became ridiculously successful. You can too. Use your head and develop coping strategies, because waiting for a cure could be a long and lonely wait.

Some recent surgery has had me housebound for months and has presented an opportunity for worry to revisit me. I will defeat it and be up and running soon . Please learn from this forum, and build the life you desire. You can have a great future.