Social Anxiety & Excessive Sweating out of control!

[joobjoob]

Hello all!

This is my first post. Wow I'm so glad that there are other people that share the same problems as me. When I'm in my own circle of friends/work colleagues I feel like I'm the only one!

I'm looking for others folks opinions or advice on how they overcame or manage the same problems as me.

I'm 26 years old and since I was 19 I've suffered to varying levels with social anxiety which is usually followed or made worse by excessive sweating. I have been to counselling and was taught CBT methods to control it. It worked slightly so I then tried hypnotherapy which was a big help and allowed me manage my problems.

However in the past 8 weeks my anxiety has become completely out of control. I get very anxious just sitting on a bus and have even started getting off a few stops early, either due to a flight or fight moment or because I've become so hot and bothered that I'm dripping with sweat. It's never been this bad before.

I went out for a meal with my partners family 2 weeks ago to a very nice restaurant. These are people that I'm totally comfortable with and have no problems being around. However after a few mins of sitting at the table, I start getting anxious then I start sweating. I was so uncomfortable that I went outside for some fresh air. While I was outside my mind was racing and I was actually on the verge of calling a taxi and going home without even telling the people I was with! As with all these situations, once I've been in the same surroundings for a while I will eventually cool down and relax. I used to be able to trigger this relaxation myself after being taught this during hypnotherapy but I've lost all control now and it's worse than ever.

I went to the doctors and explained the situation. My doc has put me on beta blockers to try and reduce some of the symptoms. I've only been taking them for 2 days so I'm waiting to see if there are any results. I think the sweating the worst bit. If I could stop that I would feel so much more at ease.

I just need to talk about this to someone as my partner doesn't understand. He has never been through this before and doesn't know what to say. He tries his best but I know he's clueless about it.

Any similar stories or advice?

If you've made it to the end, thats for taking the time to read my rant :)

[TheEditor]

I experience the sweats too. I know that celexa - an ssri - can cause heat intolerance.

The worst part is I wonder if I'm just hot or if it's an anxiety attack coming on.

The best way I've dealt with the sweating is the sAme way you'd deal with heat: drink lots of water, run cold water on your wrists and splash your face, and when possible, get to a cool place.

I'm in Canada so 8 months of the year finding a cool place isn't hard.

Good luck!

[anxiolytic]

yea i know exactly how that feels, its possibly one of the worst symptoms of anxiety, because it makes you feel weird, and really awkward, and when people see you sweating it just makes you sweat even more. I overcame my problems with medication, thank god. and then after taking it for a certain amount of time i had an epiphany, since then its been better.
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[starlightbliss]

Hey joobjoob,

I can totally relate to your problematic sweating at random times throughout the day.

One of the greatest helps I found for my sweating problems was this website: www.socialanxietyinstitute.org

He talks about sweating, blushing, and a ton of other symptoms, and it was much cheaper for me than all the "psychologists" I ended up visiting who didn't understand my problems fully.

I hope this helps.

[boh]

I have exactly the same issues. It's horrible the more you sweat the more anxious I become

[TheBlack]

I've heard drinking green tea reduces sweating.

Some people sweat more after a shower. If this is the case shower at night only and use anti-perspirant spray. In the morning and afternoon your sweating should have reduced unless you experience severe anxiety. So shower/have a bath at night only.

[lucyheath]

Hey joob joob I am suffering from anxiety attacks I'm 20 and I've only just started havin them family ad friends don't understand neither do doctors tbf the only people I've found that understand are on here I'm on beta blockers called lustral I've been on them for months now an they have taken most symptoms away but still get the lead up sensations of sweating worrying about he silly things

[boh]

Hey joob joob I am suffering from anxiety attacks I'm 20 and I've only just started havin them family ad friends don't understand neither do doctors tbf the only people I've found that understand are on here I'm on beta blockers called lustral I've been on them for months now an they have taken most symptoms away but still get the lead up sensations of sweating worrying about he silly things

Yea the panic about sweating is as bad as the actual sweating

[rainbow1]

Hey joob joob I am suffering from anxiety attacks I'm 20 and I've only just started havin them family ad friends don't understand neither do doctors tbf the only people I've found that understand are on here I'm on beta blockers called lustral I've been on them for months now an they have taken most symptoms away but still get the lead up sensations of sweating worrying about he silly things

Apart from our age I might have well as typed your above message. Sometimes just wish ppl who are close to us understood we can't switch off anxiety!! Hope you are doing well. T

[Ponder]

Hi Guys ... another Newbie here. I've been battling Anxiety most of my life and can tell you that sweating is quite normal under such conditions. At first it was hard to deal with the attention it would often bring, but eventually I just had to accept it. Sometimes I would even keep a little sweat rag on hand to simply wipe my self down and just work on controlling the knee shaking, and fidgeting. Learning to avoid triggers helps - mostly for me, that means avoiding people, but that's OK with me. I've kind of learned over time, to stay away from things I have a bad reaction to ... instead, if I'm not letting myself get dragged down by focusing on what's wrong with me, I'll try looking at things that make me feel good about myself ... To be honest, it's good to sweat ... I actually like it. Sweat rag and a can of spray. Tell em you only just finished working out. Best of luck with it guys. ;)