Posted by bella007 on May 3, 2001, at 19:02:27
In reply to A significant link between ADD and Social Anxiety?, posted by JohnM on May 3, 2001, at 16:41:43
> Is there any evidence (anecdotal or otherwise) that ADD (no H) is related to social phobia? I do believe that I had ADD in school growing up and that self-esteem issues followed.
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> My "social phobia" (my diagnosis) reaction around people I think has a lot to do with the fact that I can only concentrate on one thing at a time and I get frazzled if I'm am pushed beyond my limits. I therefore avoid large social gatherings. Only in one-on-one conversation have I really found some success socializing (and limited there). For example, when I am listening to someone talk (one-on-one) I have to concentrate very hard to follow them. Also, my cognition is a little slow due to my resources being devoted to attention, so I've never been clever or witty in conversation. Ironically, though I'm quite intelligent. It is just that I can only handle so much coming through my "mental funnel."
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> I've historically been diagnosed by way of the anxiety/depression route, but I've been wondering if I should be approached from an ADD viewpoint.
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> Also, has anyone experienced relief from "anxiety" and/or "depression" and/or "social phobia" by way of stimulent medications?I have ADHD, and Social Anxiety, and I have been affected by the two my whole life. I am 20 yrs. old, and I was diagnowed with ADHD, in March '00, and social anxiety last summer. I began taking Adderall after being diagnosed with ADHD, and it did wonders for me in that area, but it made my social anxiety ten times worse. I believe this was due to the fact that after the Adderall calmed me down, I was so aware of everything and everyone around me, for the first time ever, and I became so concerened, even more than I was before, with how I was being perceived by others. So, the Adderall heightened my anxiety, but it definately alleviated some of my depression, and I know for a fact that it has done the same for others. In my opinion, there is probably a connection between ADHD and social anxiety; several people in my family have both. It would be interesting to see a study of the two.
poster:bella007
thread:61542
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010424/msgs/61557.html