Posted by JahL on March 25, 2002, at 14:10:27
In reply to OSchl- Social Phobia a real,debilitating illness!!, posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 25, 2002, at 13:20:12
Yeah, it needed saying 3 Beers. I've had s. phobia for as long as I can remember and it's every bit as debilitating and crippling as you suggest. It has an unusually high morbidity rate for a so-called minor disorder.
Your story resonates v. strongly (i'm only a few yrs older than you), in particular the binge drinking, which I started around 15 years of age, at which point I finally started to become a social being. Twenty beers in a coupla hours & I couldn't give a f*ck what anyone thought of me. I used to get high as a kite off alcohol. Ecstasy was also quite helpful in this regard, for as long as it worked. Was quite partial to anything else going.
As the depression worsened, alcohol began to bring out my dark side and like yourself, I began to get in a few scrapes, broke a couple of knuckles, severed a tendon etc.
Aside from pot, I don't touch anything now, but I don't bother socialising anymore. Just don't enjoy it. More effort than it's worth.
Re: possible bipolarity, you know that BP & s. phobia are considered to be pretty frequently comorbid? I'm BPII + derealisation (which really helps with connecting with people!) and Lamictal + Klonopin is also my treatment of choice, though Sulpiride probably makes the biggest difference re: s. phobia.
J.
poster:JahL
thread:100046
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/100059.html