Posted by Psycho D on August 30, 2003, at 13:09:55
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by marip on August 30, 2003, at 2:53:59
Marip and others:
**Also, I have a major phone-phobia--my heart races everytime I hear the phone ring because it might be someone who wants to talk to me and ask me to do something with them and then Id have to think of an excuse not to and...it just gets worse from there. Anyone else experience this?YES, i know exactly how you feel, i have a cell phone and every time it rings my anxiety kicks in and most of the time i can't even answer it. I've had alot of friends think that i have something against them or am a jerk because of this.
**Now even thinking about being high makes me anxious. Sometimes I regret that because even nicotine helped me feel more comfortable with people before.The main reason i did drugs was to alleviate my social anxiety systems. But the fact is that there are much more efficient drugs to help with this problem. I don't think that the issue is to stop drugs, I think it's to find better, more efficient FDA approved drugs. For example, with the smoking i used to smoke too and i remember that the nicotine would just help me relax and i felt good and social. Now i've learned that this was because of the dopaminergic effects nicotine has on the brain, and there ae MUCH more efficient ways of getting this feeling that won't kill you (Selegeline, Well-butrin... possibly dexedrine or some other stimulants?) . So i don't think it's STOP drugs but move on to smarter, safer drugs. There are also many effective therapies for SA.
I post this because I understand how many of you are suffering, but there is hope! Social Anxiety is a highly treatable mental illness. I have my first appointment with a P-doc in a week or so and i am very much looking forward to it now that i've learned about all the treatments out there. I suggest that anyone who hasn't yet, do this. It will help you understand and overcome this painful illness.
poster:Psycho D
thread:255249
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255644.html