Posted by BobD on February 14, 2005, at 17:04:04
Hi, Im new to this board which i have been reading over for a while with interest. Im male, 22 and from the UK. I would like some advice, to discuss or hear from anyone with regards to effective treatment or even just discussion about my illness which is social anxiety (and maybe other illnesses im not sure of but think i may have). Here are my symptoms : on going anxiety in social situations (almost all) with varying degrees of severity depending on the type of situation and setting. (For those unfamiliar with SAD the anxiety manifests itself in the visible physical symptoms of shaking, voice distortion, sweaty palms, red face, and non visible psycological symptoms of panic and in general severe uncomfortable feelings) Had this since i was about maybe 16 (or even less if memory serves me right) I am 22 now and have self diagnosed SAD which isnt that hard to do as you can imagine given the obvious. It is severe but i am not bad at disguising it and tend to avoid contact with people. Now i crave to be normal!! the encouraging reports of people having relief with medication or therapy on this board has inspired me to write this as i long to be cured - it's just no life at all living the way i do now and have for so many years. I CAN leave the house and even held down a job for four years that didnt require much contact with people. But what also inspired me to seek help is that i now have much worsening of the condition (or other things wrong with me i dont know if they are seperate or related to SAD) but i will try my best to describe them.... recently i have experienced short term memory loss which is more annoying than severe , I have lost a lot of self confidence (not that I had much to begin with but I am more easily led and have far reduced decision making skills even in small matters and when i speak inferiority prevails) I get paranoid thoughts when outdoors that people (even on the other side of the street) are looking at/listening to me all the time, I have a lack of emotion and it shows when speaking - I almost seem robotic, I am tired during the day which doesnt really bother me all that much, I have strong difficulty finding the right words or just any words for a conversation: im often asked what im thinking - and usually its nothing at all! or just what do i say next? I also feel that I am very mentally slow (I know im not stupid but i come across that way to people) , I have a lack of attention span, much decreased libido - about 3/10 (although im in my 20's now so maybe thats just natural with age) and FINALLY mild depression, It may sound hard to believe but I want to socialise and mix with people, I think my life would benefit greatly from increased social contact and as they say you can never have too many friends! which i dont have many of at the moment as you can imagine. I would be v. grateful if any members could contribute any thoughts, suggestions or treatments which they found most effective and especially thoughts from those who have suffered or are suffering identical or similar symptoms. I do not have any problems going to my doctor for anything else but for SAD i wish to self medicate (i do most of the time anyway) or see a specialist who has a better understanding of the condtion(s) as I beleive most Doctors (especially here in the UK) have little or no understanding of it at all!! . Thank You all
poster:BobD
thread:457784
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050212/msgs/457784.html