Posted by Dima on April 13, 2009, at 19:30:55
In reply to Re: My life so far...what should I do?, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 13, 2009, at 11:25:35
> Dima, that's definitely severe social anxiety. In addition to meds, I would suggest you see a therapist who specializes in anxiety and OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder, so one who can do all would be great. The OC Foundation has a web page from which you can access the names of people in your area who address OCD. If there aren't any listed, try Psychology Today or, even better, if your state has a psychological association web site, try that. My state has a search function for clients and you can search by area of practice. When you find potential therapists, make sure to ask them if they have experience with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Only someone with that experience will have truly treated OCD patients.
I've never really thought social anxiety is the problem. I don't have any physical symptoms, but I understand they don't have to be there. But mainly, I haven't considered it because it doesn't seem like I'm just getting too anxious and that's causing me to not talk. I just have trouble continuing a conversation and thinking of things to say. I do not get very engaged in conversation, so the conversation usually becomes awkward, and this fear of the awkwardness causes the anxiety. But maybe that's exactly what social anxiety is, and I don't know it.
poster:Dima
thread:888657
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090408/msgs/890447.html