![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pandabear on August 22, 2004, at 13:48:33
For a long time now I have been dealing with Social anxiety. It isnt bad enough that I feel like I can never leave my house, but it is the kind where I panic when I am out with friends or family. I can go somewhere and then turn around and drive all the way home because I become scared or panicked. I used to have a hard time going out to eat because I would fear that I would get sick or something embarressing would happen to me. My therapist wants me to try really hard and overcome this without using any medicine. She wanted me to report to her this next week on how I did.
Well, yesterday I had to leave from shopping and run home because I started to get really anxious and nervous, today I didnt go to church because I was to nervous...when I feel this way, I end up spending time by myself and it makes it look like im depressed when really im not.
I told my therapist that I am all talk when it comes to making plans with people. I dont break my plans..but I just dont go through with them. It is because I get too nervous. Even with my family members it is hard. It is so frustrating. I would like to be able to overcome this without meds but if that is what it takes then Im ok with it..I just dont know how im going to be able to overcome it.
How do therapists go about treating social anxiety with their patients? What meds are used for it? Any help would be great. thanks
Pandabear
Posted by PTSD_Girl on August 22, 2004, at 14:29:51
In reply to Social Anxiety Issue, posted by Pandabear on August 22, 2004, at 13:48:33
I really feel for you, PandaBear. I have social anxiety too. Isn't it the pits? We are social critters by nature, I think, and it is so frustrating to have this need to distance ourselves from others. This condition makes us have to fight ourselves.
Last summer my social anxiety was so bad that I couldn't leave my apartment.....for the entire summer. I have never known such anxiety!!! I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy!
The only med that I have found to help myself is Ativan. Taking 1mg three times per day rounds the edges.....it eases away the tension, and I'm able to be ME again. The problem is, though, that my docs say that benzos are only for temporary use. They say that they were never meant to be used as part of someone's daily regimen. So they are basically saying, "Go suffer."
Maybe your doctors will allow for the use of benzos. For someone with true social anxiety, they are about as addicting as morphine is for a dying cancer patient. They absoultely improve your quality of life.
I say that you should ask about Ativan. You can work through your issues much better when your heart isn't pounding out of your throat!
PTSD_Girl
Posted by Susan47 on August 22, 2004, at 16:53:42
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety Issue, posted by PTSD_Girl on August 22, 2004, at 14:29:51
I'm referring to the Fake Me as Dinah did .. yesterday? I've learned to fake it a lot of the time, which confuses people when I just don't show at something I was *so enthusiastic* about just two days ago...!
I found out it was hard to make and keep good friends this way, and the friends I did end up with weren't what I would have chosen for myself. I'm trying really hard to change myself and I hope everybody who reads this and feels that he or she might have social anxiety but is too proud to admit it, can become anxiety-free. The first step to doing that, I think, is to *stay away from critical people; learn to recognize them* in your life; that's the only thing that seems to be pulling me up at times. The recognition and the staying away.
Posted by Susan47 on August 22, 2004, at 16:55:39
In reply to Social Anxiety vs the Fake Me, posted by Susan47 on August 22, 2004, at 16:53:42
And really pay attention to those people who you feel good around; recognize what makes you feel hopeful and happy about yourself when you're around others, then keep yourself around those people but expand the group all the time. Just a little bit. Thanks for reading.
Posted by AuntieMel on August 24, 2004, at 17:08:10
In reply to Social Anxiety Issue, posted by Pandabear on August 22, 2004, at 13:48:33
Lots of phobias are dealt with using immersion. Doing what you are afraid of so often that you become desensitized.
The idea is to start slow. If shopping scares you, then start with just driving through the parking lot. Continue that until you don't think twice. Then park and watch the store entrance for a while and continue this exercise until comfortable. Then go into the store and buy one thing, then a hand basket, then a full cart, then a smile at the cashier, etc. Just keep doing each step until you get to a comfort level (not just tolerance).
Then go to the next thing that scares you socially, and so on, not forgetting to keep going to the store on a regular basis to not backslide there.
It's supposed to be the preferred way of dealing with this.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.