Social | Valium Discussion

I have a lot of anxiety about going to school everyday because I have social anxiety disorder and it’s very hard to communicate with people and I get nervous that the teacher will call on me and I will get something wrong or say something too quiet. Stuff like that embarrasses me because I’m more shy. I don’t have a lot of friends because I’m not that outgoing and it depresses me. I also have no self confidence whatsoever. Any advice?

Chosen Answer:

Here are a couple of ideas. Check out the sources for more good ideas.

Ponder on things that run inside your mind when you’re having an attack. Instead of thinking about losing control or, even worse, dying, start thinking about positive and happy thoughts, such as assuring or convincing yourself that you’ll soon get out of the situation.

Never think that the panic attack will make your heart stop and will make you stop breathing, or even make you go crazy and lose control. These are common emotional symptoms that are controllable. Again, don’t think about negative things when you’re having an attack. Instead, focus on positive and calming things. You can start by thinking that panic attacks can be treated and that you’ll never die from it.
by: VmpWraith
on: 1st May 10

How can I overcome social anxiety without medication?

May 12, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

2 comments

I’m 16 years old and have social anxiety. I had it for 3 years and hate it. I have no friends at all and want to fit in and live a normal teen life. Can social anxiety be overcome without medication? How do become social anxiety? I want to have friends but I’m too scare and shy to talk to people. Let’s say there’s somebody i want to be friends with and sits next to me. How do I get their attention? Besides asking them for a pencil, what else can I say?

Chosen Answer:

Force yourself to overcome this.

When they are sitting next to you, smile and say hi, tell them your name. “Hi, I’m (insert name), how are you doin today?” If a girl, say hey I really like your earrings, shirt, were did ya get it? If your in class make small talk “man this class sucks or this is so boring”. When you talk look them in the eyes (even if you blush) just have a conversation. If you have to pretend they are a sibling or someone you feel comfortable with and just talk.

It will take practice but eventually you will overcome most of it.
by: Malasha
on: 6th November 09

How do people with Social Anxiety Disorder function in college?

May 2, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

5 comments

Because i’m planning on going to a good college (Cleveland State University) when i grad in a couple years from high school. And i have Social Anxiety Disorder and i would like to know how people with this disorder generally function in college.

Chosen Answer:

Hi, I have social anxiety and am in first year college so i completely understand you. The first day i wasn’t nervous at all because everyone was new and alone there and i felt that since old high school people weren’t there, i wouldn’t have to worry because everyone seemed alone and awkward. Class is overall easy, because from my experience there isn’t a lot of pointing “ok, you. answer!” like in high school, basically whoever puts up your hand. I will admit it is hard to make friends, i have only made one friend in a year, but i feel that one is better than none
Just try to make conversation with whoever is beside you, just say “Hey, how do you think you did on the test? or Hey, can i borrow a pen?”(yes its hard, i couldn’t do it lol, maybe you can though?)
Just try to stay calm and relaxed,and take things slow, socially.
Good Luck!
by: Dino
on: 2nd May 10

I have extremely bad case of social anxiety, besides medication and therapy are there other ways to overcome i?

April 26, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

3 comments

I didn’t know what it was at first I thought it was just “shyness” and that I would grow out of it well I developed social anxiety. I consider it a extreme case because it causes skip classes (college) to avoid during presentation and other “social activities”. I was actually suppose to graduate already but I’m still in school because this issue. My major is social work irronically and I don’t want to change it because I really want to help people but it would be impossible to do with the level of anxiety I feel in social settings.

Chosen Answer:

you can overcome this……..i have………listen to your therapist……it takes work……..it is awful having it…….It still crops up occassionally when I am shopping in a mall or in a grocery store. Basically you have to expose yourself to what is uncomfortable. I started at first just imagining being in a social situation…..that even made me uncomfortable. Just the thought of it. Then you work your way slowly…….exposing yourself to uncomfortable situations. the funny thing is after a while because you have practiced it………it isn’t uncomfortable anymore. finish the degree and you’ll figure it out after you graduate. good luck
by:
on: 4th April 11

Anxiety…….?

April 10, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

14 comments

I am suffering from anxiety attacks, I just feel like my stomach is in knots and I’m jittery and worried, and feel sick.

My ex-b/f welcomed me into his group and basically my social life revolved around him and friends in the midlands. Then my best friend moved up there, and now two of my other friends have moved up there. So I’ve not just lost my boyfriend, I’ve lost a good group of friends (well, not ‘lost’ them, but won’t be seeing them anywhere near as often), so feeling a little isolated.

I have some good friend in London, but don’t feel like it’s ever gonna be the same. I felt like I belonged and that I was happy for the first time in my life. Now it’s all changing again and I feel sick about it!

I know the answer is to widen my social circle … But how do you do that? It’s not easy…. I just want to crawl into a hole, but I know that’s the worst possible thing i could do and that I need to get out and meet people.

Any tips to stop the anxiety in the meantime?

Chosen Answer:

hi there, firstly you need to compartmentalise the two issues firstly deal with “panic attacks” and the best way to succesfully Free yourself of this condition is to go back by way of writing down when they started!
What made them start! and why do i live in fear of another episode ( panic attack) now the reason you will have success gaining your life back is because be writing it enables you to identify with more clarity the What, Where and Why factors..
The most dis-empowering about Panic Attacks is the mindset that it creates whereby you feel like you have no control.
And you do the whole Panic ( anxierty condition) is created by you and it will pass, over a period of time (usually half an hour) per episode.
Write everything down from today on! to do with this thing that is known as “it ” the name is manufactured by the very premise that “it” is you losing control for a period of time “it” is has no reality only the reality that you give “it”.
Also start from today saying to friends etc that you are recovering from “it” take away “it” control over your life…
You created “it” and you can destroy and gain your life back..
Meditation is a good tool also, reason being you slow your mind down from thoughts when “it” comes and you can”t clearly think of one thing to concentrate on ( jumbled thought patterns).kick in.
if you feel really anxious it”s the ( fight or flight ) kicking in read your notes from past.
Also link in with a support group as there are many survivors of “it”.
Put the social stuff on hold interms of priorities as you need to get “it” out of your life..
Stay well clear or Benzo”s (Valium etc) they will turn “it” into a reality..
Good luck you can beat this “it” has had its Day..
by: natasha
on: 26th June 07

anxiety………. ?

April 1, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

4 comments

ive been struggling with social anxiety for a few years. ive been on medication, therapy, outpatient program, yada yada. nothing works. i avoid anything that involves more than 2 additional people at all costs. is there hope out there? what are some exercises that i can do to help me relax when i am in those situations?

Chosen Answer:

I’ve struggled with social anxiety before so I know how uncertain you feel- one of the things that I’ve tried that helped me a little is doing biofeedback- I don’t know if your clinic offers one, but many community mental health centers offers it. Basically, you get hooked up to a monitor that lets you see your heart and breathing rate and you work with a therapist to figure out exercises to do during a stressful situation to make yourself relaxed.

I don’t know what else you’ve done, but you could try group therapy too even though that may sound frightening. Group therapy can be helpful for getting and giving feedback to other people who may have the same problems as you do. The members usually make a pact to respect the confidentiality of things shared in the group so there’s no one else who will know about your secrets except you and your group.

And finally, don’t let people’s opinions get a hold of you- validate yourself and try to be your own person.

Good luck!
by: cantabilemusic4fairy
on: 21st October 08

What can I do to get rid of anxiety without drugs?

March 18, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

5 comments

I have a lot of anxiety including social anxiety.

It’s easy for me to rationalize that I shouldn’t be afraid, but the symptoms still come. Taking deep breaths does not help at all.

How can I get rid of it all?

Chosen Answer:

by:
on: 1st January 70

How do anxiety disorders and personality disorders differ from an adjustment disorder?

March 9, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

1 comment

In an anxiety disorder there can be an identifiable stressor – ex. social anxiety and social situations
Borderline personality – a stressor can be an abusive relationship. How do these things differ?

Chosen Answer:

a personality disorder is when normal personality traits become so exaggerated that they become a hindrance to normal functioning. ie: it’s good to be able to lean on people and ask their advise at times but it is dysfunctional to ALWAYS have someone make all of your decisions for you… even what you eat for breakfast…. that become Dependent personality disorder…. normal trait to an unhealthy extreme. An anxiety disorder has symptoms that are triggerer by specific events but are not a part of the person’s personality….. An adjustment disorder is when you have an abnormal reaction to something that should be easy to adjust to. like going to college is easy for some.. more difficult for others… but a few people just cannot deal with the adjustment and become severely deperssed, anxious, etc… it is limited to a single situation and goes away if removed from that situation.
by: Andrea
on: 8th July 10

What does a person do that has severe anxiety and social phobia?

February 29, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

11 comments

I have many physical symptoms. They worsen when I go to places like the grocery store. My vision gets weird and I feel like I can’t focus. I have a past history of alcohol problems. I have been sober for about 2 yrs. I don’t know what to do anymore though because I haven’t ever had a real job, I dropped out of college, and I have tried anti-depressants and they didn’t work for me even at high doses. I have also gone to therapy and read an anxiety work book. I feel very hopeless. Can anyone recommend something I could try that might help it. I used to just try and hide my anxiety. It is to the point where if I am out with a friend they notice and ask if I am ok.
I am not a violent person. I am a wife and mother of two children. What happened at Va Tech was very sad. I am and never will be a person like that. That comment was very rude and uncalled for.

Chosen Answer:

Sounds to me like you could have a case of depersonalization/derealization. It’s a very common disorder that is caused by anxiety. You may have developed it when you quit drinking. I have suffered from it for close to six months because of an anxiety attack from a bad trip. It has slowly gotten better and better, and is pretty close to being gone for me. The best thing you can do is to keep yourself calm when faced with a bad situation. It will take a lot of time unfortunately, but will eventually go away as long as you don’t let your anxiety control you. Here is a link to a forum that will help you understand and cope with the disorder so you can get rid of it.

http://www.depersonalization-home.com/forum/

by: Darren
on: 30th April 07

How can I overcome social anxiety in order to ride the bus to the psychiatrist?

February 13, 2012 Anxiety Discussion

2 comments

I have really bad anger issues and social anxiety, and depression problems. I used to be on meds but I’m not anymore, and the symptoms are back. Im 20 and I cant be depending on my mom for rides. How can I take a bus or train without having a panic attack? People think I’m lazy because I only want rides, it angers me because that is not the case at all. Please help.

Chosen Answer:

Don’t look at anyone, and imagine you’re in your own little world, even thought that sounds crazy. Just ignore it and count to ten everytime you panic.
by:
on: 12th August 11

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