Do i have social anxiety disorder or something else?

Question

Okay well i use to be very open and everything but then i moved and everything fell i mean I'm so shy now its ruining my life

I'm afraid to go to public places cause i think everyone is staring at me

I often dont hear ppl face to face because im in my head worrying

Mainly guys make it worse ill be so nervous ill start shaking when im near them

I also absoulutly hate eating in public unless ppl cant see me.

And i tend to be bitchy or quiet because i dont know how to act around certain people or groups.

i mean all i can think about is what ppl r thinking and im overworrying in my head and its ruining my life...

but thing is....when i go to where i use to live im not shy again (im in another country)

could this happen from alot of bad past events???

Answer 1

dont worry ur just shy......

been there done that.....

all u need to do is get use to ur surroundings take it frm me i move to another country every 4 years so this is wat u call the initiation stag ewhere to u need to familiarize urself with the surrounding and blend in.... also changethe view u hav of ur self in ur head

think positive if u think ppl r staring at u act casual consider urself unique being the centre of attention.

i dont think its anything u hav to worry about........

u'll be ok no worries

p/s avoid body language that shows ur in a situation of discomfort for example dont cross ur hands ( this usally shows withdrawl) try not to touch ur neck too much (this shows that the person is not comfortable) so always act normal...eye contact with ur friends.....u notice other ppl staring at u stare bck this is a sign of confidence

and dont worry all ur actions in public are normal no1s gonna point and laugh unless u wnt them too

wat helps me is havin an ear phone at one ear all the time, music makes u calm and u can relax

Answer 2

I know someone else like this who also had a build up of anxiety. I suggest you go and see a GP who will talk through your concerns. Please don't be alarmed when people discuss social anxiety disorder, its just a name of term used. you are not going mad ,its the way you react in situations. Good support from people around you is good and to be able to talk about it is a very positive start ,so well done. It could be something from your past or something you have witnessed. Talking about your problems are good and will help. Good luck with this.

Answer 3

If you think you may have Social Anxiety Disorder, you will probably be able to relate to my experience.

I hope it helps you to understand that you are not alone, and that treatment is available:But you have to act immediately.

Some thoughts and experiences that were real to me...

-To remember very little about your childhood, your teenage years, conversations held, because you may have been there physically, but mentally you were worrying about who was around you, who was watching, who was listening and what they were thinking of you

-To wake up in the morning with a chest that feels like it is strangling you

-To dread the day ahead

-To develop a pair of eyes in the back of your head so that no matter where you are you are constantly aware of what is happening all around you and what potentially could happen

-To walk down the street and believe that everyone is looking at you, staring from cars, from buildings - people you cannot even see, waiting for you to trip over and make a fool of yourself, judging the clothes you are wearing, the way you walk.

-To be asked out on a date and end up with your drink all down your front because you were shaking so much you missed your mouth.

-To look into someone's eyes while they are talking to you and believe that they can see straight into your soul and know that you a quivering mess inside

-To live with a mind that is constantly in motion, with a head full of negative self talk, thinking, analysing, predicting everything that is around you every minute of the day.

-To be unable to relax

-To believe that you don't belong here, that you don't fit in, and there is no one like you in the world, to feel like a misfit.

-To pack up your belongings and move house 18 times in 12 years because you think that by moving you will find happiness

-To drink alcohol before leaving the house for a social event

-To worry weeks in advance before giving a presentation to the point where you make yourself sick and then make up some excuse the day before that you cannot do it.

-To worry days, months, years later about a silly comment you made to a friend, a colleague

To desperately want help but to be unable to reach out for it because that will only confirm that you are weak, pathetic and useless

-To be incredibly self critical and self conscious

-To have no one tiny bit of respect or self worth for yourself

-To blame yourself for everything that goes wrong

-To overact

-To cry yourself to sleep

-To be a perfectionist in everything you do and punish yourself if what you do is not perfect

-To be dependant on your partners to protect you from the big bad world so you won't let them out of your sight

-To shake uncontrollably in front of the public, in front of your peers, in front of your colleagues and have no understanding of why that was happening

-To be constantly on guard for the next time you might have a panic attack

-To stare out the window for hours on end dreaming of another life, another place, another time. Anywhere but here, any life but yours.

-To think about death on a regular basis

-To watch your soul disintegrate and not be able to do anything about it

-To constantly seek approval in everything you do or say

-To find it almost impossible to make your own decisions

-To feel naked wherever you go, with all your vulnerabilities, and insecurities exposed for everyone to see

-To sense that people are constantly watching you, thinking about you, criticizing you, scrutinizing you.

-To pre-empt every conversation you are about to have, word for word, sentence for sentence, and pre-empt the response, which more often than not is negative

-To run home at the first chance you get

-To wonder if it will ever end, to wonder if you will end it

This is my life.

For me is too late, for you,there is help: you must  act immediately.

Left untreated, social anxiety disorder is chronic and may result in severe disability. Left untreated, social anxiety disorder can be debilitating. Your anxieties may run your life. They can interfere with work, school, relationships or enjoyment of life. You may be considered an "underachiever," when in reality it's your fears holding you back from excelling. In severe cases, you may drop out of school, quit work or lose friendships.

Social anxiety disorder can also lead to other health problems, such as:Substance abuse.Excessive drinking.Depression Suicide.

Social Anxiety Disorder (or Phobia)? My life has been a failure,a waste,a looser! Do something now!

This is the life of someone who lives with Social Anxiety Disorder since childhood:This is my life.Dont be like me !

Answer 4

I would say it is totally normal after moving to a new place, but you have been there for 4 years now so I would suggest seeing a therapist so that you can talk about your problems. It is normal to feel socially anxious around people you didn't grow up with and you don't know but if its not getting any better after 4 years I would suggest trying to get some help with it.. It could be from a lot of bad past events although I think the move is more where the anxiety is coming from. Try to talk it through with someone even if it isn't a therapist and you should start to feel better.. if not, there is medication for this kind of disorder. Good luck!

Answer 5

Those are all symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder.

Yeah, It's possible it could stem from bad past events(like getting humiliated in public, an embarrassing situation) or you could be free from bad past events and still have it. It depends.

But I can't be completely sure if you have it or not. Talk to a psychologist, they can diagnose you properly and help you lessen the anxiety.

Answer 6

maybe your just afraid of something new, afraid of what they'll think, afraid of rejection? i don't think that it is a social anxiety disorder because your fine with what your familiar with. Give it time, i have the feeling that you will adjust and find your groove in the new country. good luck.