Social Anxiety=disability?

Question

My social anxiety, fears, and shyness are taking over.The thought of being in a group setting makes me want to hide under a rock somewhere. Therapists have been of no help. Neither have Paxil, Prozac, etc...

I am tired of this.Being is group settings has caused me to hyperventilate. Always afraid of messing up. I get nervous, nauseous, and shaky in group settings, AKA work/school. Afraid of being watched or judged. Have no idea what to say to people. I feel awkward and out of place in all situations. The only people I can (somewhat) relax around are members of my IMMEDIATE family! I feel alone, strange, different. I can't even go to parties. Being in places like Walmart's bad enough. I get really anxious there.

Only only one person understands me really. Sees the way it is for me.

I ram reluctantly resorting to (the potential pursuit of) SSI disability, just so I can pull my own weight. I don't care about having much money though.

When I was a child, I begged my mother to let me be home schooled. I hated being around other kids. Didn't happen though. I stayed home at times just to avoid speeches or being made fun of. The longest job I've kept has been 10 mos. and that in itself made me anxious everyday.

Do I even stand a chance? Tips. Please don't be rude, okay?

Answer 1

I had the same problem and I can say I still have it, but it's less extreme than when I was young.

Believe me, you have my sympathy and empathy.

I think the best way to deal with this is just one day at a time and with small steps. In other words, go slowly and have small, achievable goals. Perhaps, you will say to yourself today, I will say hello when I meet someone in the street that I know instead of running the other way (I have done this - many times, run away and even today, if I feel nervous, I will run away). I know it sounds very small, but still you have to begin somewhere and it's just an example of what I mean.

If you can manage to do 1 small thing everyday that you are afraid of and you do it anyway, and are successful, your self-image will improve and you will feel that you can do other things as well. Remember the old saying nothing succeeds as well as success.

Of course, you have a chance - you will make your chances - and you must always be hopeful because change is possible. I think nowadays people who have social anxiety can be helped through cognitive therapy - perhaps this is something you can try - yes, it costs money and it can be expensive, but maybe there is some public health service where you can go.

And you wrote that one person understands you - this is a great start - perhaps this person can help support you emotionally when you try to take your small steps. This is a great advantage - so you won't feel so alone when you are trying to do different things and change.

Answer 2

Someone has already mentioned the law of attraction.

This link will introduce you more with something similar to it, only done in a different way, at a subconscious level. And of course to maximize the effect, one can practice this both at conscious and subconscious levels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTpwggLkF...

I'm in the middle of doing only the conscious, soon will start the other, but I must tell you after several months of thinking differently, I see a change that I have not seen for many many years!! My point is, This WORKS !!

Answer 3

Of course you stand a great chance while you will have this problem with you forever and I say this with all respect to you. I just don't want you to feel so alone because there are so many people in this world that have the same problem including me.lol I'm scared to death to go into a public place I have to force myself to go anywhere including the Doctor. I also hate to go around my family at times but I just keep on moving forward in life. So you can do the same thing. I know you can. I'm never sure of myself and I feel so ugly and alone all the time so you see there are many people that go through the same things that you feel. Your not alone. So you can make it through this time in your life. Yes of course you stand a chance. While you may not be a big wig , your always someone's Mother or Grandma, or sister, or friend and that makes you someone that standes a great chance because you belong to people that love you. Have a blessed day.

Answer 4

I started getting like that my senior year in h. s. and I still get like that to this very day.  The best thing you could do for it without taking any kind of drug is to start practicing the law of attraction.  It teaches you to think positive thoughts instead of the normal negative ones, because what you think, you actually attract, so when you are thinking that people will make fun of you or you'll mess up, guess what, that's what's going to happen because that is what you are focusing on.  Here is a good book to try: Ask and it is give by jerry and esther hicks.  I read it over and over again to remind my brain of what i need to do.  there are also exercises in the back that will help you retrain your brain.  As you get better at it, you will start noticing a big change in how you feel and what is going on around you.  Trust me, if you stick with it, things can only get better!!

Best of luck to you!!

Answer 5

There is no shame about going on social security, but you can overcome it.  

Answer 6

Yes, everybody who has a Social Anxiety Disorder can have a chance to overcome it. Since you are most comfortable with immediate family, why not try going with one of them to wal-mart, or possible a less populated place, like a library or park, that way you wouldn't feel so overwhelmed if you had to talk to somebody, having somebody that is close to you actually there with you is actually a BIG help. Try moving into social situations slowly, don't just jump right in or that will end up in disaster.