Is anyone else crippled by this illness?

*Ctrl+V*

cant walk outside during the daytime (i can go for walk at night)
cant go shopping/movies/restaraunts
cant go to parties
no friends
no woman
stuck at home 24/7
etc...

add OCD, depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue to this and you would think im slightly mad

...thank god for computer

Fear of being so......... I'm doing it ag.....

Maybe you should express your http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1339192-phobias/ there, ahh being somewhat social again

thanks for the link mr funneh

There was a short time I was this way and it was self imposed due to being insensibly reclusive -- the correction, once I noticed reactions to social situations that was not of the norm for myself, was simply biting the bullet and facing social situations, especially around small and large crowds, rather than merely one-on-one situations or complete aversion.

I have anxiety I felt physically ill. Dropped out of school as a result, cant get a job. So im with a voluntary work group, I can leave if I feelill, and it gets me used to social situations. Medication helps, get medical help. I saw some psychiatric guy once a month for about 6 months, he got me on some tablets.
Also suggested excercising to increase self esteem, and to try and avoid depression.

What makes you anxious if you dont mind me asking ? My issue was filing my AS levels, resitting, getting ill in the first 2 weeks, missing 2 weeks at the start. Then I became anxious about being anxious, and the cycle just fuelleditself from there. Still I feel im improving, optimistic about getting 100% better in a few months, I have already improved quite a bit from what I was like.

Good luck OP, anxiety is an absolute [censored].

I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder ~2 years ago, and I've been virtually symptom free (nothing aside from what most people face) for over a year now. I found I was the only one I could rely on to get myself out of it. Having a support network helps a lot, but ultimately you need to expose yourself to the situations you dread to help yourself out of it. I don't mean go straight into a huge party where you don't know anyone, but just try little steps. Make some small talk (even if its not much past hey, how are you?) with a cashier or something. For me I had one aspect that really drove my social anxiety up, and that was lack of experience with girls. Even though I fumbled through it at the beginning, I would just talk to a few girls in class that seemed really cool, and I ended up getting some positive responses! I even just met up with one a few weeks ago, its not going to work out, but still if I hadn't made that step I wouldn't have had that opportunity.

Most people are shy in more than one way, don't think that everyone is a perfect social being and you are a pariah, but you need to help yourself though it. Exercise has been a big help for me as well, I feel better emotionally, and the physical benefit I get helps me a lot as well. I would also suggest avoiding benzos, highly addictive and didn't help me much social-wise, they just made me numb.

This is something I don't have any experience with. From the outside looking in, it appears to be a lack of effort and shifting the blame - from yourself to this 'illness' you can't control. These are just my initial reactions, I understand neither is completely true, but understand this is how I, and I assume many others, instinctively feel when hearing about a 'social phobia'.

For example, yesterday this guy sat next to me in class. My laptop was adjacent to him, and every time I'd look over at it he'd look away. He responded to a question asked by the teacher and sounded really nervous. I know this would be considered 'jumping to a conclusion' - who knows, he may have just had a rough day - but I believe he has a social phobia. The way he acted made me uncomfortable, and I wondered why he seemed so nervous around me.

If what I'm trying to say seems ambiguous, let me put it simply: from encountering the occasional person whom I assume has a social phobia, it makes me very uncomfortable and am left with a bad taste in my mouth concerning that person; that's why those two feelings I described earlier are the impression left upon me.

I used to when I was a kid, not so much anymore. That's not to say I like social gatherings, but I don't get panic attacks or try to avoid people.

I wouldnt say I have a social phobia, but I usually keep quiet because....well....I'm more than a little odd. My jokes are brash and uncensored in terms of sensitivity, and I can carry on conversations about the oddest things for an hour if left unchecked. Plus, unlike online, my responses when 'suddenly' contronted' are not verbose, more on the lines of 'err.....well you see' kind of responses. I'm more socially awkward I suppose.

Lol. Same here.

I used to be really bad actually. I would avoid people as much as I could out of fear of being judged or disliked.. The older I get the less I care and as a result I get along with people more hilariously enough.. Funny how things work


Edit: this thread makes me want to hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzkOe6OfIpo&feature=related for the first time in a long time

Yeah, I have problems with it, and have basically turned into a hermit. Not sure what the answer is; I know what the answer isn't, which is forcing myself to just "deal with it" and cope with social interaction regardless: the result of years of that approach is that I'm now much worse, so I guess a better understanding of oneself is the way forward.

I am an incredibly paranoid, antisocial person and feel I surrounded by people who hate me and are plotting behind my back. To top it, I hold very unorthodox beliefs and am more than happy to let everyone to know what I think.
There is only one positive side with me and people: I'm a good guy. I do good things to people. If I had to pick a Meme I resemble the most it would be http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/128/568/car.png. Too bad my inherent politeness does not extend to many people since I do not personally initiate friendships. Any friendship I've ever had were 1) accidents or 2) initiated by the friend.
And, to top it all, I have never, ever had a female friend. And won't have, of course. Not with a face like this!

I've given up on any chance on social life and pretty much life altogether so I don't mind it anymore. If I ever were to fix my situation it would have needed to start years ago. As I earlier mentioned in another thread I am psychologically breaking down and if everything goes wrong my years of remaining life can be count with one hand.

It's about getting out of your head.

Think of it this way -- what's the worst that happens if someone shoots you down?

You say hi. They don't reply or they make a snarky comment. Conversation ends.
Or they say hi back. You say How are you? They ignore you. Conversation ends.
Or they say I'm good, how are you? You say you're good. Conversation stalls. Conversation ends.
Or the conversation continues.

Etc. Etc. What's the worst that could happen?

I'd suggest practicing somewhere where you don't have to worry about "embarrassing" yourself. Say, the grocery store, or when you're out walking your dog, or whatever.

Maybe you could even find someone to help you RP social situations. A shrink should be able to help you with this. Just be sure to tell them exactly what it is you want out of your sessions, or they'll find reasons to keep you going back forever...

P.S. To actually answer your question, I may have been borderline a while ago. And then I just, you know, learned how to cope with and interact in social situations. The anxiety comes from feeling like this is a sphere beyond you. It's not. All it takes is practice.


That was a terrible reply. What is wrong with you? Good way to make someone feel like [censored]. Not very constructive, though.

I'm fine talking to people in person, but I'm terrible when it comes to talking anonymously online.

Please don't quote my post or I might have a nervous breakdown.

Fellow paranoid forever alone here. I recommend copious amounts of alcohol.... I mean it wont fix anything, but well be dead in 5 years anyway so....

I'm hoping this is sarcasm?

I don't have a social phobia, so I've never had too many issues interacting with people. However, I've learned over the last few years that no one but you can fix your phobias. I have a phobia of traveling too far from home, so I make myself do it. Not too far for too long yet, but even when feeling anxious I do it. You have to stop worrying about what other people think of you and put yourself out there in small, tiny, little baby steps. To help - most people you meet aren't worth knowing. The fact they might not like you is actually a blessing.. it means you don't have to deal with every jerk off that's walking around. I've made it a point to make sure - especially when in a situation that causes me great distress - to tell the people around me that I have this phobia. The ones who are worth it will be curious and try to be comforting (or at least respectful) and the ones who are just jerks will laugh or make a snide comment. But in the end - who cares what those people think?

Again, I don't have social phobias per say, and am actually a horribly social person, however - I do have an issue that flares up when around too many people at a time. But I know who I am and I'm NOT my disorder. People will either think I'm pretty ok - minus the disorder - or people will think I'm a crazy [censor] and leave me the heck alone. Same will happen for you.

Oh and they have support groups for people like you, OP. It may help to find a professional who does real world interactions - like going to the store with you and walking you through your anxiety and thought process and help you realize why you think this way and how best to stop doing it.

No, it's not.


Really?

OP:
"Is anyone else crippled by this illness?"
~ E.g. Hi guys, my parents abused me, which has resulted in me being socially awkward. Do any of you also experience social awkwardness? or Hi guys, I've been bullied throughout primary school and high school, which caused me to be kind of socially awkward. Do any of you also experience social awkwardness? or Hi guys, I guess I just don't quite know how to interact with people. How 'bout you?

You:
~ I haven't met a lot of people who have this problem. I feel like it's your fault, though. I know that's not entirely the case, but it's how I feel. You people make me uncomfortable. Why can't you just be normal and stuff?

Really?

To be fair, as someone who look both from an inside and outside perspective, it was my fault that my social anxiety lasted so long. I used it as an excuse to stay isolated, which made it worse. Social skills are like anything else, you get a bit rusty if you don't use them. Unless you make the decision, and act on bettering yourself, nothing else in the world can help you.

Plus, Capital was just saying he felt uncomfortable by proximity, because that guy seemed so nervous, not that everyone with SAD is a hopeless loser (which is NOT true). Having an outside perspective can help. Besides, its pretty obvious when you notice someone who is really awkward, but we've all been in that stage.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zCHmUALHVM/Tbbowp72nxI/AAAAAAAABOk/IJmJKVgRTQo/s1600/my-booze.jpg

I can tell this has some personal meaning to you, so just know my intent wasn't and isn't to rile you up. I don't think defending my view would do much good, but hopefully you can see the merit in an honest outlook that isn't just sympathetic.

There is that. However, responses like Capital's usually do very little to help someone out of their social anxiety. Usually, they just make things worse.


You're entitled to your outlook, but seeing as OP hasn't provided the specifics behind his problem, your post is possibly very insensitive and harmful. That was my point. Previous posts were a bit hyperbolic. Sorry.


Not the best way. It does do the same thing that meds do. Not recommended, though... The addiction "side effect" can be "troublesome".

A few years ago I avoided people due to my fear of being rejected and laughed at. Now I avoid people because I find them to be annoying.

Addicshion? Wash addicshion?