Well, my psychiatrist thinks I have social anxiety. I kind of suspected that I did but I guess I never saw it as serious enough to seek help for it. The only thing that surprised me is that he determined this in a 30 minute visit. Either he is jumping to conclusions or it is VERY aparent LOL.

I suspect that my ADD was the original cause of my social problems but after 30 years of being a wall flower it's hard to distinguish.

I am not nearly as bad with social situations as I was 10 years ago but I still have difficulty meeting and talking to new people, making phone calls, talking to sales people, etc. I procrastinate things that involve talking to people more than anything else in my life.

I don't completely hide away from people, though. I teach an adult ed computer class and I have enjoyed participating in my recent college courses. But then it's a cohort system where you stay with the same group of people for the entire program...so I guess I am comfortable there.

I don't have social anxiety, but I totally understand the wallflower concept. I have been that way all my life. I also find it hard to meet people, but I do great in areas where I am comfortable or where I feel I have control of my environment.


Is your doctor going to treat you for it; if so how?

At the moment he is just having me try Zoloft. I don't know if it is really doing anything yet. I know it can take quite awhile for anything to really happen with them.

To be honest, a diagnosis that is given after a 30 minute appointment does not seem very final. If the SSRI does not change my behavior in uncomfortable social situations then I won't have any reason to stay on it. I'll give it some time, though.

I know that meds are not miracle drugs that will cure all my problems but I guess its where I need to begin.

is this good daisy?...... Do you feel you got some where with this Dr.?

At the moment he is just having me try Zoloft. I don't know if it is really doing anything yet. I know it can take quite awhile for anything to really happen with them.

To be honest, a diagnosis that is given after a 30 minute appointment does not seem very final. If the SSRI does not change my behavior in uncomfortable social situations then I won't have any reason to stay on it. I'll give it some time, though.

I know that meds are not miracle drugs that will cure all my problems but I guess its where I need to begin.


i have a friend who takes Zoloft and she has told me how much better she feels now.... Don't give up :D

This Dr is a better start than the first one I saw. I am looking into some other options but won't know anything for a couple of weeks. For the time being I am trying to go through my insurance. The options through my HMO are pretty limited.

But I have a Dx now so I have at least started the process!

Best of luck. Once the medication is working if you can, try cognative behaviour therapy to change your beliefs about how people perceive you. If you can't afford it there is a good book which my psychologist has given me a few chapter from. It's called "Reinventing your life" and it goes through things like social exclusion and stuff like that.

How I beat my social anxiety problems.

Hi,

I just wanted to share information about something that has been a huge help with my Social Anxiety (has reduced it by more than 75% for over a year now.)

It's a free network of free support groups for people with Social Phobia and other Social Anxiety problems.

The name of the organization is-- Social Phobics Anonymous

SPAs' web address is:

www.healsocialanxiety.com (http://www.healsocialanxiety.com)
.
Social Phobics Anonymous (also called S.P.A.) uses a 12 step recovery approach, adapted from A.A. and O.C.A. to recover from our Social Anxiety Problems.

In addition to the 12 steps, we also use the principles for healing fear developed by Rhonda Britton in her book "Fearless Living".

SPAs' phone number(if needed) is (303) 404-3747 (based in USA although SPA provides help to Social Phobics/Social Anxiety sufferers anywhere)

Again-- SPAs support groups are free. SPA is a volunteer run organization.

Many Thanks,

Phil

Thanks for that link Phil. As I am reading through this forum I am seeing more and more the social anxiety that I never knew I had until my psychiatrist suggested it.

i have a friend who takes Zoloft and she has told me how much better she feels now.... Don't give up :D
Actually Zoloft is one of the only SSRI's that started to help with my social anxiety but it gave me a rash and my doc took me off it. I've been through them all I tell ya!

Anti-anxiety meds work best for me but don't want to take them the rest of my life. :(

good luck finding a good med. Personaly i dont recomend CBT because it didnt work for me. If it doesnt work for you dont think its the only option, there are many other types of therapy. Sides, i dont like being trained like a dog, rather be trained like a person.