I think I have social anxiety disorder?

Ever since I can remember I've always been different. I am 26 years old now and I'm still suffering from this terrible thing. School was the worst I never had any friends or just 1 really close friend. If we had to read a report in front of the class I would either get a 0 and not read it or I would and no one could hear me and I would be blood read and my palms would be sweating like crazy. I always wished I was normal like everyone else. And now that I'm 26, I now don't know how to talk to people b/c I never have. It's weird b/c I'm amazed at how people can just start a conversation. I can't do that and I wish I could. I can't go to a restaurant and eat. I get so stiff where it's hard for me to swallow my food. If I go anywhere I always stiffen up and walk like a zombie. And if I'm at a party and I go to pour myself a drink I shake it's so embarassing. It's almost like I don't like people to hear me talk. With my family I'm fine. I talk loud, I have fun, I'm funny.

I think I have social anxiety disorder?
nah. you're just very shy. maybe someone in ur childhood made fun of you in public or something so thats why this happens. lots of people are like this. stop paying attn to those stupid pharmaceutical ads that only want to make money for themsleves by trying to convince you you have some kind of syndrome.


why dont u go find a hobby, a passion. something u can do for hours but feel like minutes.


join a club with that passion of yours. its always easier to talk about that passion with someone then start a convo out of midair.


you could be a loner also. nothing wrong with that. you get along with your family, which is the most important.


maybe start a club on the internet: Loners R US and u can be president:) a club full of loners hmmmmmm would they be called loners if they became all friends?
Reply:This might sound weird but, how is your diet? I've known people like you who had really bad diets which wreaked all sorts of havoc on different aspects of their lives. I can't be too sure, but once that improved and they took some amino acids things got better. Are you exercising regularly and getting enough sleep?
Reply:see a doctor, ask about trying Paxil, worked wonders for me, I also used to be anxious in social situations, not anymore.
Reply:It's like reading my life story
Reply:Talk to a therapist about it. You don't have to go to an expensive Psychiatrist (trust me, social anxiety pills are BS), you can see a licensed therapist. He or she can direct you to groups that slowly walk you through opening up to others. You would basically be in a room with a few other people who are just like you. You would slowly be asked to share things until you are comfortable with talking with them. Then you would move on to bigger and better things. There are support groups like this all over. You just need to build confidence in yourself over time.
Reply:You sound sweet. I wish I was your family so I could cuddle you up just like you were my own baby girl. And since you have this problem I would never have to share you with anybody and I could have you all to myself. That would just really make my day. I love you!!!
Reply:WELCOME TO THE CLUB i feel for ya but u talk on yahoo answers right








i can't talk that much either but u really have to take a chance step out of your comfort zone i mean whats the worst that can happen if u talk to some one good luck
Reply:Yes - I was very much like that at your age - still am to a degree, although much more at peace with myself than I was then. I think you are probably naturally a very sensitive person (born that way). When you were much younger people (who were less sensitive and saw things differently to you, and who probably incorrectly had contempt for the sensitive) fed you negative messages about yourself, wich as a child you bought into. Shame grew and grew, and you kicked and tortured yourself, until the only place you can relax and be yourself is at home with familly.


Could I make some suggestions that together have helped me a lot (when I felt the way you describe feeling now, I would never have believed anything could help, but its not true).


1. Go to the doctor and request to be prescribed Zoloft. You have been under so much stress for so long - chemicals are depleted in your brain - Zoloft will help a lot (I was very against taking anything like this, seeing it as something I could overcome without a crutch - I was wrong). 2. Get the book 'The Highly Sensitive Person' by Elaine Aron. You can get it online at www.amazon.com if it isnt in a nearby bookstore. Elaine Aron is a sensitive person who had the same problems as you and I - see has overcome it personally, and has done a lot of research on it (she has a phd). Her insights are really essential for people like us - please read the book. 3. Seek regular counselling with a mature decent person (I saw one person for a long time who was of no help at all - I later realised he was 'talking down' to me from a position of imagined superiority. I saw another counsellor - a person who was succesfull in her own life and fair and decent in her attitude and have been able to talk about things and untangle areas of confusion together. As you talk different things through you begin to free yourself. 4. My final suggestion - look up 'dealing with shame' on the internet, because what you have in your head is shame from childhood, false garbage. The way you are with your familly is how you should be all the time. Good luck.
Reply:See social anxiety at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on page 9.