dinolaurous asked: also i want to make it clear i'm not asking you to try to diagnose me or anything. but i just hoped maybe you had somewhere to get better information than what i've been finding with google. if i find more on it and it seems likely, it might be worth me seeing a psychologist or therapist or whatknot. (i also gave a poor description of how i feel in social situations, but there is only so much you can do in a little ask box).
Hi, I’m not sure when your messages were sent (for some reason tumblr doesn’t let me know when I get new ones) but I hope I’m not answering too late. It definitely is possible that you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder so I wouldn’t rule it out. If social interaction makes you extremely uncomfortable to the point where you are paralyzed in social or work-related situations because of that fear - it could be something you should look more into. Some cases are more extreme than others; and sometimes someone can just be really shy so it’s hard to say.
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/disorder/
The website above can help with learning more about what the disorder is, what causes it, the kind of treatments available, etc. If you think it’s a problem, try talking to someone you trust about it. If it starts to interrupt and effect your daily life - then it could be beneficial to you to seek out professional help of some kind.
Hope that helped!
I’m starting to kind of make friends again. Sort of. But now I feel more lonely than ever. Very confusing.
Anonymous asked: I was wondering if you could help me; i was bullied three seperate times in my primary school and basically ever since i started secondary school, i have been "shy", i can't look people in the eye for longer than 5 seconds, i never leave my form room unless i have someone with me etc.. i take drama GCSE and i don't even understand, like i want so badly to let go and have fun but i can't. i feel like everyone is watching and judging me all the time. i can't even eat lunch in our canteen..
It’s known that a lot of people who experience bullying can develop a social anxiety disorder or social anxiety-like characteristics so it’s not uncommon that you feel that way. The only thing I can think to do is to take things as they come. I know that it isn’t as simple as “face your fears”, but maybe just take small steps and build up from there. For example, make the effort to look people in the eye anyway, even strangers (as uncomfortable as this may seem at first) and then move on to bigger things. Also, don’t think too much. You are able to let go and have fun but people who are socially anxious spend way too much time inside their own head. Instead of focusing on your own fears and worries - focus on the things around you as a distraction. Things will get better.
Anonymous asked: hi your tumblr helped me realise im not so alone which is hard when no one believes i have social anxity
It makes me happy to hear that I have helped someone in some way. Many people are going to tell you that social anxiety is not “real” or that it’s just a phase but there are also many others who are going through your struggle, too. Remember that and stay positive.
Anonymous asked: Hi, I just wanted to know.. how long have you had social anxiety for? I'm 14 and I've had it for longer than I can remember.. even at 3 years old :( It gets so hard at times and my friends are always giving me grief on how I feel so uncomfortable, for example knocking on their door instead of texting when I'm outside. I just feel like their parents will judge me :/ They tell me that I need to 'get over it', but I just can't, it's too hard and it's so severe :'( How do you cope?
Well when I was younger, everyone assumed that I was just very “shy” so for a long time I believed that I would grow out of it but as I got older it became worse. I think the best thing to do is to be open and talk. I’ve lost just about all my friends because I was too ashamed to tell them that this was a problem for me. It’s difficult for people who don’t struggle with this to understand it and the people who kind of know a little bit about it don’t understand the severity of it. I would just say to be open and honest with your friends. If they don’t come around, then maybe they aren’t good friends to begin with. It can be difficult to cope on your own with no one to vent to - so maybe seek professional help, or you can try talking about it with other people who are going through the same thing. http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/ is a good website for that. Keep your chin up.
"If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you’ll die a lot of times."
- things I need to remember.Anonymous asked: Hey,Im 13 and I'm so sure I have social anxiety,But my parents dont believe me? I ask them almost every day to get me tested,I go through school without drinking or eating because im around people,they think its my little joke? I have struggle going out in public, apparently still a joke? I'm 13,I want to be able to go to parties,dress up nice,meet boys but its running my life,all i want is help.
I know how you feel, my parents are still in denial that such a thing like “social anxiety” even exists. A lot of times people just don’t understand. So if you honestly believe that you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, print out a couple of pages of information on it and other SAD articles. Give it to your parents and maybe it will give them a better idea of what you’re going through. Maybe next time you go to see your doctor, tell him/her and they’ll be able to help you out with getting the professional help if you need it. You’re quite young still and you have plenty of time to go to parties and meet boys eventually. Don’t feel like just because you can’t do those things yet, that you won’t ever be able to.
me and my social anxiety.
I’ve gotten a few questions on social anxiety and how it relates to me personally. I guess I should start off by saying that I’ve always been quite reserved, even as a child. I wouldn’t really speak up in class and unless I was spoken to, I stayed quiet. I always used to think I was very shy but really looking back on it now, I don’t think I was shy at all. I just had this strange fear of other people but didn’t think much of it. As a kid, you don’t really notice these things. In elementary and middle school, I would get made fun of on a daily basis. I suppose I was an easy target since I was the quiet girl in the back who wouldn’t stand up for herself. After being ridiculed constantly, this seemed to make my “shyness” worse (social anxiety and being shy are two completely different things that happen to be somewhat related). Anyway, I started skipping school as often as humanly possible. I would even make my mother take me to the doctor because I was feeling so sick. There was never anything wrong with me of course but the thought of going to school and facing all of those people made me want to puke my guts out. Me being “shy” started to feel like something else, something bigger. Deep down, I suppose I knew that this was more than just being a little shy. Physically and emotionally, it was much more intense and extreme. All I knew is that I was nervous all the time and when put into social situations like school, that nervousness became unbearable. My time in high school wasn’t much different. I had around 50 absences my freshmen year because I couldn’t muster up enough courage to leave the house. So I would shove a finger down my throat and fake sick. I’ve grown up since then and feel proud of who I am but my struggle with anxiety hasn’t slipped away or fell through the cracks. It is a constant in my life. It’s hard to explain to other people why I can’t go out and why I can’t look for a job or stay in a crowded place for too long before I start to blush uncontrollably (it’s not as cute as it sounds, I promise). The littlest things that no one else has to worry about makes me worry a hell of a lot. It’s a complicated. It’s shameful. It doesn’t make sense but it is what it is. So there you have it, a little bit more about me. Oh and thank you to the few people who left encouraging messages. It means a lot to know there are people out there who care enough to listen.
I haven’t posted anything on this tumblr for quite a while. I guess I didn’t have anything new or exciting to say. I doubt anyone reads this anyway but my anxiety has been getting difficult to deal with. Mostly because it makes me depressed and sad and angry. Sometimes I plan out my own suicide in my head multiple times throughout the day. I mean, I suppose in some ways I can say - “Well I haven’t had any panic attacks.” But that’s mostly due to the fact that I very rarely leave the house. I stopped using facebook because it is a constant reminder of all of the people who are happy, with friends. While I am unhappy with no friends at all. I feel like maybe it’s time to reach out for professional help but I’m terrified that this can’t be fixed and that no one understands that I want to be normal and I want to go out and have friends and drive a car and have a job but just can’t do those things as much as I may want them. Also, I’m thinking maybe I’ll try and update this blog more often.
I feel like I am going mad. I keep thinking horrible thoughts and feeling things I haven’t felt for many years. I walked around my house today completely empty and I don’t know why. It was like someone scooped up anything that was good and happy while I slept and I woke up sad and so angry. I was so angry today, I kept snapping. I swear I wanted to hurt someone. Every little thing would set me off. I’m going fucking crazy. Everything hurts. No one gives a shit. And I hate everything. I have been toying with this idea of running away. Not to anywhere in particular and just pack a few things and slip out the door. I’ll catch a bus and live out of those 24-hour diners. I’ll sleep on a bench - I don’t know. I hate this. I hate me. I want to be normal but I’m not. My mind is toxic. Such darkness that dwells inside.
Afraid of People: A Social Anxiety Disorder documentary. This is part one out of six and even though it is a bit dated, I hope it will help some of you realize that you are not alone in this.
