Posted by noa on April 12, 2003, at 11:22:37
In reply to Re: Social Phobia . Is this forever? » Ritch, posted by Larry Hoover on April 12, 2003, at 10:42:02
I think it depends on a lot of things, but it isn't necessarily the case that one would need meds forever for sp.
I know that I am a lot less socially anxious as I get older. This was true even before I was on meds for my depression. I learned to put certain things in better perspective, I became more assertive, etc. And, hopefully, people develop more awareness of their personal power as they get past early adulthood.
OTOH, some people have sp that is much more biologically determined. I was speaking with a colleague recently who said that she was extremely shy as a kid, and had all the involuntary physical symptoms of flushing rapid heart beat, sweating, etc. Now, she says she still gets some of those physical symptoms even when she isn't feeling anxious in social situations. Like part of her brain is still responding as if in danger even though she has stopped paying attention to those messenger circuits. She knows she is flusing from other people telling her and from being able to feel some of the heat on her skin, but she is able to ignore it.
BTW, she says a key experience for her in helping overcome her extreme shyness is a public speaking class she had to take in high school.
So, I think there are things one can do, in addition to or possibly to eventually take the place of meds, to mediate the effects of sp, like training in assertiveness or public speaking or maybe biofeedback kinds of training, etc.
But each of us is so different.
poster:noa
thread:218604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030411/msgs/218769.html