Posted by saturn on June 28, 2007, at 12:33:10
In reply to Long reply, posted by Worry Girl on June 27, 2007, at 14:31:20
>> My general symptoms when I'm socially anxious is a trembling that I can't stop to save my life, breathing rapidly and my mind freezing to the point where nothing comes out right (think blundering idiot);
Hi Worry girl...I know the feeling, especially the rapid breathing and mind freezing. The other day someone asked what my dog's name was and it just wouldn't come due the anxiety of being in a group. That's just plain embarrasing.
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> After moving, and being closer to my family and finding the people easier to make friends with where I now live, much of it has dissipated on its own.I do pretty well when I have a close support network also.
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>>> Everyone's social anxiety is different, and obviously there are different levels of intensity. Mine was initially triggered in 7th grade because of an entire classroom teasing me for the entire schoolyear during lunchtime. It sort of went away for a while as I got older when I pretty much only associated with my family and work associates. I was always terribly shy when starting a new job, but once everyone got used to me it wasn't so bad at most of my positions.Thanks for sharing. My social (as well as general) anxiety seems to have a life of its own. There are occassions where I can be rather confident and comfortable even speaking to a group of people. More often than not, however, I just get uncomfortable...my voice is not steady and I'll get short of breath. Fortunately I am usually able to cover up most of it, though not completely. Sometimes not at all.
It's funny but I get especially anxious like this going to the doctor. My heart rate and breathing go through the roof, and the doc gets the impression that either I'm dying or a VERY anxious person. I guess I'm so used to trying to hide my physical symptoms of anxiety that I'm uncomfortable having them "inspected" during the physical exam.
For really big occassions (recently job interviews) I'll take a small dose of a benzo and beta blocker. That works pretty well, but not something I'm currently comfortable doing on an ongoing basis.
All in all I am functional, which I'm thankful for. But it is is almost borderline, certainly not optimal.
I live with the acceptance that the social and general anxiety will come and go, and that I will survive. I am also hopeful to find a way to make it less frequent and severe. I guess that's in a way why we're both here. Cheers...Peace...Saturn.
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> What is your story?
poster:saturn
thread:766096
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070622/msgs/766428.html