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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Psycho D on August 29, 2003, at 2:15:38
Long story short...
I'm 18, I've been on ritalin, adderal, dexedrine, zoloft, paxil cr, and celexa for the mental disorders ADD, depression, and social anxiety (I believe this is my main problem). There was also a time where i felt helpless and abused all kinds of illegal drugs. After learning more, I discontinued all illegal drug use (clean and sober for 8 months now!) and decided to tackle this problem head on.
I was wondering if anyone can relate or has experienced symptoms similar to these, and what meds have worked for them:
It is as if I am often in a 'mental fog', i daydream alot, am always feeling rather blue and when i see someone i must communicate with it is as if i must lift myself out of this 'mental fog' to talk to them, but the fact that i am struggling during this conversation and am uncomfortable is very apparent to others. It is VERY difficult for me to make small, casual conversation and i never really enjoy it, I just endure it. I dread seeing anyone i know, even if theyre my friends, for fear of having to talk to them, and when i do it usually ends with them leaving with a sort of confused, awkward look on their face. I can't look people in the eye. I know longer go to social gatherings because I can't enjoy them anymore, or anything social for the matter. It's like i just don't enjoy people, like i'm really anti-social or something and normal "happy" people make me feel more abnormal and I feel worse. Sometimes however it is like i care TOO much about people and i don't enjoy them because i'm worried that they won't like ME. I feel so chemically imbalanced sometimes, like mentally disoriented i guess. These are my basic symptoms at their worst. Does anyone know how I feel and had success with meds??? I start my sr. year of highschool on wednesday and I don't know how i'll get through it. Thankyou so much for reading this long rambling, complaining, post.
Posted by Panic_attack on August 29, 2003, at 11:34:04
In reply to Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by Psycho D on August 29, 2003, at 2:15:38
Hey Psycho-D. Wow, I know exactly how you feel. Im 22 now and do NOT use heavy drugs anymore, but all thru middle & high school. I did ALOT of drugs. LSD, cocaine, YOU NAME IT. I did it and I did it alot. So now I am all screwed up from the past drug use and I have anxiety/panic attacks. I avoid people cuz they are all so judgemental and I cannot bare someone insulting me. Im so use to critism that I just like to avoid people. I get all nervous and weird when I see oldschool friends, etc. It's like im retarded, I freeze, I slur, I can't talk, I freaking shake. LOL. People make me nervous. I cant even have a boyfriend... IM to NERVOUS all the time. I am always thinking "Oh god, he hates me, he thinks im stupid, he thinks im fat". Thats when I turn to alcohol :( I have a pretty bad drinking problem. I dont have much advice for you cuz I am on the same boat in a way. Alcohol is HORRIBLE. Stay away.. its make everything worse in the long run.. trust me. I have lost alot MORE friends due to alcohol . Anyways.. hope you find something to help you thru.
Posted by zeugma on August 29, 2003, at 12:01:20
In reply to Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by Psycho D on August 29, 2003, at 2:15:38
Psycho D (and Panic Attack),
I can definitely empathize with what you are saying. I have social phobia/ avoidant personality disorder combined with 'mental fog' symptoms and depression. I have found tricyclics and Strattera helpful with the 'mental fog' aspects. It seems that benzodiazepines are effective for social phobia; I have no direct experience with them but others have said they are most effective. I am doing cognitive behavioral therapy to get over the social phobia and have experienced the 'side effect' of severely increased anxiety. On the other hand most effective treatments have side effects and the last two days have offered some evidence that the social phobia is lessening. My experience has been that both forms of treatment (medication and CBT) require a lot of cooperation with those who are treating you and also open discussions of the pitfalls and possibilities of each kind of treatment. Good luck!
Posted by Emeline on August 29, 2003, at 14:21:28
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by zeugma on August 29, 2003, at 12:01:20
I have a very similiar problem. It always seems to me that people must think I'm disinterested in what they are saying, but it's only because my eyes are wondering everywhere but to their face. Highschool to me is hell, even though I'm great with classwork... It's just great to know I'm not alone (obviously not that I wish other people to have social phobia), these symptoms are totally in par with my own experiences. I'm glad I'm not *totally* alone ;)
Posted by Budgie on August 29, 2003, at 20:11:54
In reply to Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by Psycho D on August 29, 2003, at 2:15:38
Hey there,
First of all, don't worry about rambling. It's healthy to get out your thoughts and feelings, especially for us with social anxiety, who spend so much effort keeping everything from the outside world as it is. So please keep talking, there are people here to listen.
Don't know too much about CBT- I just started it myself recently. Medication-wise, all I can suggest is that if all those standard drugs didn't work (which I can sympathize with), maybe you could get a little creative, do some research and approach your doc with a new idea. Personally, I've been on an MAOI for a couple of weeks now, and it's been incredible for the depression and *especially* the mental fog that goes with SA. Unfortunately, the SA is still there, but I'm going to try Klonopin, I think, soon. Just some ideas- maybe they can be of use to you.
Good luck, though.
Posted by marip on August 30, 2003, at 2:53:59
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by Budgie on August 29, 2003, at 20:11:54
Just wanted to respond about SA--I thought I was crazy with the way I have completely cut myself off from all friends over the past five years. It took over three years for anyone to even realize I wasnt just antisocial but actually depressed/anxious...Still, today is the first time I've heard other people describe my symptoms...
I've been on prozac, celexa, now wellbutrin--each one seems to work for a while and the SA goes away (it feels wonderful!! Suddenly I have enough energy to talk to whoever and sometimes even call someone instead of avoid all people). But I always have relapses and its almost worse because I finally know how it can feel not to be so afraid of every person who might talk to me.
Something I experience a lot is sweating when I talk to people--and an inability to articulate myself at all--maybe thats the foggy head some others have described? Also, I have a major phone-phobia--my heart races everytime I hear the phone ring because it might be someone who wants to talk to me and ask me to do something with them and then Id have to think of an excuse not to and...it just gets worse from there. Anyone else experience this?
Its pretty amazing to hear that this problem isnt something I need to beat out of myself necessarily but truly another symptom of my depression.
thanks for sharing everyone,
marip
ps. All my depression/anxiety social anxiety started for me once I quit drugs my sophomore year of college--I had to stop because the social anxiety seemed to be way worse when I smoked or whatever. Now even thinking about being high makes me anxious. Sometimes I regret that because even nicotine helped me feel more comfortable with people before. Now it seems like my only option is avoidance.
--Caffeine sometimes helps--not coffee but Green Tea or Ginsing--mild stimulants.
Posted by Psycho D on August 30, 2003, at 13:09:55
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by marip on August 30, 2003, at 2:53:59
Marip and others:
**Also, I have a major phone-phobia--my heart races everytime I hear the phone ring because it might be someone who wants to talk to me and ask me to do something with them and then Id have to think of an excuse not to and...it just gets worse from there. Anyone else experience this?YES, i know exactly how you feel, i have a cell phone and every time it rings my anxiety kicks in and most of the time i can't even answer it. I've had alot of friends think that i have something against them or am a jerk because of this.
**Now even thinking about being high makes me anxious. Sometimes I regret that because even nicotine helped me feel more comfortable with people before.The main reason i did drugs was to alleviate my social anxiety systems. But the fact is that there are much more efficient drugs to help with this problem. I don't think that the issue is to stop drugs, I think it's to find better, more efficient FDA approved drugs. For example, with the smoking i used to smoke too and i remember that the nicotine would just help me relax and i felt good and social. Now i've learned that this was because of the dopaminergic effects nicotine has on the brain, and there ae MUCH more efficient ways of getting this feeling that won't kill you (Selegeline, Well-butrin... possibly dexedrine or some other stimulants?) . So i don't think it's STOP drugs but move on to smarter, safer drugs. There are also many effective therapies for SA.
I post this because I understand how many of you are suffering, but there is hope! Social Anxiety is a highly treatable mental illness. I have my first appointment with a P-doc in a week or so and i am very much looking forward to it now that i've learned about all the treatments out there. I suggest that anyone who hasn't yet, do this. It will help you understand and overcome this painful illness.
Posted by daizy on August 31, 2003, at 15:57:20
In reply to Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by Psycho D on August 29, 2003, at 2:15:38
Psycho D,marip, panic attack, I feel the same way! I had bad social problems, then turned to drugs, ect.... same story really, crashed and burned! I just feel very lonely, Ive pushed a lot of people away when I was bad with anxiety because they just didnt understand or want to understand me. Im feeling better these days, mostly due to TCA's, SSRI's didnt agree with me. It does take time to overcome the anxiety, well it took me a year to be able to go out again! I still feel like many of you described in social situations. You just have to take small steps, and have people around you who are willing to talk and undersand your feelings, believe me that will help! good luck all of you!!!
Psycho D, I dont know if this is how you feel but, like you I feel I give to much of myself to people, and then worry that they wont feel about me, as I do about them. I have had friends who just dont contact me anymore when I cant face going out, and its really upsetting. steer clear of those types!
Posted by jparsell82 on September 1, 2003, at 13:50:20
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by daizy on August 31, 2003, at 15:57:20
Hey Psycho D, most of what you typed exactly describes me. I have horrible social anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking, attention problems that keep getting worse. I quit illegal drugs about a year ago for fear that they were making my problems worse. Then, last saturday night my friends talked me into doing some stuff with them. I didn't really want to.... but I felt I was letting them down by not going. Then the next day(sunday), it was horrible. I almost flipped... I just can't handle anything anymore. I'm in constant fear, tension, paranoia. I can't stop thinking. People try to talk to me and I can't look at them or pay attention. I keep drifting off. It'll take me an hour to read a page and a half of book because I can't focus on one thought or situation. I've so nervous and anxious around people regardless of whether I'm in a good or bad mood. It sucks, because I've found nothing that really helps me. I've tried a bunch of SSri's, snri's, stimulants, benzos, herbal medicines, imported meds like picamilone & gamalate b6, smart drugs. My mind is clouded. And it's disappointing because I know I'm a really smart person but if I could just have all the tension and fear released from me and be able to see and focus clearly on whatever I chose. The only thing left I haven't tried is TCAs, which I've heard aren't helpful for social anxiety. And Nardil or Parnate, I did try to get it prescribed before, but the doctor wasn't willing... he said it was for "refractitory cases". Every doc I've talked to thinks my problems aren't that bad. Maybe, it's because I'm too nervous to speak up and tell them everything. Ahh, anyways, good luck to everyone trying to overcome social anxiety.
Posted by daizy on September 1, 2003, at 15:31:33
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!!, posted by jparsell82 on September 1, 2003, at 13:50:20
"Every doc I've talked to thinks my problems aren't that bad."
Mine were exactly the same, because I wasnt really speaking up and telling them how I felt, they didnt think I was anxious! Im on a TCA,and although it did take a while to notice any changes, for me it was miles better than any SSRI, ect....
Posted by jparsell82 on September 2, 2003, at 16:58:59
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!! » jparsell82, posted by daizy on September 1, 2003, at 15:31:33
Which TCA did you try?? Anafranil? Does it help you with physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, etc. or shyness? Also does it effect your desire to talk to people? Thanks
Posted by daizy on September 5, 2003, at 15:09:24
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!! » daizy, posted by jparsell82 on September 2, 2003, at 16:58:59
Elavil, but now that you've asked Ive been thinking, and it hasnt worked that well for the 'social' part of my anxiety, but it did for the generalised anxiety that I had. once that got better it seemed easier to be social, but for the symptoms you described it wasnt a cure! It was less harsh than SSRI's seemed to be, for me. sorry if that didnt help!
> Which TCA did you try?? Anafranil? Does it help you with physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, etc. or shyness? Also does it effect your desire to talk to people? Thanks
Posted by zeugma on September 5, 2003, at 17:15:14
In reply to Re: Social Anxiety: HELP PLEASE!! » jparsell82, posted by daizy on September 5, 2003, at 15:09:24
> Elavil, but now that you've asked Ive been thinking, and it hasnt worked that well for the 'social' part of my anxiety, but it did for the generalised anxiety that I had. once that got better it seemed easier to be social, but for the symptoms you described it wasnt a cure! It was less harsh than SSRI's seemed to be, for me. sorry if that didnt help!
>This has been my experience too. TCA's are great drugs for many of the problems I have had - appetite and weight loss, insomnia, generalized anxiety and IBS. They don't work on social anxiety though.
>
> > Which TCA did you try?? Anafranil? Does it help you with physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, etc. or shyness? Also does it effect your desire to talk to people? Thanks
I have taken nortriptyline for the past year. I have always had a desire to talk to people, unfortunately I have also been plagued for my whole life with fear of talking to others. For what it's worth, I vastly prefer the effects of the TCA to any SSRI's. But I am having to look elsewhere for a cure for social anxiety.
>
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