being clean social anxiety

[youngdude421]

I am a recovering addict
I have 38 days clean. I go to a meeting everyday. Things are actually pretty OK and quiet for a guy with 38 days. However when I'm sober I am painfully shy. Using was my social lubricant. Just asking others does this go away eventually... The anxiety and panic I feel in certain social situations is overbearing.

[kellygirll]

I have just got clean date is sept 2 and I now have anxiety never into life but that's what happens when we numb ***** congrats on your 38 days

[gnarly_1]

Hi well for all of us life on lifes terms can be a daunting prapazition get a sponsor and start to work the steps this will help as addicts we quit growing up and maturing when we start to use once clean I know I had the brain of a 14yr old the year I started to use forchanetly you ketch up quickly but you will have to learn coping skills you should have learned long ago  just know it will get better with time............Gnarly

[youngdude421]

Thanks all you guys for the support and hope. Off topic but can you believe I had a doctor offer me VyVanse the other day. It's like adderalls lol. Yeah exactly what I need for my early recovery anxiety a speed pill. He kinda pushed it on me cuz he's convinced I have ADHD. I ripped up the script and threw it out. I can't take that stuff responsibly.

[youngdude421]

Thanks! The hot feeling and forgetting what I'm saying omg . I do give myself a hard time. I should prolly practice loosening up on myself.

[Lildz]

Congrats on your 38 days, that's huge !
I am 50 yrs old and got clean and sober in my early 20's, but had several relapses after consecutive years of clean time.
And although I'm considered by others as a socail butterfly, after my last relapse have experienced massive anxiety, and have a huge issue being in a room full of people.
I think for me it was the years of isolation in my using that I cut off all contact with people as well as family members.
That's what drugs and alcohol do.
The more meetings I go to, the better it gets, and by talking about it in meetings, you'll find many went thru that very same issue when first entering recovery.
Best of luck on your journey
It gets better

[motye51]

Omg...i love that comment..." using was my social lubricant..."  love, love, b/c i can so relate! Its an unease that i feel, and my face turns hot and red and i forget what im saying! I promise u it will get better...i think i was silent in my meetings for weeks before i even introduced myself. Dont give yourself such a hard time...its gonna get better!

[Jinx_777]

i have been that way my whole life (painfully shy) and i think that is one of the reasons i used chemicals, especially alcohol.  to feel more social.
i am even more isolated now and i will be lucky if i get back to my normal shy self.  i have been through a lot of traumatizing things this past few years though that add to it, but if you were shy before you will have a harder time getting social.
force yourself.  fake it till you make it.  eventually you will get there

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hi

I'm one of those painfully shy people in person.  If I had a drink or two I would relax enough to talk to people.  Instead of using you could try a couple of the things I did:  I found a counselor who dealt with this type of condition.  She slowly built my self-esteem and self-confidence up. I also would force myself to talk more (which didn't work).  The self-esteem and self-confidence workshops did help quite a bit.  It still takes me a few meetings to "warm up" so I start out with groups of 2 or 3 and build myself up to meeting more than a few people at a time.

I don't think just stopping using will help with your condition.  You have two things you need to do for aftercare...1st is to make sure you stay clean and 2nd is to work on your esteem and confidence issues.

Take care!

[youngdude421]

Thanks for the hope

[overopiates]

It does go away.Let me ask have u ever had a diagnosis of social anxiety or any other anxiety issues?If not then I wouldnt be concerned about it.You just need to give it time for that to get better.Like u said using was a social lubricant for u.U have to really get used to doing everything sober first.Congrats on ur clean time.It will get easier I promise.I was similar when I quit using.I had always been outgoing my whole life,After quiting I was anxiety ridden BIG time.Diagnosed by3different Drs w/social anxiety after that.Im back to my normal outgoing self&have been for a long time.