Social anxiety

[ginarenae1024]

So I've just recently become open with my social anxiety. I remember being in middle school and thinking that something was horribly wrong with me. I would get so nervouse around people. My body would tremble, my voice would shake and I couldn't think clearly. I've become more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and yes I do notice that there are plenty of people that are shy, but I really hate the fact that my real personality can't show when I'm around people. I turn into a robot. I remember experimenting with Xanax, and I loved it so much, I was able to interact with people, show empathy towards them, and actually be able to talk about my own opinions, and interests without a care. It's so frustrating! Wy can't I belike that naturally! Lol, anyways I've heard that antidepressents can help with this. Does anyone have any advice? Or is there anyone with the same issue that has tried antidepressents? I hope someone can help me! Thanks!
Gina

[MYoungAtHeart]

Social anxiety is a really scary thing.  When we suffer from this, we imagine that all people out there have the same thought of us that we have of ourselves and in most cases that is a very poor opinion of ourselves that we put on society. In most cases most people do not think of you one way or another when they look at you.  With social anxiety we are internalizing how we feel about ourself and then blaming the rest of the world for judging us.  

I don't do medications, am highly allergic, and have never experimented with scripts either.  But I do know about sugar pills or placebo effects when taking medication either prescribed or self prescribed.  You sound like a fairly young person and as much as you suffer from social anxiety, you are probably drawn to society either in a dating sense or in a school sense or to share time with friends.  I  really think that you crave being in society just
like many people do and that was why you were willing
to experiment with Xanax and perhaps maybe even made it work for you.

I do hope you will call your Medical doctor and ask for an appointment and tell him/her honestly how you have been feeling and how you felt with the Xanax.  It is always best to check out your physical health first as the physical and mental health goes hand in hand and if your doctor cannot find a physical cause for your anxiety, I do hope you will ask him/her if therapy could be prescribed for you, either in  private sessions or in group sessions.  

Good luck to you and I hope you come back and tell us how you
are progressing...

M

[BluCrystal]

Hi Gina!  I'm glad you came to us for help and support! :-)  Yes it is frustrating to need medication to be 'normal': I am on SIX of them myself.  I have been dealing with various forms of mental illness since before you were born. :-)  You need to see your doctor and tell him that you are having emotional problems, and what they are.  Ask if a mild anti-depressant and something for anxiety would help you.  I'm sure they would.  I'm hesitant to give you suggestions about what meds to ask about, because I might get in trouble for doing so.  However , you can look them up online and get alot of info that way - just don't use wikipedia, as that is unreliable since anyone can change info on it.  Webmd is a good site to start with.  And also look into getting counseling.  Meds are great for a 'fix it right now', but you need to have coping and relaxation skills, which you can get from counseling on out patient therapy.  look at it like this: meds are one part of the 'fix', therapy is another part, and YOU do the rest, with the help of your meds and therapy.  I have alot of other info I could share with you, if there is something in particular you want to know, just message me. :-)  Blessings - Blu