Aa
i have a problem
My name is sarah and im going to be 18 soon, i've had a problem for a while and i think i might need help.I am very afraid of social situations and people besides my family, maybe afraid isn't the right word more like terrified. My family and i have moved around at least once a year since i was 10 years old and my family just believes im a shy person but the fear just seems to get worse. When i started high school i was so afraid that within 2 weeks i had switched to a home school and have'nt been back since. Everyday i would go and i could'nt takl to anyone i would fell like i couldnt breath i would feel myself starting to break down i would hide out in the library and i would just cry. now that im homeschooled i just try to avoid meeting any new people but especially anyone my own age. When i have to i panic, become short of breath and actually physically ill i really don't know what to do. im afraid if i don't get some help ill ruin my chance of college.I've already put off getting my permit because of the fear i hope someone can give me someinsight into this whole situation.
Well i have taken the advice of everyone and spoke with my parents today... I told them everything and that i believed i really need help..the only problem is that they are planning yet another move at the end of september.. They did tell me that when that move is over they will reconsider the option of a therapist but i have a hard time believing them because i have heard the very same thing before..the only good thing i can see is that im soon to be 18 and i have decided to just go on my own because i know how important it is..so thank you again for listening!!
Sarah
Sarah
hi sarah, I too had the same problem when I was 19. I was so bad that I couldn't leave my house. I was suffering with it for about a year and I finally went to a therapist. He
told me to to go out and find some thing to do to take the focus off dwelling on my fear. I
thought at that time it was impossible. But I did. I went to a technical school. A short
course training. I told the teacher the problem I was having. And one of the other class
mates new about my problem as well. They were very supportive and it gave me some
comfort in nowing that. As hard as it was I pushed my self to go. Some days I couldn't go to school that day and sometimes I had to run out of the class room. But I got through it and every day got better. I started to get my confidence and indepenance back. You are not alone with this problem. But you must get help. Don't let this take
control of your life.
told me to to go out and find some thing to do to take the focus off dwelling on my fear. I
thought at that time it was impossible. But I did. I went to a technical school. A short
course training. I told the teacher the problem I was having. And one of the other class
mates new about my problem as well. They were very supportive and it gave me some
comfort in nowing that. As hard as it was I pushed my self to go. Some days I couldn't go to school that day and sometimes I had to run out of the class room. But I got through it and every day got better. I started to get my confidence and indepenance back. You are not alone with this problem. But you must get help. Don't let this take
control of your life.
I was always a shy individual, also. I've alway wanted people to view me as who I am, and accept me. I found myself worrying about how they felt about me; it became so important to me for some reason. I became popular in highschool with the Ladies and the hommies, and for some reason I believed that everyone started turning on me and becoming two faced. Who I was in their eyes was everything to me. In conclusion, I think that it was the inticipattion of my impression on othesr...inticipation leads to fear..stop thinking so much. I do good when im not exspecting, until I find myself thinking negative and falling into another attack. dont inticipate and worry. or atleast try.
Stay away from the sugar, amap; it will send you through a hyper active thought processing moment....
Stay away from the sugar, amap; it will send you through a hyper active thought processing moment....
I think if anybody moved as often and as far as you do at your age, developing social phobia would be a train wreck just waiting to happen. Especially if you were somewhat shy to begin with!
PLEASE discuss this with your parents AGAIN, or another trusted adult if your parents refuse to take this seriously. You say "now that you know this COULD be treatable...." Sweetie, IT IS TREATABLE! ALL OF IT!
And remember Sarah, if you are going to be 18 soon, you can seek help without the aid or permission of your family. Maybe that age is even 16 where you are living now.
I know how difficult this can be, but sometimes we must fight for our own mental health. You are a strong young woman, don't let anyone stop you from getting the help you need and obviously, want.
We will always be here for you!
Peace
Greenlydia
PLEASE discuss this with your parents AGAIN, or another trusted adult if your parents refuse to take this seriously. You say "now that you know this COULD be treatable...." Sweetie, IT IS TREATABLE! ALL OF IT!
And remember Sarah, if you are going to be 18 soon, you can seek help without the aid or permission of your family. Maybe that age is even 16 where you are living now.
I know how difficult this can be, but sometimes we must fight for our own mental health. You are a strong young woman, don't let anyone stop you from getting the help you need and obviously, want.
We will always be here for you!
Peace
Greenlydia
Thank you for your advice, what i mean when i say move is out of state and sometimes , the country. I have'nt been to the doctors yet but now that i know that it could be treatable..im going to talk to my parents and hopefully they will finally understand. thank you again !!
Sarah
Sarah
Hey Sweetie,
Why does your family move around so often? And when you say "move," do you mean you move to a different city, a different state.......what? I am going to assume it means that you must change schools because of each of these moves. That is very, very tough for someone your age! You say your family has moved at least once a year since you were 10! That means you have lived in a different place every year for the past 8 years. That is mind boggling to me and I can understand why it would be difficult, if not impossible, for you to form any lasting friendships and even easier to understand how you could develope social phobia! Which I believe is what you have and which needs to be treated by a professional therapist. That you go out of your way to avoid meeting people, especially your peers, is very sad. You're at an age when you should be having the time of your life, not hiding yourself away.
I urge you very strongly to show this post you wrote to your parents or another trusted adult and get the help you need. What you have, or what I believe you have, is very common and is VERY treatable! With the right medication and a good therapist, you will begin to come out of your shell very quickly and begin to enjoy all the things you have been denying yourself. There is help out there for you, you reached out to us, now reach just a little bit more............there is nothing to lose and only your life to gain. Don't put that off any longer.
Write anytime you want or need to, we are always here and we understand exactly what you are living with.
Take good care.
Peace
Greenlydia
Why does your family move around so often? And when you say "move," do you mean you move to a different city, a different state.......what? I am going to assume it means that you must change schools because of each of these moves. That is very, very tough for someone your age! You say your family has moved at least once a year since you were 10! That means you have lived in a different place every year for the past 8 years. That is mind boggling to me and I can understand why it would be difficult, if not impossible, for you to form any lasting friendships and even easier to understand how you could develope social phobia! Which I believe is what you have and which needs to be treated by a professional therapist. That you go out of your way to avoid meeting people, especially your peers, is very sad. You're at an age when you should be having the time of your life, not hiding yourself away.
I urge you very strongly to show this post you wrote to your parents or another trusted adult and get the help you need. What you have, or what I believe you have, is very common and is VERY treatable! With the right medication and a good therapist, you will begin to come out of your shell very quickly and begin to enjoy all the things you have been denying yourself. There is help out there for you, you reached out to us, now reach just a little bit more............there is nothing to lose and only your life to gain. Don't put that off any longer.
Write anytime you want or need to, we are always here and we understand exactly what you are living with.
Take good care.
Peace
Greenlydia
Yes , i am suffering from social phobia too when i was 18 and now with 23 after my therapie i am feeling better. I think you shoud go to your doctor and ask him to give you something for a psychologist. And you shoud look for people araund you especially in school that can help you, you shoud not avoid to go to school , if you avoid it everything will get worser and worser. Try to speak to people or make friends if possible that help you. You ca also try to speak to a teacher privatly , but only if you think her or she is the right person for this. In your age i coudndt speak or read something in front of the class and i had some bad teachers. But if you don=t go to school you cant get graduated and that is not good.
Hi you dont say if you have been to the docs with your problem, I also suffer social phobia and I know what you are feeling, you fisrt must get proffesernal help, I beleave c.b.t talking would help you alot, your only 18 dont let this get a tighter grip on you get help now
take care and keep us posted.
janis
take care and keep us posted.
janis
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