Anybody else here have acute social anxiety? Or any anxiety in general?

deleted_krwgs2hm1473705

I have really bad social anxiety, so it is really hard for me to function correctly in an environment with lots of people. EDIT: What ways do you deal with it? Do they work well?

PuhChewyChomp

Xanax. And no, it doesn't work well at all.

I also tried drinking, and for a long time. I can't recommend it.

deleted_krwgs2hm1473705

What kind of anxiety do you have? I basically can't take even a moderate amount of noise, or be in the same place as a lot of people, makes it near impossible to go on a date with this girl I like.

TWDFan86

I'm just shy and sad all the time.

BigBlindMax

Nah, not really, I'm just an introvert. Plus, my dumbass eyes constantly 'wobble' and I sometimes look at people strange (I'm just trying to see you better!), so meeting new people can be difficult or embarrassing at times. These days, I can put the charm on, but it required a lot of trial, error and practice.

As far as full blown anxiety goes, the only thing I've got is dental anxiety. A bit of Diazepam before every visit takes care of that. Makes me melllow like jelllooooo.

TWDFan86

Lol, I have trouble making eye-contact with strangers. It's sooo awkward!!

LupineNoir

I have anxiety - sort of social - as well as PTSD, OCD and clinical depression. Meditating helps me quite a bit by letting me take a step back from thoughts and focusing on something specific.

DragonButter

I tend to look in one direction and one direction only, nearly all the time when I am in public, to avoid making awkward eye-contact. Or I just screw around on the internet on my iPod if I were to wait for something. And when I DO make eye-contact, there's a 50/50 chance I might feel comfortable looking at the person, or I look away, it really depends on the person. Oh, and I stutter too if a stranger, friend, or family member talks to me, luckily for me I don't do it as often as I used to, unfortunately it's still there though.

BigBlindMax

I know that feel. I've just about got the hang of it, but I still manage to freak people out on occasion.

BigBlindMax

Same. I'd take chilling with a couple friends over a party any day. Party people are fucking loud and annoying. I still sometimes go for the cheap beer/weed though. :D

Rafoli

Unless it's here on the forums, lol.

PuhChewyChomp

I never got a real diagnosis, but I'll try to explain my situation. Basically it's 'all the time' anxiety, which xanax helps with. Also social anxiety(groups of people, people I don't know especially women), and high-pressure situations are just panic inducing(interviews and such) and alprazolam has no help for me here. Noises aren't really an anxiety issue with me, but they do make me twitch and that will make me panic if I'm around people. I tend to just get my mind moving too fast about whatever paranoid bullshit is going on in my head and start to panic about it. I've had panic attacks because I've thought to myself, "What if I were to have a panic attack right now?" and the thought of having a panic attack gave me a panic attack. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

PassiveAgressiveGary

I'm pretty shy and not really talkative, sometimes kinda depressed. This is also a reason why I joined a forum, I hoped to improve myself this way by trying to talk to new people but it's not yet working out. I don't know, I just never know what to say.

Blind Sniper

I wouldn't worry too much. For most forums, after you lurk a bit and observe what the culture is like, all you need to do afterwards is just throw yourself out there and find some way to make baby steps in talking with people.

After awhile, you'll get used to it and it won't feel as weird.

PassiveAgressiveGary

I hope you're right. It's hard though, if you've been feeling depressed like me, and you've recovered after some time, It's so easy to fall right back in that hell hole after a shitty day, and then I don't feel like talking anymore. It's this cycle that keeps returning. I guess I just have to suck it up.

WarpSpeed

Say something funny.

PuhChewyChomp

Doodie.

LupineNoir

I'd say Blind Sniper's advice is spot on. Depression is hard yet if you can recover for even a short while you're making progress, and if, more often than not, the amount of time you stay out of the hole is increasing then it's great sign. On the other hand, should things seem to be getting worse, might I suggest seeking some sort of help? There's loads of stuff out on the web for starters that could assist you, though it is hard to know where to start. Everyone's different so you might find none of this is helping; either way, despite it possibly not being what you'd want to be talking about on here, at least you're talking to people about something!

PassiveAgressiveGary

Yeah, I guess I'm gonna wait and see how everything turns out. I'm indeed at least talking about something :)

Mr_Eeuss

^ Yup, that's me basically.

LupineNoir

You recognise where you're at too - many might not. Hope it works out :)

NoncyFlippledorp

Yeah, you wouldn't believe it judging from my behavior on here, but in reality I'm a complete nervous wreck with absolutely no good social skills.

Gengar

Actually, I'm the type of guy who's completely terrible at conversations in real life. I always get this awkward silence from almost everyone I speak to.

Example:

Me: Hey, ever seen the Mavs game yesterday?

Friend: No.

Me:...

Friend:...

Me:...So...you done with homework?

Friend: Yeah, it was okay.

Me: Oh ok...

Friend:...

Me:...

Rafoli

And then he walks away.

pcharl01

I deal with anxiety a lot. I'm very apprehensive and a negatively thinking person for the most part. It makes it hard to progress and mature, as well as getting a job (or at least one where I'd make enough money to get out of my current living situation). I have to prepare even more and having no one really to practice vigorously with me makes it hard to overcome. I'm definitely high strung, have bad nonverbal communication cues and don't emote very well. I actually do somewhat decent in social situations when I'm not mentally destroying myself, but I rarely ever have an extended period of time where I feel relaxed, calm and in control of myself.

pcharl01

Same way. Can't live in the moment, can't deviate from mission or objective. I'm pretty good with eye contact except when I have to speak about myself. Its hard when I live such a solitary existence.

pcharl01

Most of the time I argee with ya'll. But honestly I'd loved to confidently go to a house party or salsa club and be able to party anxious free.

GaryCXJk

Due to the fact that I've walked around with ASD without knowing it until 2012 when I got diagnosed at the age of 27, I had developed a social anxiety disorder during my teen years, as well as a chronic depression. After getting the diagnosis, it has been getting less, and I'm guessing it's going to be less since I'm going to follow a program to lessen the social issues I'm having. My depression though is a different thing, even though I don't have the typical depression symptoms now, because it's chronic I will never get rid of it, I can only manage it so that the symptoms won't return. But meh, so far it's going great, and as long as I don't forget how it feels like being depressed chances are slim I'm falling back.

EDIT: Also, I do have some irrational fears, like snakes, spiders, insects, other creepy crawlies, dark alleys (not because of muggers, ghosts or zombies, but because I associate dark alleys with filth), grass, ghosts, zombies, the dark, dieing in a crowded area, elevators, perhaps clowns, some other stuff I probably have forgotten.

I fucking hate butterflies.

EDIT2: Touching people, because I associate it with intimacy.

DragonButter

I hear ya, man. I've gotten used to it, it isn't that bad in my opinion, especially since there are people who just stare at strangers for minutes on end and I don't like that, I think it's rude for the most part. As for the solitary existence, I understand where you're coming from, just know that you're not alone, there's plenty of people who are like that.

BigBlindMax

Enough alcohol and anything's possible. ;)

I'm only half kidding. Alcohol (in moderation) is a good "social lubricant" for a lot of people.

BigBlindMax

I can relate with the poor non-verbal communication thing. I have to consciously force myself to make hand gestures when I'm in a job interview or speaking in front of a group. It takes time to improve, that's for sure.

BigBlindMax

Wow. I've never heard of anyone getting diagnosed that late! It must've sucked not knowing what was going on.

Raging_Blades

I guess I have some bad social issues. I barely talk at all. When spoken to I respond, but with a short answer(usually one-five words) like "Yes, No, Maybe, Okay," and stuff like that. Biggest thing though is when I talk to girls, or adults things go bad. I want to make eye contact, so I do. But when I do my eyes start watering and it feels/looks like I'm crying.Then I start getting really hot especially in my forehead. My palms are usually sweating in my pockets, and if I have the chance, I back away slowly. I don't make conversation, and if someone starts one with me it lasts around a minute, and if I'm lucky then around 5 minutes. I usually just loner out and whenever around a bunch of people and try to isolate myself.

Inside I really want to just break out, and talk to people and stuff. But I'm afraid I'll screw up as always. I never know what to say, and I basically feel like I'm just taking up space. Half of me says to get out there and interact. The other half says stay, making me feel like there's no going back. I'm trying to find out which one is me. I just want to be myself. I don't care if I'm a loner or not. But right now I am content. I have hopes that one day I will find that path for me, and hopefully I will be happy with it.

LupineNoir

Plus one on the solitary existence.

DragonButter

Yep. It's cozy. I'm content with it, for now.

DragonButter

I don't think I've ever meditated before! I should really try it sometime. Can you make me believe in the ways? :P

pcharl01

The alcohol thing does not work for me. I drink to be mellow. Drinking when I'm hyped isn't safe for anyone.

sayakamiki

I've never been diagnosed, but I have issues with socializing, too. I get very anxious, short-breathed, and even panicky when I have to communicate with strangers, (especially through phone calls) and I find it extremely difficult to make eye contact or initiate conversations. I also get very intimidated by large crowds or personal confrontations. Recently, in the past 5 months, I've begun to stutter and clam up a lot while speaking. I usually end up feeling awful after talking to strangers or being at parties, and I often isolate myself afterwards to 'recover'. It takes a long while of being alone to shake off that feeling.

The awkwardness of it all only makes my anxiety worse. I try really hard to hide this and make the impression that I don't have any problems with socializing, but sometimes I feel my behavior comes off as heavily forced. I'm not good with small talk, it doesn't interest me. When I drop the facade and just act 'myself', I hardly talk at all, only conversing when spoken to, and yet minimally. I don't open up easily, and with some people I may never open up at all.

Milkshake541

Nope. How hard is it to just talk to people?

PorkytheWalker

Wow I feel you described me....

PorkytheWalker

I used to be incredibly close with my brother we were the best of friends.

Well now he's gone

I'm really comfortable around family and friends but around strangers especially huge groups I usually feel awkward and always do something to embaress myself.

Me and my brother had alot in common We loved the hell out of Telltale's games and Breaking Bad but now that he's gone I feel like no one else gets me.

I try to talk to people IRL and I either feel like I'm talking to morons or brick walls. So the last couple of months I've been kinda depressed and now I'm on the forums. I like it here alot finally I have awesome people to talk to about awesome things!

The thing that sucks though is whenever I'm not on the forums I start to slip back into depression. I don't like being around people much I think it was after I was sorely disappointed...

So one of my close friends I always had a crush on her. I felt that we were getting closer, we were spending more time together then she randomly met this other guy. She stopped hanging around me and my friends and now she hangs with the other guy and his friends that was a second thing that led to my depression but I was always socially awkward even before this shit storm...