My life has been taken over by social anxiety

[Kate_21]

For the past two and a half years, although I've never been professionally diagnosed by a doctor, I've been suffering from what I'm pretty certain is social anxiety. This constant feeling of anxiousness, loneliness and emptiness has completely and utterly consumed my life; I'm terrified of so many things regarding social situations. My fears have left me isolated and without friends, I don't want anyone acknowledging my existence and always want to be alone. I distanced myself from the only two friends I had left because I've become so dysfunctional as a person who can barely maintain friendships or conversation, and they don't deserve to deal with someone me. I can't even trust my own family with my mental health because none of them take me seriously, they think they know me better than I know myself and try to tell me how I'm feeling rather than listening to what I'm actually telling them. Social anxiety is all I have left of me; I'm less than half the person I used to be and day by day my personality is just disintegrating. I'm completely lost within myself and don't know how to escape my feelings.

If there's anyone out there reading this that relates to my struggles, I am sending you nothing but unconditional love and support. Please stay strong and remember that there is always a way out of the dark tunnel. I believe in you with all of my being. ❤️

[_bethy94]

Hi Kate_21,

Sorry to hear of what you're going through. Have you seemed any professional help from a mental health professional regarding your social anxiety? Taking the first step and showing a vulnerable side to someone you don't know is extremely daunting and something I'm currently grappling with, but it's doable.

One way to begin the healing process and taking a step forward to being back to your normal self is trying to identify the source of the anxiety. Has something happened to you socially making you fearful of social interactions? What is your mind telling you in these moments of fear? Etc. If you're able to answer those questions, you'll be able to more or less gauge where these thoughts are coming from and start to stop them in their tracks.

Social anxiety is becoming more prevalent by the day and you're absolutely not alone, you are not abnormal, you are human. If there's one thing I want you to know it's that.

Sending you well wishes.