Social Anxiety :(

[Bee26]

Hi everyone,

I've finally decided to join beyond blue I'm so sick of having anxiety in pretty much any situation. I was just wondering if anyone can relate to this.

I've had anxiety as far back as I can remember and I'm 25 now. I blush super easy and that just triggers it even more ! I even get really anxious around family just having an everyday chat (not all the time) but I hate any situation that I'm in the spotlight and even in situations where I'm just sitting in the group, all that's usually going through my head is please don't ask me anything. I can feel my heart racing and I also feel really flushed and hot. If I'm tired or leading up to menstruation it seems worse. I stay away from coffee or drinks like red bull or v because that also makes things worse.

It really holds me back on everything in my life from my relationships to work. Times I would love to voice my opinion I feel I can't because I'm so anxious I could go on and on 😞 .

Has anyone been through this and come out the other side? Any advice would be awesome!

[blondguy]

Hi Bee26 and Welcome to the Beyond Blue Community

Im sorry to hear about your anxiety. I can relate to it as I started getting the same anxiety when I was 23. I do understand where you are coming from.

Lets get to the racing heart first. This feeling is awful but only adrenaline pumping away when you dont need it. Nothing will happen except for the feeling of it which can be unsettling of course. Great work to dump the Red Bull and Coffee too...Even though my anxiety is nearly all gone I still have to watch these drinks

You are not on your own here Bee....there are many people that suffer with the same as you do. You have great strength by posting.

Anxiety will effect your relationships and work. The quickest way to get some relief on this is your GP. If you havent please make an appointment asap. If you are seeing a GP please let me know:-)

Your opinion is more appreciated than you know on the forums. There are many people that choose not to post but read the forums. You are actually helping them by posting as well as people on the forums too.

I do hope you find some peace soon Bee...you deserve some relief from this common but annoying disorder

It would be great if you could get back to us

My Kind Thoughts for You

Paul

[Bee26]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your reply it's great to hear from someone who actually understands 🙂 .

I guess I've been a bit put off by going to the gp I've actually been there before a few years back and Mabey it was because the gp didn't understand anxiety or didn't understand the severity of my anxiety or because I was fairly young but he pretty much shrugged it off and said there's nothing I can be prescribed and didn't actually give me any treatment options. I suppose it's hard for me to actually explain my anxiety and it probably came out wrong lol. I guess I need to build up the courage to try again 🙂 .

What sort of treatment did you find worked ?

Thank you

Bee26.

[blondguy]

Hi Bee26

Thanks for posting back! Now worries 🙂

You have actually done really well with your recovery by reaching out and posting...and good on you.

My treatment was GP ...then a psychologist..then a psychiatrist. The psychologists are good to see as they seem to get a the core of the problem. Finding a GP is the first step. Well worth the effort. I still see mine for a 'tune up' every few weeks.

Anxiety does lose its severity over time Bee , especially with regular (at least once a month) visits to a doc. They help you understand what anxiety really is. It does take time but so worth it.

Calm and gentle acceptance of anxiety does work but again it takes time to learn this and after a while you will shrug your shoulders and say 'its just anxiety...they are only feelings' Fighting/battling anxiety only feeds the anxiety and can make it worse.

Anxiety has great difficulty attacking a person who has used 'calm acceptance' as a healing tool. Depending on how severe your anxiety is your doc might suggest taking a small dose of meds to help too. Some people are against them but I look at anxiety/depression as a physical illness...the same as diabetes or an infection. We take meds for those. The meds to me have been invaluable as they provide a platform on which we can heal more effectively using the coping mechanisms that are available

I had the flushing , sweaty palms, heart racing, shortness of breath, bad sleeps etc...It was bad. You also dont have to live your life with these awful feelings. The help is there for you:-) You will find relief with regular help

I look at a GP's help as a gift. I am so happy that they have better training nowadays compared to even a few years ago. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain Bee26.

You are a strong and intelligent person Bee26. You will not look back once you seek treatment.

Here for You 🙂

Paul

[Neil_1]

Hi there Bee26,

I’d like to welcome you to Beyond Blue as well and to thank you for providing your post.

Paul has provided a really awesome response back to you and I agree with all that Paul wrote. In particular, the strength that you used to be able to come here and post – that really can take some effort and I think that’s a huge effort in being able to do that.

Social anxiety or anxiety of any kind is a real mongrel thing to deal with – and yes, there are 100’s and 100’s of us on this site who have to deal with it.

Now you mentioned that it holds you back regarding relationships and work – may I ask if you are in a relationship (or have been in the past) OR whether you are currently working? Only asking this cause if you are working, then you’ve ticked a massive box with regard to anxiety, but I won’t go on further about this, unless you wish to let us know.

One thing that I try to think on when in some situations is to know just how many people are affected by anxiety; and so if I’m in a crowd or somewhere where there are a number of people assembled, I know that I am not the only one there who is nervous or anxious. I even try to cast my eye around to see if I can see anyone else, who might be say, shaking or fidgeting etc. I’ve even on occasions gone next to that person and said, “Don’t know how you’re feeling about this, but I’m finding this pretty nerve-racking”. I haven’t had an awkward response.

Here’s another thing that happens to me (just showing you, you are not on your own); I’m playing a board game with either family or mates, and it involves rolling dice, from your hand. Everyone rolls them out of their hand – no worries at all. I roll mine and one or two kind of stay in my hand as they’re stuck due to the sweat in my hand, as I’m nervous playing. Weird, nervous playing something that I kind of enjoy doing.

Love to hear back from you.

Neil