SOCIAL ANXIETY HAS TOOK OVER MY LIFE!!

[Gabbie01]

Hello everyone i am new to this platform and I would like to share with you the life of an anxious 20 years old...

Even typing this makes me very anxious! I am a major introvert i like to keep things to myself because I don’t like being judged. I suffer from social anxiety i am so awkward I cannot flow a conversation. I usually find myself stuttering and feeling very uncomfortable, hence why I don’t have a job, the whole process makes me very anxious. I feel like most people in my age have it all together, any i am here not making any progress.

I don’t have much friends, most of the time i feel very alone and find my self randomly crying, i just wish i had one good close friend that stuck by me when i need them. I’ll be 21 this year and ever since i was around the ages of 12 i would have this envision of myself having a huge 21st birthday party, with all my friends. Well it looks like that will never happen.

i also have anxiety picking up calls/ making calls because I find my self stuttering and cannot explain what is going through my mind that i want to verbally recall. I struggle speaking my mind, I cannot put it into words what i want to say. So instead I don’t pick up any phone calls. I am currently in my first year of uni and i am too afraid to do any presentations in from of anyone as i am afraid of stuttering and making a fun of myself. Sometimes i feel like i would never complete my degree just for this reason, i know it’s silly but I truly don’t feel comfortable and I cannot speak my mind when i am under pressure and have everyone’s attention on me it just really daunts me. I honestly don’t know what to do? I really want to over come this.

I tried my very best in explaining with some of the stuff i am struggling with everyday and if i could get some advice on how I could improve on these areas that would be amazing. Please don’t judge me. Everyone has battles they face in life and this happens to be mine.

[quirkywords]

Hi Gabbie

Welcome to this caring forum. This a nonjudgmental, supportive and friendly place.

I am pleased you reached out with your post as I realise it would have been difficult for you .Many people on here can relate to what you wrote.

You have described so clearly what you suffer on a daily basis. No one will judge you hear, we are here to support and we can relate to what you write.

I have problem with making and answering phone calls and I prefer to text.

Well done for doing a university degree. I have spoken to anyone at the counselling /learning centre(not sure what it is called at your university) but a place that cares for students academically and emotionally. I am sure there will be other students who have trouble doing an oral presentation.

Have you spoken to your GP?

On this website there is information about social anxiety that you can read.

Welcome and thanks again for sharing your story.

Quirky

[MsPurple]

Hi Gabbie and welcome to the forums

Sorry to hear you are struggling with social anxiety. IT can be a bit of a hassle to deal with. Although I do not have social anxiety myself I do have GAD with some aspects of social anxiety.

I'll try not repeat what Quirky has said however sorry if some of it is a bit repetative

Have you heard of a service called headspace. It is a youth mental health service catering for those 12-25 years old. It is a free service (only some specialists charge there like psychiatrists). They have GPs, psychologists, counsellors, study aids etc. If this service sounds for you maybe look them up. If not they also have an online service you can look into.

Also with university I know with social anxiety it can make it difficult to do presentations. Have you heard of disability services. I joined them in my final year of university because I didn't know it was around before. You are eligable to join if you have been diagnosed with anxiety. They can help work with you to help you get your degree. An example of how they helped me is I needed a day off placement once every three weeks for appointments, and they allowed that to happen. They also helped some others with longer exam conditions etc. Maybe look into your local universities disability services.

Hope this was helpful. It sounds clique now but it does get better. I couldn't imagine my anxiety not running my life but now it is not ruining my life. I still have some rough days but they are not as bad as they were at its worse.

[Ulysses]

I know how it feels to feel friendless and anxious. Mine probably started around six. Thank god people aren’t all the same though or the world would be a very boring place where not much would happenxx

[Ulysses]

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
Rob Siltanen