Diagnosed with a disorder...

[green69]

Well today I was officially diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder. After over 21 years of relatively normal living, anxiety has crept out of no where and is severely effecting my social life. I'm not quite sure how to handle this...

 

[Heart Break Kid]

Reading about it, another very common name for social anxiety disorder is "social phobia". There is also a lot of criticism about this disorder, do you actually hyperventilate or experience other dangerous symptoms? If you do not then you're going to have to do what everyone else has done to overcome this phobia; face it. How many times have you tried approaching and talking to woman you consider pretty? At what parts do you feel sick? You might just have a terrible limiting belief.

 

[WaterTiger]

Go to a therapyst, they can give you mental excercises to work through it. I'd be a little leary of drugs to combat the problem untill you tried other things like desensitizing yourself to the trigger that makes you panic.

 

[Obsidian]

I'd be a little leary of drugs to combat the problem untill you tried other things

seriously

I'll bet 30% of the guys on this forum have some kind of disorder like that. Just deal with it. We're an overdiagnosed and overmedicated society. Try cognitive behavioral therapy.

 

[green69]

seriously

I'll bet 30% of the guys on this forum have some kind of disorder like that. Just deal with it. We're an overdiagnosed and overmedicated society. Try cognitive behavioral therapy.

hehe I understand what you're saying. While I have always been kind of a nervous/anxious guy, I've dealt with it and accepted anxiety part of life. Everyone is nervous when approaching a girl for example...we all have social anxiety to some degree. But over the past few months I have been getting extremely nauseous in particular social situations. It's not like I've been mildly nervous and now I found a 'scapegoat' for my problems. These recent bouts of nervousness are actually making me feel like I have to throw up...and that's something you can't just shrug your shoulders and say "tough it out"

As for what you and other forum members have said to treat it, I think I am going to try therapy. Fortunately for me this anxiety is not crippling in the sense that I can maintain normal interactions 95% of the time without feeling excessive anxiety....just certain times with girls (and a few other situations) I have that sick feeling in my stomach and I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I actually got a prescription from my doctor to try medication...but I have heard many bad things ranging from side-effects to extremely tough withdrawal symptoms. Cognitive therapy sounds like a much more safe option - and from what I've read as effective as medication. And again it would seem over the top to use medication for something that only pops up every now and then (3-4 times a week maybe)...it's not like I have this nauseous feeling 24/7.

 

[backbreaker]

so in other words... you are scared to talk to people?

who isnt?

you have short attention span, you have ADD. You jacked off too much as a child/adult and now you can't get it up, you have Erectile Dysfunction. you are afraid to approach women, you have a Social Disorder.

I actually have a REAL disease, and I don't go around looking for pity (sickle cell).. i take my medication and move on. I used to have the attention span of a goldfish, however i thought myself how to focus in on things.

being "diagnosed" with something like this isn't going to do anything but give you an excuse for being a loser. not that you are now, but you get where I am going.

You know how easy it is to get "diagnosed" with something? Don't you know doctors get kickbacks from pharmaceutical reps for pushing certain drugs? I bet he was all too happy to give you some type of medication,which you can get Dependant on and then you REALLY will have issues.

it's up to you man.

 

[backbreaker]

hehe I understand what you're saying. While I have always been kind of a nervous/anxious guy, I've dealt with it and accepted anxiety part of life. Everyone is nervous when approaching a girl for example...we all have social anxiety to some degree. But over the past few months I have been getting extremely nauseous in particular social situations. It's not like I've been mildly nervous and now I found a 'scapegoat' for my problems. These recent bouts of nervousness are actually making me feel like I have to throw up...and that's something you can't just shrug your shoulders and say "tough it out"

As for what you and other forum members have said to treat it, I think I am going to try therapy. Fortunately for me, it's not crippling in the sense I can maintain normal interactions 95% of the time....just certain times with girls (and a few other situations) I have that sick feeling in my stomach and I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I actually got a prescription from my doctor to try medication...but I have heard many bad things ranging from side-effects to extremely tough withdrawal symptoms. Cognitive therapy sounds like a much more safe option - and from what I've read as effective as medication. And again it would seem over the top to use medication for something that only pops up every now and then (3-4 times a week maybe)...it's not like I have this nauseous feeling 24/7.

part of the problem is understanding it. nervousness is nothing but being fearful of an unknown outcome. It's nothing medical about it. unless unsureofyourselfitis is a medial condition.

99% of the things you fear in life never come to fruition.

 

[backbreaker]

I actually got a prescription from my doctor to try medication

did I call it or did I call it.

just out of curiosity, what did he prescribe you so I can tell you what you are getting yourself into?

 

[Obsidian]

Backbreaker is right on the mark.

With anxiety disorders, the main thing is desensitization. Also, start exercising more. Staying active helps me with some of my mental issues. Seratonin and all.

Getting addicted to drugs to cure your problem (which will probably just give you sexual problems anyway) isn't going to help you.

 

[green69]

I completely agree. To be honest, I was recently diagnosed with OCD. To me, these aren't really things that we have like your saying. You can't just have OCD or anxiety disorder. It's something that developes over time due to your own laziness because you failed to develope your social skills or for OCD, the skills that give you control over your mind and your life. Instead of saying "I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder" why not say "I am extremely bad in social situations" because thats really what it is. It's not a desease like people make it out to be. I just seems to me like people enjoy being diagnosed with these bull**** mental disorders because they love to feel sorry for themselves, and it gives them an excuse for why they aren't successful in certain areas in their lives.

Okay I'd like to reiterate that I haven't had this overwhelming sick feeling in my stomach in my entire life up until 3 months ago (totally out of the blue). Like...how would u feel if friends/people you've hung out with 10-20 times before and not been nervous at all then suddenly everytime you see them you feel like you're gonna throw up? This is not "I don't have social skills" or "I don't have the balls to go up to this girl"...it's NOTHING to do with that. I'll talk to someone who I've talked to MANY times before...and now suddenly I feel nauseous when I'm around them.

I'm not looking for people here to say "omg i feel so sorry for u..." but it'd be nice to get some positive outlook than "you just like being diagnosed so you can feel sorry for yourself" when that has nothing to do with this at all.

 

[Obsidian]

so 95% of the time you're fine...good. Hit on 20 girls in a row, and you'll have only lost one of them due to your disease. I'm not saying your disease doesn't exist, but it doesn't sound like your disease is that big of a deal. I mean, you're just *feeling* sick, after all; you didn't say you were actually vomiting, right? You oughta be able to handle this issue without too much trouble.


My professional opinion.
1. Exercise
2. Desensitize yourself to anxiety. That means try to make yourself anxious. Get to where you're not worried about getting worried, and to where you can tolerate it easily when it creeps up. (Read about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involving anxiety disorders.)
3. Stay rested. Stress will really f*ck you up mentally.
4. Read the Book of Pook. Hell, had to throw that in here.
5. Take vitamins, especially C and B12.
6. Be around other people who make you comfortable; that will de-stress you and make you happier.
7. Stop giving a damn what other people think of you. That is obviously part of the root of your problem.

 

[backbreaker]

man, you have no idea how addictive thoose drugs can be. some moreso than the drugs you can find on the street. the only difference is, that we make them and not the middle ease/south americans so we can control them.

There is little to no difference between methamphetamine and dexerdine, both are the same class of drugs, both are amphetamines, both have the same (just about) side effects of abused, both have the same addictive level, yet one will get you 25 to life and the other one I can have at the stroke of a doctors pin.

Hydrocordone and morphine are basically blood brothers as far as how similar they are in makeup, yet one is easily available on the street and one some doctors can't get (morphine is extremely hard to get, and at times can't even be prescribed). Morphine is in fact stronger, but (Trust me) hdrocordones can and will get you in trouble if you think just because they are prescribed and have the RX symbol on them you are fine. I almost died one day driving off to pills of the **** because i feel asleep behind the wheel.


anyway, I'm done with my drug rant

 

[Obsidian]

oh yeah, and consider learning an instrument to vent your emotions

 

[green69]

so 95% of the time you're fine...good. Hit on 20 girls in a row, and you'll have only lost one of them due to your disease. I'm not saying your disease doesn't exist, but it doesn't sound like your disease is that big of a deal. You oughta be able to handle it without too much trouble.


My professional opinion.
1. Exercise
2. Desensitize yourself to anxiety. That means try to make yourself anxious. Get to where you're not worried about getting worried, and to where you can tolerate it easily when it creeps up. (Read about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involving anxiety disorders.)
3. Stay rested. Stress will really f*ck you up mentally.
4. Read the Book of Pook. Hell, had to throw that in here.
5. Take vitamins, especially C and B12.
6. Be around other people who make you comfortable; that will de-stress you and make you happier.
7. Stop giving a damn what other people think of you. That is obviously part of the root of your problem.

When I said 95% of the time I am okay, what I meant is that in normal everyday situations I am fine. When it comes to certain girls, crowded environments, and figures of authority (the main scenarios in which people with social anxiety have trouble in) I start feeling very nauseous. It lasts for about an average of 30 minutes or so, sometimes more sometimes less. Then it goes away after I have settled down and I'm used to the environment.

Vitamins...I'll start taking those. I did notice that getting a full night sleep every night did help a little bit, so adequate shut-eye couldn't hurt. I also do exercise regularly...prolly 4-5 times a week and I will continue to do so. Saturday night I'm going to the club no matter what. I was previously unsure because I am anticipating the bout of nausea to come on...but you're right I just need to say "fvck it" and go in head first and do my best. I can do this.

man, you have no idea how addictive thoose drugs can be. some moreso than the drugs you can find on the street. the only difference is, that we make them and not the middle ease/south americans so we can control them.

There is little to no difference between methamphetamine and dexerdine, both are the same class of drugs, both are amphetamines, both have the same (just about) side effects of abused, both have the same addictive level, yet one will get you 25 to life and the other one I can have at the stroke of a doctors pin.

Hydrocordone and morphine are basically blood brothers as far as how similar they are in makeup, yet one is easily available on the street and one some doctors can't get (morphine is extremely hard to get, and at times can't even be prescribed). Morphine is in fact stronger, but (Trust me) hdrocordones can and will get you in trouble if you think just because they are prescribed and have the RX symbol on them you are fine. I almost died one day driving off to pills of the **** because i feel asleep behind the wheel.


anyway, I'm done with my drug rant

I've read the same thing about those drugs. I've read reports about people being hooked on them like they were heroin or something. I've never done any drugs in my life (aside from caffeine and alcohol, which even those I don't do often ) so I'm not about to start taking Paxil - the prescription she gave me.

I hope you guys understand that I am not trying to find a scapegoat for social problems. This has nothing to do with that. I agree that I have some work to do with my self-esteem, internal thoughts and all that but these recent nausea troubles aren't something I just made up.

I'm gonna do my best to fight this...and I think some cognitive therapy will help ease these reoccurring symptoms.

 

[backbreaker]

i've done a little more.. let's say.. hands on research than reading reports

withdrawal symptoms, with all opiates (H, ketamine, opium) for that matter are a *****.


Opiates are the drugs yoU DON'T want to use under any circumstances, because when your body becomes use to functioning with them in there, and this doesn't take long AT ALL.. like 3-5 times, it can COMPLETELY shut down until it gets what it wants.. Drugs like H, Ketamine, Opium are drugs you want to run from like they were loose pit bulls.


some drugs are more addictive than others. Crack is more mentally addictive than anything. you just WANT it, you don't really NEED it. your body NEEDS herion after a prolonged use and will shut down if it doesn't get it or a substitute. you can't quit H cold turkey, ou can kill yourself.

Crack.. after I put the pipe down, the first 2 weeks was a *****.. AFter that the urge goes away (at least for me it did) and I won't use again.

Drugs like Percocet, Demerol, xanax, Vicidan & Hydrocordones have HIGHLY addicive traits.

what people don'[t understand is, when you look at drugs, the tree doesn't branch off from legal to illegal. Alot of, if not ALL illegal drugs have extremely close legal relatives. You basically have Stimulants, Relaxers, Anti Depressants, amphetamines, psychedelic & opiates. Most if not all drugs are going to fall into one of thoose 6 categories. heroin is an opiate. X, Coke & Ritalin all are stimulants. Not much difference at ALL between coke and Ritalin ****, I can actually get just as high off Ritalin if you inhale instead of swallow.

 

[GtarPlayr73]

I myself have experienced chronic worry, but nothing like the specific symptoms you are experiencing. Still, let me recommend a fantastic book:

The Worry Cure: Seven Steps to Stop Worry from Stopping You by Robert L. Leahy

This is such a readable and PRACTICAL book, the best i have read on the subject of worry and anxiety. It cuts through the psycho-babble BS and provides you with practical insights that "unhook" your thinking.

There has to be a sub-concious or even unconcious root of your anxieties. Did something happen in the past to trigger the anxiety? Ask yourself what it is you are ultimately afraid of. Defeat? Rejection? Abandonment? The nausea is your being's physiological response to those fears and lies that your mind percieves as "facts".

 

[BluEyes]

I'll talk to someone who I've talked to MANY times before...and now suddenly I feel nauseous when I'm around them.

Tell them to change their cologne.

--

On a more serious note, I was diagnosed with ADD. I was diagnosed with ADHD. I was diagnosed with a learning disability.

It's all bull****. Diagnosing you with some disorder = prescribed medication = $$$$$ for them!

I'm not one of those conspiracy nuts, but I've been able to overcome all of my issues with knowledge, persistence, and willpower. Seriously, acknowledging that you HAVE something chronic like this gives it power and makes it 10x worse.

 

[Bible_Belt]

They told me I had ADD, too, but I didn't have the patience to listen.

 

[dot]

I used to have the attention span of a goldfish, however i thought myself how to focus in on things.

How did you do that? Sometimes I'm bad at getting myself fully immersed, even if I enjoy it. It's easier if I enjoy it, but still sometimes it happens when I do enjoy it.

 

[Master Bates]

I really doubt that there is a "social anxiety disorder", but I would call it a condition. Some people really do have a paralyzing anxiety when it comes to social situations and conversations with strangers. I'm kind of better than I use to be, but I've been pretty socially awkward since junior high or so, at its worst in college, and being highly conscious of it, it's made me really anxious and shy when it comes to approaching strangers and being in groups. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking the fix is in a prescription medication, though.