Social anxietyy?

is there any hope for it?





ever since 6th grade i've had severe social anxiety. in 4 years i made a total of 2 friends. because im so afraid. i dont talk, i'm always socially isolated. my armpits used to sweat all down my sides making hugee sweat marks throughout the day (i use prescription deoderant now drysol), when im walking or something it makes me really tense because of all the people around me, in class i try to avoid people to look at me.





i try speaking up and try multiple times but the words can just never come out. i cant even count the number of times i just wanted to ask the girl or guy next to me a question a simple question like "whens our test again?" but the words just cant come out i feel a tightened feeling throughout my body%26amp;get hot flashes when i try.





when i try talking usually the words come out all screwed up i get so nervous and i have to start over with what i'm trying to say, it makes me even more anxious because i look like an idiot when that happens.





i never thought it was social anxiety because the only cases i hears about it were wayyyy extreme.





i just want to make a couple friends, that's all i ever wanted. i'm always unheard and not understood. people think i'm a stuck up ***** because i dont talk, but i really truly want to. i want to be included for oncee not stuck all alone in the corner by myself being the shy girl who never says a word. the one time i said something in my science lab group someone even commented "whoa, you talk?"





i JUST told my psychologist about my social problems so she set me up an appointment with a psychiatrist wednesday. which means i'm going on meds. do the meds actually help? is there any hope for me, ever?

Social anxietyy?
It seems a lot of your problems may be stemming from poor self esteem and hormones. I think if you improved your thinking about yourself (like, my opinion is valued, I'd be a very good friend, I listen well), you would feel more at ease with others. Most teenagers feel that everyone is "watching" them...it's not true. Here is my suggestion to you: do something nice for someone else who is less fortunate. For instance, go to the local hospital and volunteer to work with sick children; or go to the animal shelter and volunteer to work with the dogs and cats. This will give you self-esteem and make you feel worthy and you will be doing something good for others. Then, you will have not only something to talk about, but it will be something you really enjoy! Something that brings passion to your life! AND...you will make new friends outside of your school environment. It's funny how that works....giving to others "gives" back so much to yourself....it's a beautiful thing. In the meantime, why not bring a roll of Lifesavers and offer one to the person next to you and give them a smile. This will do wonders! You can take pictures of your pets and ask if anyone would like to see them? Or join youth groups at church/community? ANYTHING that makes you happy will make others happy. Godloveya, honey! You'll do just fine.
Reply:i used to be very shy like you and would not talk, sometimes because we expect people wont accept us like us, its about having a low opinion. Joyce meyers book the confidant woman helped me alot and approval addiction she writes alot about fears and not allowing them to control us and she is great. You can and will overcome this. ignore that silly person and people who are rude that can make you feel worse but if you ignore it and let them know they have not got ot you they wont like that.


when people are a certain way they are normally like that to lots of people,


try to do things in the community to help others it will help you to forget yourself and be more confidant.
Reply:I was like that too and still am-- I was in class and there are so many questions I would want to ask or answer and I would just be too shy or I get scared of looking dumb or scared of what the other people may say about my answer or question-- it is a sign of low self esteem-- I just got help for it- the doc put me on some medicine called celexa- its only been 2 days so i really hope it helps me-- its so bad that sometimes when I'm in the elevator with people my heart starts pounding so fast and I get scared to walk infront of people or even across the street! but you may have to go on meds for social anxiety-- good luck
Reply:check out this site


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Avo...
Reply:I would see a clinical hypnotherapist to help uncover the cause for your anxiety and also find a solution.


Meds work only by suppressing physical conditions in the body. I would feel ok with using meds as a bandaid for a while, but to really get help for my problem, I would see a qualified hypnotherapist. Here's the link to the National Board for hypnotherapists. You can find a qualified person near you on that website.


http://www.natboard.com/
Reply:Yes, there's hope for you. You sound young yet, some people get over psychological problems like this as they get older. And medicine is only getting better, a lot of things they can give you can help if you do exactly what they say. My dad's social anxiety disorder didn't develop until his late 20s and he's taken meds for it ever since and lived a normal, happy life.
Reply:I certainly hope so. You are not alone, some people are just less anxious than you and some more severe.


I feel the same ways sometime, but I have been doing really well lately.


It really is debilitating, and I feel for you.


I hope that the medications and some counseling help you.


Good luck.
Reply:Hi. Take a look at this answer I gave to a question about shyness and the links at the end. I listed several sources of info and advice and also some things I learnt myself about social anxiety and shyness often being linked to perfectionism, thinking you have to be perfect, everything you say has to be really interesting and beating yourself up emotionally, just because it didn't go perfectly when you talked to someone.





Also, there are lots of books on social anxiety on online bookshop sites like Amazon.com. Get your parents to buy one or two until you find one that you find is understandable and actually helps you.





See wikipedia article on social anxiety.





If you have a friend at school that you can talk to about your anxiety, ask her whether you can have a long talk about it at your home and see whether she would be willing to help you, with suggestions, introducing you to people, helping you to join groups, calming your fears, etc. If there's no suitable friend, talk to someone of a similar age like a brother or sister or cousin or talk to people on here about specific little issues.





Being actually 'introduced' to someone or to a group of people by a friend is a good way to break the ice and start talking to them, when its something that you would find difficult to do alone. Try to stay positive and cheerful so that people enjy spending time with you. Think about all your good qualities. I liked a lot of the 'quiet' girls at school. I didn't think they were any less nice than more talkative girls. I'm sure a lot of guys think the same.





If other kids make sarchastic comments etc when you talk, thats just normal. They do that to everyone. It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. Don't agonise for ages over memories of past attempts to talk to people that didn't go so well. Just try and try again until it goes okay. Try to relax, smile, be friendly and positive, take an interest in other people and you'll crack this problem.





You can search for previous questions Yahoo Answers on 'social anxiety' or 'anxiety' or 'shyness' or 'shy' using the 'Search for questions' box near the top of the page. There are a lot of answers that give good advice and links to more info.
Reply:You just described me!!
Reply:I have two friends and a family member with the same diagnoses and they are doing fine on the meds. It may take a little time but I think you will benefit from the medication. I wish you the best of luck!