Let's talk about our social anxieties

[Tea & Crumpets]

I'd put a lot more at first then decided to delete it because f*** yeah oversharing.

I REALLY know that "was"/"am" thing, I have a similar anxiety with people from my hometown whenever I'm back. Thankfully the only people I now see from my hometown are people I actually like, so it's a bit easier.

[metylerca]

These days, I get really paranoid going to movies. Shootings have me seeking out emergency exit strategies when I first walk into a theater.

[GuyOfOwnage]

Oh absolutely. I've always struggled with relating to people and maintaining a conversation in person. On the internet, for whatever reason, I do a lot better in having my thoughts come off smooth and seamless instead of bouncing all over the place. My wife actually thinks I have some symptoms of Aspergers, though nothing has been conclusively proven or diagnosed.

[Emmet Russell]

Still working on my anxiety, lots of breathing techniques.

Anxiety comes quite naturally with my autism, they normally go hand in hand and I'm no exception. Social interaction, extremely difficult. Leaving the house in general, quite hard. I tend to avoid both flight or fight responses when it public and go straight to freeze - quite embarrassing and something I prefer to avoid.

[thetower52]

I have to hype my self up for like an hour before making a phone c all, even then it does t always work. I'll go to great lengths to not listen to a voice mail because then I might have to call someone back

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

My social anxiety has been at it's worst the past year or so. I never had as many problems, although I've always been easily intimidated by people and will often not say something when I should for fear of sounding stupid. Nowadays, though, I just feel inadequate and sad most of the time. I over-apologize, I take little comments and criticisms way too seriously as some kind of attack. I've found myself being one of those people that everyone hates that posts their negativity and aimless anger on Facebook. I'm not proud of it and I want to stop, but I have no other way to vent.

[TOK Hehe'd Around & Found Out]

I either have horrendous social anxiety or come off like James Bond. There is no middle ground with me.

[suave]

Aug 31, 2015 18:53:36 GMT -5 Dr. Mantis Toboggan said:

My social anxiety has been at it's worst the past year or so. I never had as many problems, although I've always been easily intimidated by people and will often not say something when I should for fear of sounding stupid. Nowadays, though, I just feel inadequate and sad most of the time. I over-apologize, I take little comments and criticisms way too seriously as some kind of attack. I've found myself being one of those people that everyone hates that posts their negativity and aimless anger on Facebook. I'm not proud of it and I want to stop, but I have no other way to vent.

It might be outside the norm, but there's certain websites (4chan) that basically invite the user to vent their feelings. It's great. You can discuss shit without having to cause damage to your public reputation.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I guess I hate groups, I consider 3 people a group. Can't stand more than one and one.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

I can't figure out if I have social anxiety or just enjoy being alone.

Like, I have no fear talking to people, but I do not like hanging around people for very long.

[Bo Rida]

I've improved in many ways but still feel strange saying most peoples names and try to avoid it.

[Deleted]

I have constant anxiety from the moment I wake up, but I am currently taking meds for it. I like to get out more, but I need my wife or a friend usually unless it's just a quick run to 711 or walking the dog. But even then I have a constant paranoia that everyone is judging me and thinking about what a loser I am or how ugly I am or something.

[Big Poppa Pumpkin]

Sept 1, 2015 6:44:59 GMT -5 Confused Mark Wahlberg said:

I can't figure out if I have social anxiety or just enjoy being alone.

Like, I have no fear talking to people, but I do not like hanging around people for very long.

Sounds like you're just a standard introvert, you would know it if you had anxiety.

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

Aug 31, 2015 21:58:38 GMT -5 suave said:

Aug 31, 2015 18:53:36 GMT -5 Dr. Mantis Toboggan said:

My social anxiety has been at it's worst the past year or so. I never had as many problems, although I've always been easily intimidated by people and will often not say something when I should for fear of sounding stupid. Nowadays, though, I just feel inadequate and sad most of the time. I over-apologize, I take little comments and criticisms way too seriously as some kind of attack. I've found myself being one of those people that everyone hates that posts their negativity and aimless anger on Facebook. I'm not proud of it and I want to stop, but I have no other way to vent.

It might be outside the norm, but there's certain websites (4chan) that basically invite the user to vent their feelings. It's great. You can discuss shit without having to cause damage to your public reputation.

Is there anywhere that's not 4chan?

[bibboid]

My company had a cookout today for the Distribution department (because we usually get screwed out of company events). Nobody bothered to tell the rest of the company, so we continued to get phone calls and emails, so I stayed behind to keep us functioning. That was fine because I didn't really feel like socializing with people today. After 30 minutes, my boss tracked me down and ordered me to come outside and "have fun". I grabbed a plate of food and went and ate it in my car. And I was so pissed off about the attempt to force me to be social that after lunch I created a project for myself that took me to another building where only one other person works. I hid out there for most of the rest of the day.

[Starshine]

Pretty usual stuff. Some anxiety. Sleepless nights every now and then. A few nerves around unfamiliar people.

But I do have this really weird (sort of) fear that if I climbed to the top of a tall building I'd for whatever reason I can't fathom would decide to just jump off it. I have never had that thought when I'm on top of a high place, it's just some really bizarre fear I have when I'm looking up from ground level.

[Deleted]

Great topic. I can relate to some and understand others.

I am currently experiencing episodes of major depression and social anxiety.

Are any of you medicating to help combat the social anxiety? If so, what have you been perscribed?

What are other ways youve learned to manage the symptoms of social anxiety? Working out? Yoga? Meditation? Forcing oneself to interact with others and put your self out there? Backyard wrestling?

Anyone in therapy or partaking in any hospitalization programs?

Any good movies or books to check out? I watched its kind of a funny story the other day and it was pretty good.

[ayumidah]

I rarely initiate conversations. Partly because I do all I can to avoid small talk, partly because I don't want to disrupt whatever people are doing and make them feel obligated to pay attention to me.

[ayumidah]

Sept 1, 2015 15:47:12 GMT -5 Dr. Mantis Toboggan said:

Aug 31, 2015 21:58:38 GMT -5 suave said:

It might be outside the norm, but there's certain websites (4chan) that basically invite the user to vent their feelings. It's great. You can discuss shit without having to cause damage to your public reputation.

Is there anywhere that's not 4chan?

I've found a website called 7cupsoftea, but it's kind of a free therapy site so... up to you to decide if it'll help.

[Dragonfly]

I have an extremely hard time meeting new people face to face. I can do phone calls okay, and incidental contact (cashiers and whatnot) are fine. Anything else is a mess. I don't make eye contact, I fidget incessantly and if possible, let my wife do all of the talking. (To this day, she is the only person who I instantly felt comfortable around.) It makes job interviews next to impossible as well.

I also feel really uncomfortable when I'm forced to completely dress like a man. (My dad and in-laws don't know I'm trans, and they never, ever will.) I don't mind mixing and matching - my few polo shirts or my Jushin Liger shirt go great with anything. It's the "full guy experience" that makes me self conscious. I feel like I'm being fake.