So how is a pill supposed to help social anxiety disorder?

[Deja Q]

Hell, the pomegranate martini I had at the restaurant did more to loosen me up... rather a few more calories, however...

It was almost fun people-watching too, though I prefer remaining lying low.

It's amusing; because I always feel like that in social areas. ALWAYS.

Maybe it's because, when told you're the boy in the bubble, god's little joke, and so on, you get used to it, forget your past, then still manage to wonder when you can't relate anyway...

[crim son]

1. First one must assume that feeling social anxiety is pathological.

Isn't that ad for an antidepressant? An SSRI? Maybe the idea is that if you're feeling kind of crappy about life you don't have the confidence or motivation to socialize with ease. Boy in a bubble? Awww. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Deja Q]

5. Oh, I have plenty to live for...

My studies, hobbies, pets...

Though given my physical condition with the neck and possible carpal tunnel, I do feel less confident compared to the days (1999-2005) when I felt confident enough to socialize in random situations. Even then it was still like tripping in a minefield... I'm still learning this concept of "radical acceptance" and I've come a long way there too. Just accepting what IS going well is typically enough. I'm just told that I ought to socialize and integrate. I'll do my best, that's all I can do. Fortunately those people who tell me to socialize seem to want me TO socialize. So I will do my part. Courage is doing what needs to be done despite one's fears anyway...

[Droopy]

2. They say an anti-depressant can sometimes help with anxiety issues

But I don't understand how. I do think that drugs made specifically for anxiety seem to be helpful, but they carry the possibility of addiction. I know a guy who had a Xanax monkey on his back. It wasn't like kicking heroin or anything like that, but he did go through some pretty bad withdrawal symptoms when he stopped using the drug. I think anti-anxiety meds are best when used situationally, like when you are actually having a panic attack.

I think the best thing you can do, if you can manage it, is just to put yourself in social situations. I think that the more you can do that the easier it will get for you. I know you can do it. Remember? :hi:

[Deja Q]

6. Thanks

:)

:hi:


I do remember.

I've got to force myself to call the upcoming arts showing too...

[Left Is Write]

11. I was on Lexapro for anxiety, and while it helped with the anxiety, I wound up feeling depressed.

The cure, in other words, was worse than the ailment.

I do well with Xanax for situational anxiety, but I also have an overall generalized anxiety, and I can't really treat that with Xanax. Complicating the matter is my chronic insomnia. It gets to be a vicious cycle - is the insomnia caused by the anxiety, or is the anxiety caused by the insomnia? Do they perpetuate each other? I'm at the age where anxiety could be hormone-driven, but I've had the insomnia for most of my adult life.

I'm tired of feeling ill at ease most of the time.

[Droopy]

13. That insomnia can really mess with your head

I have a mental illness and before I got it treated it would sometimes cause insomnia. That was like throwing gasoline on the fire. I hope you can get that sorted out.

[nickgutierrez]

15. I took Lexapro for a while, too.

It did strange things to my appetite, though - and as thin as I am, I can't afford that.

[Roon]

3. I have social anxiety disorder

A little Zoloft, some Risperal, a touch of Busprial and a pinch of Seraqoel at bedtime works very nicely for me. I am so glad too, I suffered with it since I was a teen and it really sucked. I dropped out of school because of social anxiety disorder and being gay on top of it. I just wish they had these medications around when I was a kid. I would have been a lot better off and probably would have gone on to college.

[Deja Q]

7. Yipes.

:hug:

Zoloft did help me once, but Risperdal, Busprial, and Seqaquel didn't do me any good at all. (I was... misdiagnosed, but that guy's retired by now and if I had the guts I should have logged an official complaint, but I digress...)

I wanted to drop out or at least move to another district during school days; mum and dad were right in that nothing would change. College was a tad better, but at the time I was still finding myself. I'm glad I tried and stuck through that...

[mainegreen]

4. Hypno!

:bounce:

I have no idea.

[Deja Q]

8. Mainegreen!

:bounce:

Neither do I!

:D

[jeff30997]

9. Hi Hypno !

In social situations I'm extremely shy and nervous.And I also suffer from Agoraphobia so I don't

get out much.But when I have no choice I take a Xanax or two with a beer so I can manage to talk

with peoples without freaking out.

That's the only thing that works for me.:(


Do you know if there's a new Futurama movie available on DVD.I saw Bender's Big Score and

I loved it.

[BarenakedLady]

10. It doesn't

Well, it may help the anxiety a little. But cognitive behavioral therapy is key to changing what the voices in your head are saying to you. I tell mine to shut up all the time now.

:hug:

[Skittles]

12. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE CATS?

YOU NEED AN ASS-KICKING

[Mojambo]

14. It doesn't. At least it didn't for me.

I gave up the ridiculous hope that I'd ever be able to interact socially like other people a long time ago.

My only goal now is to stay out of the way and hope no one notices me until I die.