Has your social anxiety decreased with age?

Witty_Name0_0 · Apr 19, 2014

I know mine has. I still get an automatic instinctive reaction that i can't seem to shake when i am around people, that is an increase in heart rate, occasional hand trembling, increase in body temperature that is as strong as ever but the more psychological, more learned things, don't happen as much. Like worrying about what others think or what i sound like, or an intense self-awareness. I think all this comes from becoming more experienced and intelligent - just getting older.

:question:Any thoughts? <---Bold for emphasis

nicole1 · Apr 19, 2014

No, it has increased with age. To the point I can't do much.

S_Spartan · Apr 19, 2014

yes, but now I'm a crusty old misanthrope and don't care to talk to people anyway. Cool trick you played there life!

Remus · Apr 19, 2014

I hit my mid 30s and it seemed to wear off. I stopped giving a crap as much.

Hellhound · Apr 19, 2014

It decreased with treatment.

Kiwong · Apr 19, 2014

It only developed in my forties. I suspect a lot of it has to do with diet (caffeine). The strange thing is I am living more with this illness than I ever have. There is extra pain at times because I am making more of an effort to live.

My experience is, that living with anxiety can be beyond hard, but you can live with this illness.

Psychedelicious · Apr 19, 2014

no

No, it is only progressively getting worse and worse.

Odo · Apr 19, 2014

I don't think age is a factor so much as life situation.

I've always had some degree of anxiety in my life since elementary school... it gets worse when things aren't going well for me or when I have a lot of stress.

Lost Girl · Apr 19, 2014

Odo said:
I don't think age is a factor so much as life situation

I agree with this. Like others have said too, I also give less of a shit about social norms and what others think and that helps to an extent. I am generally doing a lot better with the day-to-day stuff, I do still get occasional flare-ups though which can be as bad as they ever were, but they're MUCH less frequent. Much. Attitude and perception adjustments have helped greatly.

skins · Apr 19, 2014

yes, but collateral emotional damage and complex mental issues from years of suffering from the condition linger, possibly for a long time. I liken it to being exposed to dangerous levels of gamma rays...the body just doesn't seem right after the exposure.

Witty_Name0_0 · Apr 20, 2014

nicole1 said:
No, it has increased with age. To the point I can't do much.

I think that shyness and social anxiety is something people expect to grow out of not actually get worse. I don't know how old you are though so i can't make a proper judgement.

Psychedelicious said:
No, it is only progressively getting worse and worse.

How old are you? If you don't mind me asking.

bsammy · Apr 20, 2014

Kiwong said:
It only developed in my forties. I suspect a lot of it has to do with diet (caffeine). The strange thing is I am living more with this illness than I ever have. There is extra pain at times because I am making more of an effort to live.

My experience is, that living with anxiety can be beyond hard, but you can live with this illness.

yeah but thats basically just 'enduring' or existing..not much of a life if you ask me..living with neuroses or anxiety is just useless..i can try to trick my mind into thinking living with this disorder is better than living as a paraplegic as it is, but its only mental magic..my life at the end of the day is still very sub-standard, its not even a life tbh..

bsammy · Apr 20, 2014

skins said:
yes, but collateral emotional damage and complex mental issues from years of suffering from the condition linger, possibly for a long time. I liken it to being exposed to dangerous levels of gamma rays...the body just doesn't seem right after the exposure.

correct, my social anxiety has lessened in some ways but my social avoidance has gotten worse as i just dont care to socialize as much...the damage is done though as far as having SA during those crucial years when relationships are formed and other milestones should be met..

kilojoule · Apr 20, 2014

did a poll before and seems to be yes, a good number of people saw improvement after 25 (but some people said the opposite). However most people were in agreement everything improved in early 30s (and that was nearly everyone over that age agreed)

Kiwong · Apr 20, 2014

bsammy said:
yeah but thats basically just 'enduring' or existing..not much of a life if you ask me..living with neuroses or anxiety is just useless..i can try to trick my mind into thinking living with this disorder is better than living as a paraplegic as it is, but its only mental magic..my life at the end of the day is still very sub-standard, its not even a life tbh..

Our perceptions about life are very different, Bsammy

I've done more than endure or exist, I've really lived, I've been happy, I've been inspired, I achieved, I've created.

My life is worth living with all the ups and downs and complications.

I'm 51 and I fear losing what I have. I love this earth, I love this life, as hard as it gets.

w*n*c*a*m · Apr 20, 2014

It did. And I think what lessened it is my awareness of this condition... particularly when I found this site.

BlueDays · Apr 20, 2014

Odo said:
I don't think age is a factor so much as life situation.

I've always had some degree of anxiety in my life since elementary school... it gets worse when things aren't going well for me or when I have a lot of stress.

^ I agree with this.
Stressful situations still make mine even worse too.

Mine has not got any better. I might like myself more then I did when I was younger, but I am unable to transfer that into improving my confidence in public.

I can't seem to believe any positive affirmations that I have pumped into my head over the years.
My brain just says "oh come on, you honestly think I am going to be tricked by a few unbelievable words!?" :ironicsmile:

skins · Apr 20, 2014

BlueDays said:
^ I agree with this.
Stressful situations still make mine even worse too.

Mine has not got any better. I might like myself more then I did when I was younger, but I am unable to transfer that into improving my confidence in public.

I can't seem to believe any positive affirmations that I have pumped into my head over the years.
My brain just says "oh come on, you honestly think I am going to be tricked by a few unbelievable words!?" :ironicsmile:

I would love to have a go at changing this thought process in you blue...if only I knew the right words to say to you to be convincing enough.

Graeme1988 · Apr 21, 2014

BlueDays said:
Stressful situations still make mine even worse too.

I can't seem to believe any positive affirmations that I have pumped into my head over the years.
My brain just says "oh come on, you honestly think I am going to be tricked by a few unbelievable words!?" :ironicsmile:

Aye, ah'd say the same aboot masel'.

If anythin' ma social anxiety huz'nae decreased wi' age - it's jist got worse. Which isnae good in the grand scheme uh things really. :kickingmyself:

mg:

Or if it huz decreased it's no' by much.

bsammy · Apr 21, 2014

Kiwong said:
Our perceptions about life are very different, Bsammy

I've done more than endure or exist, I've really lived, I've been happy, I've been inspired, I achieved, I've created.

My life is worth living with all the ups and downs and complications.

I'm 51 and I fear losing what I have. I love this earth, I love this life, as hard as it gets.

this is simply mental magic..i could also think the same way as you do but then id be lying to myself..ive tried living the lie and it doesnt work, i see through my own dogma..

Has your social anxiety decreased with age?

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