Depression and SA?

I am wondering how many people here with SA have depression as well? Do you find that the 2 go hand in hand, or is it possible to just have SA?

I'm asking this because when I tried to get help for my SA back in november, every doctor and nurse, my councillor and even my parents were convinced it was 'just depression'. Nobody seemed to even have heard of social anxiety. When I suggested it to my councillor she actually laughed at me. So I was stuck on anti depressants that didn't work and gave me insomnia. For the 6 months I was on them and unable to sleep the doc never put the two together. I found out myself that it was a side effect when I came off them (without telling the doc). She still doesn't know I'm off them.

I saw a psychologist a few months ago, and she finally confirmed I had SA. But do the doctors care???! NO! They still reckon I have depression, and don't seem prepared to talk about SA at all. My parents seem scared to mention it (so now I feel like a freak too!).

Anyway, I decided to try and go back to work (screw 'em), and go back to ignoring the real issue (been doing it for years, and it's better than this). I have an upcoming appointment with the psychologist, but I just want to cancel it. Do any of you with SA cope alone without any help from Doctors etc.? I've had enough.

Yeah, the two are often intertwined, and it's not hard to see why.

It's strange that your counsellor didn't take you more seriously, but some of them are a bit arrogant. I've found that I know myself better than anyone else, anyway. One guy actually said that he couldn't help me because I had too much self-insight! I think he was right, though...

Isn't it unnerving when you realise you know better than doctors, or psychologists or other authority figures ... the people you always thought would be there to help you. Even worse when you try to maintain that view and so doubt your own feelings and sanity.

I've encountered a crap educational psychologist, several crap GPs, a crap Samaritan (far and away the biggest let-down -- sorry Samaritans, I'm sure most of you ARE wonderful!) and a nice but ineffective relationship counsellor. I guess it just turns you towards self-help and places like this.

Though you might find a psychologist you could click with ... maybe worth trying a few different ones before writing them all off?

I don't trust psychologists or doctors either, after all they are just regular people who have studied a few things on some books... I don't think they have many chances of understanding me better than I already do, especially because I'm quite honest with myself and I see my problem with a clear eye.

But do the doctors care???! NO! They still reckon I have depression, and don't seem prepared to talk about SA at all. My parents seem scared to mention it (so now I feel like a freak too!).

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I guess depression has become more or less accepted by society in the last decades, it is a "classical" problem doctors find it easy to deal with. If you have SP on the other hand they still see it as an uncommon thing that embarasses them (perhaps also because they know they could be the object of it themselves as they talk to you).

Furthermore, depression can be "cool", social phobia definitely not. They probably can't help but feeling contempt for you, especially if you are a guy.

i started out with SA but after getting into medication, and coming off of it, back on, off, on, off, now i'm very prone to depression. *sigh*. it's a nightmare

I'm surprise that none of the doctors,nurses and councillors said nothing about SA.Sometime I wonder what these people are being payed for.You just have to look around.There are good psychologist and bad psychologist.You just need to do some shopping to find the one that you are comfortable with.

SA and depression are intertwined but I always wondered what came first the SA or depression?hmm