Hello to everyone

I've been visiting this site for a couple of months now so i thought it was time i signed up and introduced myself!

I'm 26 years old and although i have not been diagnosed by my GP, i know i have SA and have done all my life. However, is only recently that i have started to research the problems that have been plaging me and realised that it is a condition with a name and other people suffer from it too! I thought it was just me as i'm sure many of you did. I don't wish SA on anyone but it's comforting to know i'm not alone.

I've spent my whole life trying to cope without help but just lately i'm finding it incresingly difficult. I am stuck in a job that i hate and thanks to SA the thought of getting a new job fills me with fear (i've been in my current one for 9 years). I have decided that the time has come to take action and fight this thing as i'm tired of coping with it and missing out on things. I have made an appointment to see my GP as a first step.

It would be nice to hear from anyone else who has sought help via their GP as i'm not sure what kind of a response i'm going to get.

Hey Missymoooooo,
How ya doin? Glad to hear from you. You are definitely doing the right thing by getting help and finding others to talk to rather than doing things on your own. It can be so lonely by yourself, even if you aren't alone in reality, you may find that you have been isolating yourself and thinking introspectively instead of expressing your emotions outwardly to someone else. Your GP should be able to help you if you require medication, but they may also be able to refer you to a counsellor or a psychologist for some cognitive behavioural therapy, which basically changes the way you think, by getting you to think more rationally. I would recommend a support group as well if there is one in your area. There are several excellent books written on anxiety as well, but i found the best was - "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway" by Susan Jeffers. I'm glad you have taken a stand and that you are fed up with SA, its very brave to admit you are suffering and believe it or not, admitting it is a vital step towards working to overcome it. I wish you luck and keep going, crashman

Hi there Crash

Thankyou for your reply. There are nothing like words of encouragement when you're tackling something scarey. Thankyou also for recommending the book, i'll definately be checking that out.

Missy Moooooo
No worries at all, I'll be here if you need someone to talk to, I believe in you!!