SP symptoms diminished considerably

Hello everyone, you've seen me here before posting in desperate need of help for Social Phobia. I've had it for about 2 years and well, about a week ago I started feeling a whole lot better.

I've made progress of some sort. Not sure exactly how it happened or why but I'm able to talk to people in normal conversation no problem now and I don't feel nervous or anxious around people nearly as much as I used to. I still feel a little anxious if I'm surrounded by a bunch of people I don't know but if one of them talks to me I'm able to focus on the topic of discussion instead of my anxiety. I'm hoping to be rid of any and all anxiousness eventually.

So, to sum things up, if you are out there and experiencing the hell that I did there is really hope. For real, you can come out of it. You'll know instantly when you have.

I congratulate you on your progress but whoever told you that you could get rid of "all anxiousness" severely lied to you. I know, because that same person also lied to me. I don't know who this guy is, and why he spreads his lies, but he just does, heh.

And it's a dangerous lie. Because if you spend your life aiming for this non-existent pinnacle of "anxious-free bliss", you will literally go insane. It's just not possible, and after talking to a lot of my social friends, I've learned that it's not why they're so good at being social. All of them still experience anxiousness, sometimes even tremendously.

Anubis said:

I congratulate you on your progress but whoever told you that you could get rid of "all anxiousness" severely lied to you. I know, because that same person also lied to me. I don't know who this guy is, and why he spreads his lies, but he just does, heh.

And it's a dangerous lie. Because if you spend your life aiming for this non-existent pinnacle of "anxious-free bliss", you will literally go insane. It's just not possible, and after talking to a lot of my social friends, I've learned that it's not why they're so good at being social. All of them still experience anxiousness, sometimes even tremendously.

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Yeah, I understand this but I'm hoping to be rid of the anxiousness I feel for irrational reasons. I know it can be done, or at least I believe it can. I felt anxiousness before I had SP like if I had to speak in front of a group and I'm fine with that. Even that can be gotten rid of with enough experience, or at least controlled and made a non-issue.

I also congratulate you, Liberty. I hope you reach your goals.

Anubis should realise that discouragement is not helpful. If you feel things will never improve for you, that is no excuse for trying to drag someone else down.

hoddesdon said:

I also congratulate you, Liberty. I hope you reach your goals.

Anubis should realise that discouragement is not helpful. If you feel things will never improve for you, that is no excuse for trying to drag someone else down.

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Thank you

I visited this site about a dozen times before I made any progress and I felt just as negative as everyone else on here. I mean why wouldn't you? It does seem hopeless. I received some advice from my therapist to try a technique called "positive affirmation".

What you do is tell yourself that you are positive, optimistic, valuable, worthwile, competent and confident regardless of other's opinions. This stresses your subconscious which is useful in changing your thought patterns and self-talk. It is very important to say it as if you believe it wholehartedly even if you do not.

Your subconscious is where the real power in your mind resides. You need to change it to change yourself. If you are serious about correcting your problem this may be a useful step.

Shortly after I began doing it I started receiving many comments about what a positive guy I was. This really surprised me because I had never been a positive person and I did not feel as if I was being particularly positive at any given time. I was not trying to be, I just was because that was the attitude I had fed to my subconscious.

hoddesdon said:

I also congratulate you, Liberty. I hope you reach your goals.

Anubis should realise that discouragement is not helpful. If you feel things will never improve for you, that is no excuse for trying to drag someone else down.

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I'm not sure you understood what I was saying. I wasn't discouraging him. I actually congratulated him on his progress. I was merely commenting on a common wish that all us social phobia sufferers seem to display - that getting rid of all anxiousness is somehow possible. If being realistic is discouraging then I don't mind. Sometimes the truth hurts. But being unrealistic hurts even more.

Hey, I thought I would update this thread. Well, it turns out I was completely full of ****. I felt a lot more comfortable with less anxiety for about a 1.5 weeks until I attended a weekly meeting. I'm sitting there right in the center of the room all confidently thinking I've pretty much overcome my fears when I start to wonder if I'm going to be able to get through this meeting sitting there right at the center of attention in the midst of all these people.

Before I know it I am overwhelmed by the most intense fear and anxiety I've experienced since I got SP. I mean I think I almost pissed myself. Now that's pretty scared. I think I was having a panic attack. I felt like I absolutely must get out of that room and escape but I knew it would be such strange behavior that I didn't do it and I just sat there until it was over.

Now I'm able to be overcome by this fear at any time. Even just talking to someone one-on-one where just 24 hours prior this was no problem at all. I guess if anything can be taken away from this it is do not waste your time, money or hopes on 'the talking cure' or traditional therapy. God, ****ing waste of time. I think it's made things a lot worse. I was so overconfident I put myself in a terrible position and boy did I pay for it big time.

Up next, CBT!!!! If that doesn't work I am seriously ****ed.

Don't give up Liberty.

Maybe you just took things too fast, but you have shown yourself that you are able to be anxiety free in some situations.

Take it slow. You have to keep pushing yourself just a little bit at a time.

Try the CBT. Just try taking it a little bit slower next time.

Good luck. I know you can overcome it.

Now that I'm re-reading this thread, I can see why I appeared a bit negative, lol. So sorry about that.

It's just so hard to stay positive when nothing seems to be working. But you gotta keep going. Hope you get more breakthroughs.

Im currently doing CBT again with my therapist and making progress on my SA.

Anubis said:

Now that I'm re-reading this thread, I can see why I appeared a bit negative, lol. So sorry about that.

It's just so hard to stay positive when nothing seems to be working. But you gotta keep going. Hope you get more breakthroughs.

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Don't worry about it. I mean you did turn out to be right after all.