Falling victim to the label.

[flakeybark]

 

[dzerklis]

that sounds like denial, is it?

i'm the opposite, i use labels as excuses. i have social phobia, avoidant personality, schizoid personality, and this, and that, and thats why i am the way i am and what do u want from me. u dont ask a person that lives in a wheelchair to run sprint so dont ask things from me etc. although telling my boss about SA was a mistake and stupid lol

 

[kayelle]

I agree with you flakeybark. I hate having to tell people about my anxiety, but not because I don't want them knowing, but because I hate telling people that I have 'panic disorder with agoraphobia and social phobia'. It sounds so clinical and like a disease or something. Like it's so much more than one part of me, it's my life and what defines me.
I don't want to use the labels as excuses, but I want people to understand. It's hard!

 

[Psychedelicious]

Me too. I don't want to get too involved with my problems. I think I am more here though because I have absolutely nothing else to do, rather than being too obsessed with my problems. I'd much rather not fall a victim to the word "victim".

 

[Danfalc]

Sometimes I get a bit nervous about diagnosing or labeling myself with an anxiety disorder. Because, then its almost like I fall victim to it. Instead of someone who has SA, I'm someone who is SA. Does anyone know what I mean by this? I feel the two are very different. I don't know, I'm just throwing it out there. Any ideas about this?

I think i know what you mean...When i first got poorly i didnt know what the heck was going on with me,i thought i was loosing the plot big style or it was just some personality flaw of mine.It was a big relief to find out other people went through simlar things and i wasnt just a "freak".

However since finding out the name for my problems and labeling myself,in some ways i things its made me worse..I do use my label as an excuse..Ill say to myself i cant do this or that because of my social anxiety ect ect Where before i knew i had it..I kinda accepted i was just nervous and shy and just got on with life as best i could.

I have kinda fallen victim to the label rather than seeing it as somthing to fight.Hope that makes sence im kinda ranting.

 

[Danfalc]

However, I also feel weary that continuing to call myself a person who has "SA" then I would hold back from many life opportunities that I may have otherwise undertook and pushed through in my previous ignorance.

They do say ignorance is bliss I pose it all depends on your mind set really,easier said than done when your down on yourself.but i guess knowing whats causing our.. issues in life is a bonus if we can only learn to see it as somthing to overcome rather than somthing were burdened to always be stuck with.

Intresting topic anyway 8)

 

[Dave_McFadden]

You had the symptoms, before you had the label. So, even if you decide to get rid of the "label" your symptoms would still be there, unless you've cured yourself in the meantime.

At an early age, I was labeled "smart". Therefore, I'm not supposed to have any social skills. I'm supposed to be great with ideas but terrible with people. For most of my life I actually thought this was the source of my problems, and that I was just supposed to be this way. In my case, THIS was the label that stopped me from thinking of my problems as actual problems as opposed to some flaw in my personality. So for me, describing my condition as "social anxiety" is actually more accurate than what I had before. An autobiographical example.

Maybe it's good that you feel the label "rise" before the symptoms. It might help you assume the perspective of an "observer" when you start feeling anxious in social situations. That's supposed to help somehow, from what I understand.

 

[dzerklis]

Why was it a mistake to tell your boss?

it was pointless at best. bosses only care about ones performance. and after telling i had to hear how great i was doing when in actuality i struggled for hours to go and talk to someone or phone someone when i had to, was skipping lunch etc.