Hi all,
I'm new on here. I've had social anxiety to some degree since I was young - I was bright in school and had no problems mixing but teachers used to remark that I wasn't vocal enough. It was in my teenage years that I became more socially withdrawn and got sheltered within a smaller group of friends. When others were going to discos, I'd find excuses not to go. At college, I again had a very small group of friends and absolutely hated any part of college that involved participation.
Since leaving college, I've managed to hold down a good job (but avoid various responsibilities) and have married and had 4 children. However, the aniexty is always with me and seems to have become particularly bad of late. I tend to avoid social occassions (weddings, work parties etc) and I wouldn't have a very wide circle of friends (although am happy to socialise with my own group on occassions).
The reason I am posting here is that I am involved in a youth club and have to say a few words at the weekend in front of a gathering of people. This has been on my mind for most of the year and has detracted from the expericnce of volunteering in what is otherwise a pretty enjoyable club. I managed to avoid speaking on the last two occassions but this year, I can't do. Over the last few weeks, I've been building into more and more of an anxious state to the extent that I have a constant pain in my head and a tiredness from lack of sleep.
Yesterday, I kind of made the decision to just take it on head-on and to try and stop worrying. Just wondering if anyone has ever done this with success. I really need to challenge this condition as it's leaving me miserable and has stripped me of most of my confidence. I am just worried that I'll be grand until the event but will have a total collapse when the time comes..
Cheers,
P
I'm new on here. I've had social anxiety to some degree since I was young - I was bright in school and had no problems mixing but teachers used to remark that I wasn't vocal enough. It was in my teenage years that I became more socially withdrawn and got sheltered within a smaller group of friends. When others were going to discos, I'd find excuses not to go. At college, I again had a very small group of friends and absolutely hated any part of college that involved participation.
Since leaving college, I've managed to hold down a good job (but avoid various responsibilities) and have married and had 4 children. However, the aniexty is always with me and seems to have become particularly bad of late. I tend to avoid social occassions (weddings, work parties etc) and I wouldn't have a very wide circle of friends (although am happy to socialise with my own group on occassions).
The reason I am posting here is that I am involved in a youth club and have to say a few words at the weekend in front of a gathering of people. This has been on my mind for most of the year and has detracted from the expericnce of volunteering in what is otherwise a pretty enjoyable club. I managed to avoid speaking on the last two occassions but this year, I can't do. Over the last few weeks, I've been building into more and more of an anxious state to the extent that I have a constant pain in my head and a tiredness from lack of sleep.
Yesterday, I kind of made the decision to just take it on head-on and to try and stop worrying. Just wondering if anyone has ever done this with success. I really need to challenge this condition as it's leaving me miserable and has stripped me of most of my confidence. I am just worried that I'll be grand until the event but will have a total collapse when the time comes..
Cheers,
P
