frizboy
Well-known member
Hey everybody, I'm Tim. I'm new to the forums here (but I hope to come here regularly enough).
Anyway, I'd say I've had social phobia for most of my life... probably since roughly 5th grade or so (I'm 20 now). My symptoms are fairly commonplace, I'd imagine. Whenever I interact with unfamiliar people, I get nervous, jittery, short of breath, etc. When I'm around family or friends sometimes I lock up, and just can't think of anything to say at all. I would consider my life a lonely one, but I'm surprisingly happy.
I'm happy because I've been keeping busy doing psychological research (psych is my major and I'm going for a doctorate after I get my BA). I've been working hard, perhaps obsessively hard, on my current project, which I hope to submit for publication in a major scholarly journal. I won't bother you with the details and whatnot though :lol:
Well, recently, I checked myself in for a first session at the University Counseling Center. This is, by the way, the first time I've sought help for my condition. I didn't know what to expect at all. The guy I was stuck with was fairly condescending, though. I was surprised. He talked as if what he said was law. The thing that really stuck out to me was his idea that there MUST be some cognitions, or thoughts in my head when I begin panicking in social situations. He smugly said to me, "In psychology, we think that stimulus > response is not so simple. Between the two is cognition." Basically. In a nutshell.
Well and good. But I kept trying to tell him: that's not my story. When I'm in social situations, I just lock up. I can't think of ANYTHING. Of course, I also get the jitters, but there really don't seem to be any strange or unhelpful thoughts going through my head at the time. Thinking I must be mistaken, though, he insisted that I keep a journal listing my thoughts when I have various social anxiety attacks. He also insisted that I try some relaxation techniques.
Anyway, I left the session feeling unsatisfied. I didn't tell the counselor this, of course, because I didn't want to be confrontational. Actually, I sort of half-attempted to heed his advice and started carefully paying attention to what's going on when I have my social anxiety attacks. Always, there's nothing going on in my mind. Also, I'm very skeptical about the relaxation techniques. Sure, it feels relaxing to do some breathing exercises while you're laying on your back listening to some tunes, but I have trouble seeing how that connects with me feeling relaxed in social situations.
My question is: are these skepticisms normal? Should I try to give the counselor more slack? What happens if I'm right about my lack of thoughts? Does that mean anything special?
Hope this wasn't too reminiscent of an essay :wink:
-Tim
Anyway, I'd say I've had social phobia for most of my life... probably since roughly 5th grade or so (I'm 20 now). My symptoms are fairly commonplace, I'd imagine. Whenever I interact with unfamiliar people, I get nervous, jittery, short of breath, etc. When I'm around family or friends sometimes I lock up, and just can't think of anything to say at all. I would consider my life a lonely one, but I'm surprisingly happy.
I'm happy because I've been keeping busy doing psychological research (psych is my major and I'm going for a doctorate after I get my BA). I've been working hard, perhaps obsessively hard, on my current project, which I hope to submit for publication in a major scholarly journal. I won't bother you with the details and whatnot though :lol:
Well, recently, I checked myself in for a first session at the University Counseling Center. This is, by the way, the first time I've sought help for my condition. I didn't know what to expect at all. The guy I was stuck with was fairly condescending, though. I was surprised. He talked as if what he said was law. The thing that really stuck out to me was his idea that there MUST be some cognitions, or thoughts in my head when I begin panicking in social situations. He smugly said to me, "In psychology, we think that stimulus > response is not so simple. Between the two is cognition." Basically. In a nutshell.
Well and good. But I kept trying to tell him: that's not my story. When I'm in social situations, I just lock up. I can't think of ANYTHING. Of course, I also get the jitters, but there really don't seem to be any strange or unhelpful thoughts going through my head at the time. Thinking I must be mistaken, though, he insisted that I keep a journal listing my thoughts when I have various social anxiety attacks. He also insisted that I try some relaxation techniques.
Anyway, I left the session feeling unsatisfied. I didn't tell the counselor this, of course, because I didn't want to be confrontational. Actually, I sort of half-attempted to heed his advice and started carefully paying attention to what's going on when I have my social anxiety attacks. Always, there's nothing going on in my mind. Also, I'm very skeptical about the relaxation techniques. Sure, it feels relaxing to do some breathing exercises while you're laying on your back listening to some tunes, but I have trouble seeing how that connects with me feeling relaxed in social situations.
My question is: are these skepticisms normal? Should I try to give the counselor more slack? What happens if I'm right about my lack of thoughts? Does that mean anything special?
Hope this wasn't too reminiscent of an essay :wink:
-Tim