Hi people, I just signed up today...

[Blundetto]

Hi everyone, although I've been coming onto this site and reading through all of you're posts for almost a year now, I only just decided to sign up today. I felt it's about time I come out and admit to myself that I have certain issues and problems.
It's as clear as day to me that I suffer from social phobia/anxiety, and have done for a number of years now. At first I got on with things truly believing it would be something that I'd grow out of, believing it was some sort of late-teen transistion problem.
But roughly over the past year or so, I've come to the realisation and began to admit to myself that this is'nt a problem that is just going to be grown out of, this is'nt going to go away as time goes by.
I've started thinking about taking steps towards getting some help on how I can deal with this, this being my first, talking on here and maybe expressing my problems and sharing my issues with some of you guys.
You see, for a long time I wouldn't even admit to myself, in my mind, that I had a serious problem, I wouldn't even dare saying the words 'social phobia' out loud, I felt like admitting there was something wrong would make me feel even more small and less of a man.
I'm 21 years old, and I dont want to carry this problem any further into my life with me, so that's why I'm determined to try and take steps towards trying to change my life.
Sometimes this makes me feel really low, and I can sometimes experience periods of depression.
Nobody in my life knows anything about how I feel or the problems that I have. I put on a front constantly to all those around me, and it must work because they all think I'm a completely different person to the person I really am inside.
I've been thinking about looking for a local therapist, and maybe go down that road, because I feel I've reached the point now where I have to do something.

 

[IceLad]

Hello Blundetto and welcome.

I can identify with a lot of what you say. In my teenage years, I used to think SP would sort itself out as I grew older. At about your age, I finally admitted that I had a massive problem/ issue on my hands and that I had to do something. Going to see a therapist would be a good start.

I'm sure you'll find this site very helpful, as it has been for me.

 

[Blundetto]

Thankyou Icelad, I'm hoping this site will become a good outlet for me to be able to get a few things off my chest, and I'm sure it will be.
I've been trying to find out if there are any decent thereapists in my area who I could maybe talk some of my problems through with, and I'm sure there is, I'm just having a little trouble getting solid information about them on the net. I've thought maybe I should book an appointment with my local doctor, and maybe he could reccomend a local qualified therapist...but my nerves have developed a habit of getting the better of me.

 

[IceLad]

Going to the local doctor is an excellent starting point. I actually put if off for ages until I finally found the courage to do so. Make sure your write down what you want to say (your mind might go blank at the appointment). As a result, I'm due to start seeing a psychologist in the next few weeks.

You could also try searching in the Yellow Pages for therapists. However, there are some many types of therapy it can get a bit confusing. If you go down this route, the general thing would be to make sure they have qualifications. Of course, seeing therapists privately is expensive.

Best of luck. 8)

 

[maggie]

hey Blundetto...welcome :!: ..may you find some help..and some friends here..at the very least, you can talk about stuff you're feeling and dealing with, and you know others can relate :wink: