How would you cope with SA if there was no Internet

[KiaKaha]

Just been thinking about it. SA has a tendency to think you alone so what would you do, or be like if there was no internet...or specifically no forums or information about SA online?

Hypothetically speaking of course....

 

[vj288]

I did it for four years. What I did was a lot of soul searching, what's wrong with me (Had/have a lot of theories) and what I can I do to make it better. Ironically I think not talking was a solution to one of my other problems (If I don't say anything no one can make fun of my voice and what I say was my reasoning I think, among other things) and didn't become a problem itself until later on. I did think I was alone, lowest human being on the planet (more self-esteem problem I know). So at first not talking was a coping mechanism for me. Later on I would focus on other things I thought were to blame and fix those parts, stop doing a certain thing. But I guess in short to cope I just didn't talk whenever possible unless I was comfortable. Avoidance. Oh and Fiona Apple music, helped me know someone else felt the exact same emotion as me. (I have listened to criminal at least 5000 times.)

 

[kihira]

My social phobia started before the Internet was popular and I do wonder if it would have made a difference. I was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, was clueless as to what was happening to me and too ashamed to ask for help. I tried unsuccessfully for ages to sort myself out. I may be living a very different life now if I'd had the benefit of understanding.

 

[Sial Axetder]

Most likely continuing down the same path I was on several years ago.

 

[BlueDays]

I've had this for 30 years now. I only found out what I had and that it actually had a name, 4 years ago.
So for 26 years, I was a pathetic mess of intense self-hatred and bewilderment.::

 

[awkwardamanda]

I probably wouldn't know about it. Well, not really anyways. I did see the Zoloft commercial for it a few years ago but my reaction at the time was, I don't think I'm that bad. Realized I was when I started actually reading up on SA. And without the internet I may have been forced to actually keep in touch with my friends via the telephone. I'd much rather chat on MSN, not that they ever do. Either that, or I'd be even more of a loner because I would have drifted away from people and stopped calling anyway. Texting is alright, but I likely would have shied away before ever getting a cell phone.

 

[BlackPuma]

I'd probably watch TV all day and slowly but surely let the loneliness and people around me drive me insane. Exactly like I did before I found SPW.

 

[theblank]

I would still probably cope with it the same way I do now...badly.

 

[vj288]

I just had a thought, if there was no internet then there would be no facebook, and that would make me feel much better. Coping would be easier, would feel less out of the loop all the time.