I don't think I actually have SA...

[SilentAndShy]

So having joined this forum based on my story , I spoke to my doctor who in turn advised me for some counselling session who put me on a list for seeing a CBT councillor.

The latter I started about 3 weeks ago when I had my first few sessions, confirming I felt I had SA and talked about my problems etc. In the third session, he said to me that he felt I was suffering from a lack of confidence/low self esteem rather than SA specifically. I told him that having read a book on SA, that I felt familiar with the symptoms. He said I may have some symptoms but that I maybe suffer from a lack of confidence more. He said strong SA sufferers really struggle to do things and that I can go out to town, do some shopping etc. He asked if I ever got pre-occupied about the people behind me if I was standing in a queue and I said no.

He's asked me to write three things that would make my life better if I didn't have SA and I probably won't have any specific, just vague.

I remembered how at Uni, I did OK in terms of going to Uni, talking to the small mates I had but had a major shyness problem, getting nervous and edgy talking to girls and didn't go out socially.

What I'm trying to say is maybe I don't really suffer from SA like all you guys and girls probably where you struggle to get out of the house but just a major confidence/low self esteem issue.

If I had major confidence and high self esteem then I would probably be OK in life. But still reading up on SA and identifying what I could do in social situations has helped me. Maybe I wanted it to be SA so I could justify why my social life had gone so poorly compared to others and mis-diagosed myself.

I guess I should be grateful I can do somethings in life compared to others who struggle..

 

[Flanscho]

Congrats.

Reading on such subjects on the internet most often makes it worse, since, no matter what mental problem you are reading on, you can about always find some of those symptons on yourself.

I basically had SA but got rid of it (mostly) over the past decade.

 

[A86]

interesting. this gives some thought for consideration. I was always under the impression the 2 were interconnected. can you have sa without poor self worth?

 

[mmok]

If I were to give you a tip I would say never look for reasons to identify yourself with something as severe as a SAD because it will only bring bad things. Alot of times I think people are better off not knowing they have SAD because its so easy to "become your disorder" if you know what I mean.

 

[Steelsoul]

You got a point here. Sometimes i don't know if i had SA or it's just low confident and self- esteem. Some of the symptoms fit me but i still can leave my house or standing in the queue. I agree with Flanscho that reading on this subject in the internet often make it worse. I've read many articles about SA to diagose myself. Maybe i have to reconsider.

 

[SilentAndShy]

interesting. this gives some thought for consideration. I was always under the impression the 2 were interconnected. can you have sa without poor self worth?

I think you probably could. My brother who suffered from depression many years ago, isn't a SA sufferer but around ten years ago, suffered from a major low self esteem issue but is fine now. Sometimes they could be inter-connected, depends on the individual's situation I guess.

I think I'm going to focus on low self esteem/confidence to help me improve my luck in those areas.