Luna
Member
I'm new hear and have never even seen a counselor. But lately, I've been wondering if I might have Social Phobia/Anxiety. I'm thinking now of going to a professional to see because I find my anxiety in these situations to be irrational (yet I can't control feeling them). If anyone can help out, I'd appreciate it. I'm a 30-year-old female and have been like this for years.
1. If I see anyone I know in public, I do whatever I can to avoid running into them (turning my face, going into a different direction).
2. I've been pretty dateless even though I'm attractive.
3. All my life, I've only had a handful of friends. Right now, I have lived in a "new" city for over six months and don't have a friend. I just don't go anywhere.
4. I hate the phone! I screen calls because i never feel "prepared" to talk and never call my acquaintances to talk (which is prob' why I never get invited anywhere).
5. If I have a crush on a man, its even more severe. If I know he shops at a certain store or lives in a neighborhood, I'll avoid that place at all cost, even if it means making a long detour.
6. I dread confrontation. If someone makes me mad, I'll endure it (but be passive-aggressive about it.) If someone shortchanges me or a phone company overcharges me, I can't call them out on it. People have always said I'm "too nice" and I have been taken advantage of always.
7. I'm such a homebody. I feel totally uncomfortable going places alone (because I am always alone...I don't have shopping buddies). I might run to get coffee through a drive-thru, but that's it.
8. I CANNOT walk down the street where cars are driving by. I dread that someone I know will see me and think I'm weird for walking. I cannot walk across an intersection at a light. The feeling of cars sitting there watching me walk by is so intimidating (and again, I fear someone I know is there).
9. No way can I eat in public. Walking in a mall (even with a friend) and going near a busy place (like a food court) makes me very uncomfortable. Again, its like I fear someone I know will see me there. this pretty much goes anywhere.
10. I even have a big floppy hat I like to wear when I have to shop/run errands...like I'm trying to disguise myself and having no one recognize me
11. If I see my neighbor (or anyone) outside and I'm on my way out the door, I'll see them from the window and wait till they are gone before I can go out to my car.
12. Often I find my speech to get mixed up (like I have dyslexia) when I'm talking in an intimidating situation (with a boss, group of people).
And I'm sure there's more....so what do you think? Social Anxiety of plain shyness?
The funny thing that I don't understand is that I can be talkative in certain situations. I'm actually a teacher and have to speak in front of students and am (almost) funny and eloquent. But if I see my student outside the classroom, I feel very uncomfortable and try to avoid them.
1. If I see anyone I know in public, I do whatever I can to avoid running into them (turning my face, going into a different direction).
2. I've been pretty dateless even though I'm attractive.
3. All my life, I've only had a handful of friends. Right now, I have lived in a "new" city for over six months and don't have a friend. I just don't go anywhere.
4. I hate the phone! I screen calls because i never feel "prepared" to talk and never call my acquaintances to talk (which is prob' why I never get invited anywhere).
5. If I have a crush on a man, its even more severe. If I know he shops at a certain store or lives in a neighborhood, I'll avoid that place at all cost, even if it means making a long detour.
6. I dread confrontation. If someone makes me mad, I'll endure it (but be passive-aggressive about it.) If someone shortchanges me or a phone company overcharges me, I can't call them out on it. People have always said I'm "too nice" and I have been taken advantage of always.
7. I'm such a homebody. I feel totally uncomfortable going places alone (because I am always alone...I don't have shopping buddies). I might run to get coffee through a drive-thru, but that's it.
8. I CANNOT walk down the street where cars are driving by. I dread that someone I know will see me and think I'm weird for walking. I cannot walk across an intersection at a light. The feeling of cars sitting there watching me walk by is so intimidating (and again, I fear someone I know is there).
9. No way can I eat in public. Walking in a mall (even with a friend) and going near a busy place (like a food court) makes me very uncomfortable. Again, its like I fear someone I know will see me there. this pretty much goes anywhere.
10. I even have a big floppy hat I like to wear when I have to shop/run errands...like I'm trying to disguise myself and having no one recognize me
11. If I see my neighbor (or anyone) outside and I'm on my way out the door, I'll see them from the window and wait till they are gone before I can go out to my car.
12. Often I find my speech to get mixed up (like I have dyslexia) when I'm talking in an intimidating situation (with a boss, group of people).
And I'm sure there's more....so what do you think? Social Anxiety of plain shyness?
The funny thing that I don't understand is that I can be talkative in certain situations. I'm actually a teacher and have to speak in front of students and am (almost) funny and eloquent. But if I see my student outside the classroom, I feel very uncomfortable and try to avoid them.
