Sadie_896
New member
Hey everyone...I am pretty new to the forums, even though I have been lurking around for awhile. I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I am 23 years old and have been suffering from social anxiety, general anxiety, and depression for many years. I have always been labeled as quiet and shy, but my anxiety due to certain social situations has increased dramatically since I was a child. I have never been given a diagnosis of social anxiety or social phobia, but even without a formal diagnosis, the symptoms greatly impact my life and I am trying my best right now to get them under control. My psychiatrist told me that the medication I take mainly for depression (Effexor) will help my anxiety. I can't say I have had too much luck with this. However, the Effexor has been very helpful in stabelizing my moods, so I don't want to mess around with other medications right now. My social anxiety ranges from mild to severe, depending on the situation. If I am meeting a guy for the first time, I have an acute sensation of anxiety - I get nauseous, sweat, start to tremble, and blush. My parents tell me that it is normal to be nervous in this situation, but this is beyond normal shyness. Also, I have a very hard time expressing my opinion, talking to authority figures, and letting my voice be heard. On top of this, I have been dealing with depression, which has basically ruined my life for the past five or so years. But I feel like I have taken a step in the right direction by getting help. I just hope that I will be able to control my anxiety a little bit better so I can do everything in life that I want to. I am looking forward to getting to know everybody. Thank you for taking the time to read 
