Please read this. Don't ignore this, don't skip this, read it. This will help you.
Despite what anyone on any forum says, and how miserable and hopeless and real of all the things they say and how complex problems can get, Social Anxiety is TREAT-ABLE and is basically CURABLE for ANYONE. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't cure your problems with Social Anxiety Disorder.
You can't afford to WAIT to get over Social Anxiety Disorder. That is simply how it does NOT work. The moment you make the decision to get help, is the day you'll start on getting better. Wether it be self-help, professional help, talking to a trusted friend.. you can get OVERCOME a LOT of your feelings if you GO and get help. Waiting around thinking that a lightning strike will hit you and make you feel better is not going to happen.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to counseling. Nor is it embarrassing or making you 'crazy'. It's a matter of helping yourself... you are the only person that has control of wether you get better or not, and they can help you start and guide you thru that process. They are there for a reason -- to help you with anxiety. Anxiety is very effective to treat, and things may seem bad now, but going to get help will change all of that.
Most practices will work with you if you have financial troubles, most accept insurance and most have "sliding scales" where they can adjust a price depending on your income, so if you are worried about financial side of things, you will be okay.
There are so many ways to get help, and even if you feel stuck, you are NOT stuck. There are hotlines that you can call for free in many local, and state governments in the United States and in many different countries where you can talk about how you feel and how to get better. You have to be honest with talking about your problems with these people, and they will NEVER judge you and are there too help. Let everything on the inside come out.
Seriously. Surround yourself in positivity and let go of this forum -- it's great to relate sometimes but that's all this forum is good for. Asking questions about the disorder, or getting advice from other people who have the disorder is bad logic. Yes, you can get temporary relief by knowing how to avoid a situation or how to calm down, but that is not good in the long term sense and for yourself and helping yourself. You are going to be hearing alot of advice that is not good for you, because in the end, you are listening from a person who hasn't gotten completely over their problems, and listening to someone like that is like listening to someone who is in jail about how to stay away from the police. It doesn't make sense, you know what I am saying? Listening to someone who got over their SA and found solutions is a good idea, but not someone who is in it still. Being around happy, positive, or non-negative or as non-judgemental people as you can. It will help you..... but you need to go out and get help and help yourself, because you can get better, but it literally starts with YOU.
All these things you are feeling and the consequences, and the cycles, can vanish. I promise. It only takes the steps and the courage to seek the help you need. We as people need help sometimes in everyday situations, not limited to anxiety. So go and do it and get better.
And before you start to criticize me, I am not saying that therapy alone can solve everyone's problem... I think that's obvious. But going and speaking with someone who can help you will be extremely beneficial, and it will help you start in the right direction of what YOU need to do, to get better, because getting better can be unique to every person, because every person has their own problems. (even people without anxiety problems)
Forget your past and what has happened. Life isn't about the past, it's about the future and where you are going. Keep your head up and know things are going to get better, as long as you let yourself go, stay open-minded, and surround yourself in positivity. Because positivity is the key in knowing things will be okay. Because they REALLY will.
Life is actually great and when you put the negatives aside and focus on the future and how great it can be, and when you become focused and knowledgable about what has happened and when you learn the skills to become better... you will be happier. Trust me. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Keep good cliches close to you -- think about the big picture of things, and how you can get better. Cliches are real and are positive for a reason. I used cliches to help me get over depression because they were real and I knew they were and I stuck by them, even when I had skewed perceptions of reality, like alot of depressed or anxious people have.
Confidence is key, and Social Anxiety feeds off of low esteem and low confidence. Fake the condifence 'till you make it. Literally. It will help SO much, especially in everyday life. Don't be an arrogant assh*le (which I know you won't be, but you know), but definitely fake the confidence until you start building your true confidence. Life is a skill that you get better at as times go. Literally, you and I both know this. Try to ignore the people who put you down as much as you can, and make sure when you are letting out all your feelings with your professional, that you tell them this.
Don't think I'm just bullsh*tting here or whatever you're thinking. Take it for what it is and use my advice... your life is worth it, and you will thank yourself down the road for getting help and saving your life. Life is amazing and you can't take it for granted. You will eventually have to get help anyway, because you need help to get back on your feet sometimes... so why not get get help this moment? It's okay, and it's normal. You are only helping yourself in the end, and that's the key. Remember that YOU are STRONGER than you really think you are. God Bless & Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Despite what anyone on any forum says, and how miserable and hopeless and real of all the things they say and how complex problems can get, Social Anxiety is TREAT-ABLE and is basically CURABLE for ANYONE. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't cure your problems with Social Anxiety Disorder.
You can't afford to WAIT to get over Social Anxiety Disorder. That is simply how it does NOT work. The moment you make the decision to get help, is the day you'll start on getting better. Wether it be self-help, professional help, talking to a trusted friend.. you can get OVERCOME a LOT of your feelings if you GO and get help. Waiting around thinking that a lightning strike will hit you and make you feel better is not going to happen.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to counseling. Nor is it embarrassing or making you 'crazy'. It's a matter of helping yourself... you are the only person that has control of wether you get better or not, and they can help you start and guide you thru that process. They are there for a reason -- to help you with anxiety. Anxiety is very effective to treat, and things may seem bad now, but going to get help will change all of that.
Most practices will work with you if you have financial troubles, most accept insurance and most have "sliding scales" where they can adjust a price depending on your income, so if you are worried about financial side of things, you will be okay.
There are so many ways to get help, and even if you feel stuck, you are NOT stuck. There are hotlines that you can call for free in many local, and state governments in the United States and in many different countries where you can talk about how you feel and how to get better. You have to be honest with talking about your problems with these people, and they will NEVER judge you and are there too help. Let everything on the inside come out.
Seriously. Surround yourself in positivity and let go of this forum -- it's great to relate sometimes but that's all this forum is good for. Asking questions about the disorder, or getting advice from other people who have the disorder is bad logic. Yes, you can get temporary relief by knowing how to avoid a situation or how to calm down, but that is not good in the long term sense and for yourself and helping yourself. You are going to be hearing alot of advice that is not good for you, because in the end, you are listening from a person who hasn't gotten completely over their problems, and listening to someone like that is like listening to someone who is in jail about how to stay away from the police. It doesn't make sense, you know what I am saying? Listening to someone who got over their SA and found solutions is a good idea, but not someone who is in it still. Being around happy, positive, or non-negative or as non-judgemental people as you can. It will help you..... but you need to go out and get help and help yourself, because you can get better, but it literally starts with YOU.
All these things you are feeling and the consequences, and the cycles, can vanish. I promise. It only takes the steps and the courage to seek the help you need. We as people need help sometimes in everyday situations, not limited to anxiety. So go and do it and get better.
And before you start to criticize me, I am not saying that therapy alone can solve everyone's problem... I think that's obvious. But going and speaking with someone who can help you will be extremely beneficial, and it will help you start in the right direction of what YOU need to do, to get better, because getting better can be unique to every person, because every person has their own problems. (even people without anxiety problems)
Forget your past and what has happened. Life isn't about the past, it's about the future and where you are going. Keep your head up and know things are going to get better, as long as you let yourself go, stay open-minded, and surround yourself in positivity. Because positivity is the key in knowing things will be okay. Because they REALLY will.
Life is actually great and when you put the negatives aside and focus on the future and how great it can be, and when you become focused and knowledgable about what has happened and when you learn the skills to become better... you will be happier. Trust me. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Keep good cliches close to you -- think about the big picture of things, and how you can get better. Cliches are real and are positive for a reason. I used cliches to help me get over depression because they were real and I knew they were and I stuck by them, even when I had skewed perceptions of reality, like alot of depressed or anxious people have.
Confidence is key, and Social Anxiety feeds off of low esteem and low confidence. Fake the condifence 'till you make it. Literally. It will help SO much, especially in everyday life. Don't be an arrogant assh*le (which I know you won't be, but you know), but definitely fake the confidence until you start building your true confidence. Life is a skill that you get better at as times go. Literally, you and I both know this. Try to ignore the people who put you down as much as you can, and make sure when you are letting out all your feelings with your professional, that you tell them this.
Don't think I'm just bullsh*tting here or whatever you're thinking. Take it for what it is and use my advice... your life is worth it, and you will thank yourself down the road for getting help and saving your life. Life is amazing and you can't take it for granted. You will eventually have to get help anyway, because you need help to get back on your feet sometimes... so why not get get help this moment? It's okay, and it's normal. You are only helping yourself in the end, and that's the key. Remember that YOU are STRONGER than you really think you are. God Bless & Happy Holidays to you and your family.
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