self treatment

[Amnesiac]

I have been trying to treat my social anxiety it for a year now and have made some progress. I now experience little anxiety in formal settings where I have a purpose for being somewhere or there are known social procedures, such as an interview. In these situations I act very social, speak eloquently, am polite, and smile a lot. However, in social situations (going to social events, talking to people I don't know) my fear is overwhelming and I find it very difficult to be in these situations. I have observed that while speaking to others in social situations I have minimal anxiety, it is initiating conversation and ending conversation where my anxiety is severe. Largely it is in initiating conversation where I am seeking improvement. I am unsure how I can gradually work myself up to doing it because as of now it is unthinkable and I come into regular contact with only 1 or 2 people I'm comfortable around, even then its only for a few minutes at most, so I don't have many opportunities to practice. I don't want to resort to drugs or therapy. Any suggestions?

 

[lithium]

I have been trying to treat my social anxiety it for a year now and have made some progress. I now experience little anxiety in formal settings where I have a purpose for being somewhere or there are known social procedures, such as an interview. In these situations I act very social, speak eloquently, am polite, and smile a lot. However, in social situations (going to social events, talking to people I don't know) my fear is overwhelming and I find it very difficult to be in these situations. I have observed that while speaking to others in social situations I have minimal anxiety, it is initiating conversation and ending conversation where my anxiety is severe. Largely it is in initiating conversation where I am seeking improvement. I am unsure how I can gradually work myself up to doing it because as of now it is unthinkable and I come into regular contact with only 1 or 2 people I'm comfortable around, even then its only for a few minutes at most, so I don't have many opportunities to practice. I don't want to resort to drugs or therapy. Any suggestions?

I guess I agree on you regarding the drugs, but why not therapy? I belive that self-treatment would be very difficult...I have been trying to cope with SA by myself for a while now, and not much has improved...

 

[Tempus35]

I agree drugs can have or make many issues, but I couldnt do without, at the moment without drugs I am a wreck, I refuse to take many drugs though. And as lithium said why not therapy, it has helped me some.

 

[Alchemy]

I think it would be wise to try and meet with some other people that you could practice with, maybe in a support group where there is no expectations and you can be yourself. It would give you a good platform to increase your confidence and conversational skills.

 

[Amnesiac]

I have tried Effexor before but it resulted in really bad side effects. So no more drugs. I have tried counseling, but everyone I've been to is incompetent and I have serious trust issues that would prevent me from really making any progress. I've looked into Cognitive Group Therapy but I don't know where to go for that and I would practice on others but this would involve initiating contact which is the very problem I'm trying to fix, it all seems to run in a loop from there and I make no progress.

 

[DannyO]

Hi,

I have a similair problem about talking to new people and having conversations with new people. I am currently trying to actively do something about it by myself. I am reading a book about self treatment of social phobia and its very good, I think it can be done. For me, the hard thing is to get started.

Anyway my plan right now is to start look at my own thoughts and challenge negative thought patterns by realistically looking at thoughts I have about certain social situations.

Then eventually, hopefully soon, I will start to talk to strangers. My first goal is to be able to approach strangers and hold a 30 second conversation.

And believe me this is very hard for me, but there is no other way out.