Should I go doctors bout SA

[Meggy0001]

I keep telling myself that I will go but I never seem to be brave enough to make an appointment :/
Should I go? if I do what would I say about it and I am really scared that they will say that I am fine its just shyness or whatever and it obviously isn't and I hate having this and its keeping me from doing pretty much 90% of what I want to do
Any of you been? if so is it useful, waste of time? what did you say?

Ya for me to ever do anything, anything at all, i have to over analyse everything, figure out all the stuff that could go wrong and get solutions for it and think about it non stop for about a couple weeks/months before I actually do it lol yaaaaaa

Anyway thanks for reading

 

[Waybuloo]

If you are in the UK, then chances are you will be taken seriously, as in a doctor won't tell you it's fine and tell you to go away. At least that is my experience.

I told my doctor that I was very anxious and couldn't face people. You can give a general summary of what the problem entails and how long it has affected you. Mental health seems to work in tiers. If you have a problem, they would likely put on you on tier 1, that is a counsellor you see for about 8 weeks working on cognitive behavioural therapy. There is usually a waiting list, but if you have suicidal thoughts/actions or something very serious they would escalate your case up the priority list and you will get treated quicker.

I am currently waiting to hear the result of a referral to a NHS mental health clinic that focuses on personality disorders using psychotherapy. This is a higher tier than the CBT, which I have had at my surgery and which was useless.

It is important that you do not be too polite in an attempt to appear 'normal' or cool or to not embarass yourself. Tell them as much as you can and don't trivialise any problems. If they think you don't deserve help because you make your problems look small they will push you down the list.

After years and years of going through the system i've learnt to be more demanding, and it's finally getting me results.

 

[Silatuyok]

I think it's worth going to the doctor about it. You could always say you are suffering from anxiety, and not specifically say "social anxiety."

 

[upndwn]

Seeking help is the first step of recovery. I've been suffering from SA since I was a kid. I'm now 33, and I've been to therapy for the last ten years, but I wish I had sought out help earlier.

Therapy hasn't cured me, but it has helped me cope with my disorder and get the right medical treatment. It has in no way been an easy process, but thinking about the alternative I think it has been worth it.

Now thanks to therapy and medicinal treatment I am able to hold a job where I interact with a lot of people every day, and I am able to handle myself in most normal social situations. I have no fear of going out alone anymore and I take the bus to work everyday.

 

[Sial Axetder]

I did. Was a long process. Much like you, Meggy0001, I was nervous and with so many words to describe my symptoms. I couldn't say anything at all. It took me talking about my depression to get meds for that to allow me to open up about SA/AVPD.

Meds and cigs helped a ton in my case. No, not condoning the use of smoke-a-pack. For me it causes a slight dizzy spell and numbs the anxiety and I just talk jabber jabber talk talk about whats on my mind. Don't know why.

To the Doctor you could say 'I believe I have Social anxiety because....' Or write it out and hand it to the doctor. They read and you just listen to their recommendations.

 

[Helliconia]

I went to my doctor about it a couple of years ago and she was really helpful and kind about it and booked me to see a mental health nurse to determine the next action. Unfortunately that is where the problems began. I went to the meeting and the guy pretty much ignored everything i said and said things along the lines of 'well what is normal anyway?' and other stupid platitudes in response to my assertion that i just dont feel 'right' or 'normal'. He seemed to only want to determine if i was depressed or not, and when in his opinion he considered i wasnt he pretty much threw me out. I was so angry after that i can never trust the health care profession again. Needless to say, its 2 years on and my problems have only got worse.

I would still say go for it though and give it a try, perhaps you will be more lucky than me.