Just walked round the shop for the first time in years on my own. I have been quite a few times recently but only with my mates I find this easier because the focus is off me and I feel more comfortable. I needed to go because I ran out of cigarettes so i just thought **** it and went. I went to a different shop to where i usually go and the women who works there knows me from years ago she was asking how i was etc and saying that she hasn't seen me for ages. I give one word answers as usual she could probably tell I was anxious but that's the case with most people i interact with. I felt nervous walking up there it was a small challenge for me to do it. It might not seem like a big deal to some people on here but I guess that's how severe my SA is. I kind of feel bad about not being able to have a conversation with the woman in the shop due to my SA and don't know if doing these challenges will get rid of my SA because i just feel as anxious the next time I do it an sort of feel bad after every social situation i fail at. So do you think doing things your not comfortable with all the time will improve SA? A lot of people seem to think that but I'm not too sure if it will help me.
Small Challenge
- Thread starter PrettyBoy
- Start date
I think u must do those kinda things and of course get professional help.. cuz if u expose urself..but don't have help form the side u will probably feel bad.. cuz CBT isn't all in exposing urself.. u have to have the technics and other stuff.. like accepting urself and so on... I haven't been tehre yet(cbt) but I think u should continue exposing urself.. but with professional help if u can get any... wish u luck
Thanks. I have been to the doctors about it before and he said they offer counseling and meds i chose meds citalopram 20 mg i didn't feel they helped me much and gave me like a strange buzzing in my ears so i just stopped taking them haven't been back since. I have the dr richards cbt audio series don't know if you've heard of it but haven't tried it yet do you think it could improve my SA?
I've heard of it...and heard it's really good.. so give it a try!! and do see another therapist, not all of them s***.
Well done, PrettyBoy. I think you should feel very proud of accomplishing what you did, by going to the shop. I know how hard it can be to do even 'small' things like that. A year or two ago I couldn't go into a shop, or at least not on my own, and I certainly couldn't go to the counter and pay for anything myself.
I still tend to avoid certain shops. I seem to have my 'safe' ones which I usually go to. At the moment it's Tesco for me, since I can get everything I need there (food wise) and pay at the self-checkouts. I often find I avoid human interaction still, but I can do it when I have to, without much anxiety (it's more awkwardness, now.)
I would recommend perhaps have a few appointments with a psychologist as well, because (if they are any good) they will give you a 'push' and encourage you to keep making these little steps, and also they should make you feel good about what you are achieving, which helps keep you motivated.
I think you should feel very proud of accomplishing what you did, by going to the shop. I know how hard it can be to do even 'small' things like that. A year or two ago I couldn't go into a shop, or at least not on my own, and I certainly couldn't go to the counter and pay for anything myself.I still tend to avoid certain shops. I seem to have my 'safe' ones which I usually go to. At the moment it's Tesco for me, since I can get everything I need there (food wise) and pay at the self-checkouts. I often find I avoid human interaction still, but I can do it when I have to, without much anxiety (it's more awkwardness, now.)
I would recommend perhaps have a few appointments with a psychologist as well, because (if they are any good) they will give you a 'push' and encourage you to keep making these little steps, and also they should make you feel good about what you are achieving, which helps keep you motivated.
more like a psychologist, explain ur doctor the problem and he/she should know. cuz a councilor can give u advise, but u, like all of us need professional help... somebody to prescribe the right meds and to give u the right therapy.. hope everything works out...
Hellhound
Super Moderator
Sometimes, exposure is a good idea. You will be anxious at first, but the more you do it, the more used you will get, and the less anxious you should be. You didn't fail. If you could do it, deal with the anxiety and go to the shop anyway, it means you had a lot of courage and you did something that not too many of us would be able to do (at least not me). I'm very proud of you
Ebbe
Well-known member
Congratulations! It's great that you did that. If you go to that shop on a regular basis, you will most likely start feeling more comfortable. Just don't expect too much at once and be happy with every step forward you make (and don't think of anything else).
Maybe once you feel a little more comfortable, you can set yourself a small extra goal. For example you could ask the woman who works there how she is doing (just leave it at one sentence at a time), or if that is too much of a challenge, you can probably think of something else that will trigger your anxiety just a little bit.
Try not to think of not having a full conversation with someone as a failure. Focus on the things that go well.
Maybe once you feel a little more comfortable, you can set yourself a small extra goal. For example you could ask the woman who works there how she is doing (just leave it at one sentence at a time), or if that is too much of a challenge, you can probably think of something else that will trigger your anxiety just a little bit.
Try not to think of not having a full conversation with someone as a failure. Focus on the things that go well.
whysoserious?
Active member
I get that, i often think it would be easier to walk around if i had an imaginary friend. Alas i'm not imaginative enough to create one.
AimeeSP
Well-known member
Well done , that is a huge step i know how difficult it can be, even walking out the front door can feel like the worst thing to do for me sometimes. I do believe as you carry on doing social exposure like this you will feel less anxious as time goes on.
When i was at school and the psychologist i was seeing at the time said that to me i thought, "eh? are you mad? my panic attacks are getting worse as each day goes by at school!" but i didn't stick it out long enough to realise she was right. I've noticed that when i put myself in a social situation i feel incredibily uncomfortable with my anxiety is sky high, and the anxiety got worse each time i tried it. And that of course has made me think what's the point if i'm gonna feel worse each time? But when i stuck it out eventually i did start to feel less and less anxious. So it got worse before it got better for me. I hope that's made sense i'm not all too good at explaining things hehe.
, that is a huge step i know how difficult it can be, even walking out the front door can feel like the worst thing to do for me sometimes. I do believe as you carry on doing social exposure like this you will feel less anxious as time goes on. When i was at school and the psychologist i was seeing at the time said that to me i thought, "eh? are you mad? my panic attacks are getting worse as each day goes by at school!" but i didn't stick it out long enough to realise she was right. I've noticed that when i put myself in a social situation i feel incredibily uncomfortable with my anxiety is sky high, and the anxiety got worse each time i tried it. And that of course has made me think what's the point if i'm gonna feel worse each time? But when i stuck it out eventually i did start to feel less and less anxious. So it got worse before it got better for me. I hope that's made sense i'm not all too good at explaining things hehe.
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