Social anxiety?

[vellah]

Please do not quote.

I have been diagnosed with social anxiety before, about 2 year ago, took medication for it and improved and later went off the meds.

I think I may have it again but I am not sure. It's not quite the same as last time..

BEFORE a social situation I'll get really nervous. But once I am in the situation I'm fine. But in my mind I'll be freaking out, wanting to get the hell out of there but I do not physically feel nervous or have heart palpitations or anything. But I really want to get as far from the situation as possible.

Also, my nerves before a situation seem to increase when it's something I have to go to often. Like I took kickboxing and I'd be nervous beforehand, but once I got there I'd be fine. And the next day I'd be nervous again, but I knew I'd be fine once I got there, and still went. But the nerves would keep increasing and until I stopped going.

I don't know, I don't really want to go on meds again. I had no side effects but I guess I jsut don't like the idea of taking meds...but they did seemingly help...

Also, I read up the symptoms on this site and I fit the whole mentality of "I'm going to look stupid, they don't care what I think," etc etc

Thanks for reading.

 

[SammyT]

Sounds kinda like agoraphobia and some anticipatory anxiety. Is there a fear of being judged ...Can you pinpoint exactly what is going through your mind that is causing you to be anxious? Is there a logical thought which runs through your head causing the anxiety?

In your case you might be good seeing a therapist before trying meds again, but at least they are an option which you've found useful beforehand you can use as a backup option.

 

[lookyloo]

First, I'm not sure what you mean by don't quote, I'm going to presume you want at least an an opinion...
Anyway, it sounds like what you are going through is pretty usual in the recovery process. Before you went on the medication, your nerves were very "senitized". That is why you are saying that your nerves seemed to increase before going to an event. Now, your nerves aren't as sensitized anymore so you don't feel that effect. The other problem more than likely, now that you quit the medication, you may be "hyper vigilant" to everything that goes on in your body (looking for stuff)... Basically you're thinking too much about it. My doctor always told me to "get out of myself", basicaly to distract myself. It does you no good to keep worrying if you will freak out in front of someone. More than likely, you won't. Going to kickboxing is great. You need to expose yourself to social situations as much as you can but baby steps at a time... I was full blown agorophobic, now I just have some anticipatory anxiety. Also, I did it all without meds but that was my choice.