BuffDoctor
New member
Hi guys! So it's been a while since I last posted here (1 month) and during that time I've really been looking at strategies to cure my social anxiety. I've settled on using Dr. Thomas A Richards (Overcoming Social Anxiety) audio tapes because I believe in cognitive behavioral therapy. I've been at it for 1 week and I think that if I really stick with it, I CAN DO IT! I promise I'll be a regular on this board now because I've made up my mind about finally wanting to change.
My only problem is that I've finally been learning about ANT's (Automatic Negative Thoughts) and even before listening to these tapes, I always caught myself and told myself mentally that these feeling are dumb and not true, but it never seemed to help. I'm taking a class in college right now (biology) and a lot of our grade is based on the discussions we do. We've had 8 discussions in the class with one more left and I've only participated 3 times! My grade is totally screwed! I managed to talk to my professor and told him why I wasn't participating and the steps I'm taking to amend it and he agreed to bump up my participation grade to a B, should I participate fully in this last discussion.
Honestly, during these discussions I know everything about these scientific articles we discuss. I could say things during the discussion that would blow people away because of how I think outside the box. The problem is I can't even muster the courage to say these things in the discussion. The thing that draws me from opening my mouth is the fact that my heart rate begins to accelerate as soon as I raise my hand and I immediately bring it back down when that happens. I'm talking crazy fast thudding that somebody could probably hear sitting next to me if it were quiet. I know that if I were to talk with my extremely fast heart rate my voice would start to stutter and shake. On top of that that super fast heart rate impairs my ability to think even if I were to say something. It's mostly that stuttering and shaking in my voice that makes me afraid from saying anything because I know people will think I'm afraid. If my voice would not do that I would definitely be ok participating in these discussions. I just don't know how to make it stop. If I could just control my stupid heart rate, then I know that I would be ok! I tried stopping the automatic negative thoughts yesterday by putting in good thoughts and telling myself that these thoughts were false during the discussion, but it wasn't working. My heart rate was still fast.
What can I do guys besides sticking with the audio tapes and my regular practices? The next discussion isn't for another 2 weeks. I know there isn't a quick fix and that's why I'm committed to sticking with cognitive behavioral therapy, but has anybody been in my situation like this? Can I make a change in 2 weeks to allow myself to actually be somewhat less care free during the discussion?
Appreciate the help guys!!
My only problem is that I've finally been learning about ANT's (Automatic Negative Thoughts) and even before listening to these tapes, I always caught myself and told myself mentally that these feeling are dumb and not true, but it never seemed to help. I'm taking a class in college right now (biology) and a lot of our grade is based on the discussions we do. We've had 8 discussions in the class with one more left and I've only participated 3 times! My grade is totally screwed! I managed to talk to my professor and told him why I wasn't participating and the steps I'm taking to amend it and he agreed to bump up my participation grade to a B, should I participate fully in this last discussion.
Honestly, during these discussions I know everything about these scientific articles we discuss. I could say things during the discussion that would blow people away because of how I think outside the box. The problem is I can't even muster the courage to say these things in the discussion. The thing that draws me from opening my mouth is the fact that my heart rate begins to accelerate as soon as I raise my hand and I immediately bring it back down when that happens. I'm talking crazy fast thudding that somebody could probably hear sitting next to me if it were quiet. I know that if I were to talk with my extremely fast heart rate my voice would start to stutter and shake. On top of that that super fast heart rate impairs my ability to think even if I were to say something. It's mostly that stuttering and shaking in my voice that makes me afraid from saying anything because I know people will think I'm afraid. If my voice would not do that I would definitely be ok participating in these discussions. I just don't know how to make it stop. If I could just control my stupid heart rate, then I know that I would be ok! I tried stopping the automatic negative thoughts yesterday by putting in good thoughts and telling myself that these thoughts were false during the discussion, but it wasn't working. My heart rate was still fast.
What can I do guys besides sticking with the audio tapes and my regular practices? The next discussion isn't for another 2 weeks. I know there isn't a quick fix and that's why I'm committed to sticking with cognitive behavioral therapy, but has anybody been in my situation like this? Can I make a change in 2 weeks to allow myself to actually be somewhat less care free during the discussion?
Appreciate the help guys!!
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