Who do you tell?

Inspired by the "Coming Clean" thread in the Hyperhidrosis Forum. There are a number of responses there coming from SA'ers, so I thought maybe we should get them in the right forum.

I've not told anyone. Online, I hide behind the anonymity of this alias. I fear people won't understand what it's like, or dismiss it as being cowardly or something. So, as usual, I'm trying to handle it by myself. Though it must be obvious to anyone that knows me...

What about you?

nopark said:

Inspired by the "Coming Clean" thread in the Hyperhidrosis Forum. There are a number of responses there coming from SA'ers, so I thought maybe we should get them in the right forum.

I've not told anyone. Online, I hide behind the anonymity of this alias. I fear people won't understand what it's like, or dismiss it as being cowardly or something. So, as usual, I'm trying to handle it by myself. Though it must be obvious to anyone that knows me...

What about you?

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I didn't tell anyone for a long time because I didn't know that it was Social Anxiety but recently I told some family members and they didn't seem to understand or take it seriously. My mother who is religious said I should just give it to God. Not much help there.

I told my hubby (then bf) about my stuttering first, he really helped me in "coming clean".

I told my immediate family and my friend (who coincidentally also has SA). I would never tell anyone else.

I never told anyone 10 yrs ago when my anxiety first started getting bad (mines not so much social though)......but the last few years I basically tell anyone that wants to know or that Im close with.....makes me feel more comfortable if I ever do anything with them.

I have only told my parents and sister. I don't think that enough is known about Social Anxiety in the general population. I might feel comfortable telling someone else one day when a lot more is known about it...when more is written/explained about it in the general media etc.

My dad knows about my SA because I had the interventionist at my high school a few years ago talk to him so I could go see a therapist. He thinks this is all crap and that I'm just lazy and don't want to talk, so he doesn't help at all.

I told my best friend. He's really supportive of me and is the only reason I'm getting help. But I do think he treats me differently now... Like a person with a problem that needs to be fixed first and his friend second. I don't know how to explain it. I haven't told anyone else about it, but he thinks I should tell my two other friends. I don't want to though because I'm afraid of them treating me differently also and they are the only people who treat me normal right now.

I've only told a close friend (who I now talk through with the internet since I moved).

Other than that, I drop hints, but I don't really go into detail. Partly because I'm positive they wouldn't help (or be able to help), and partly because I think it's already so obvious - so why bother.

I get really angry that when you have these problems, you have to pretend there's nothing wrong, like pretending you dont a rope tightening around you're neck. Of course you have to do that because it would attract more unwanted attention if you showed or voiced your discomfort (like saying, im having a hard time breathing because you're sitting so close to me, please ignore my twitching) i wish you could "come clean" to everyone immediately. i dont think that will ever be possible though, because you can see how even a lot of people who have (and understand) social anxiety are not tolerant that its an illness and not a weakness.

in reply to the post's question, ive only told my mother and one friend. to anybody else.. its asthma! or too much coffee or anything i think up to tell people.

I told my parents and best friend. My SAer friends obviously already know.

iv lived with it my whole life , it was only when i found this site i thought jesus ..... theres a name for this ... until then i just thought i was a bit diff from most people

i've only talked about it with my cousin - to everone else im just "shy" or "the quiet guy"