I'm just curious if anyone else on menewsha has social anxiety and if so what are some things you do to help relieve the symptoms of it?


I'm currently going to therapy and i'm finding myself really frustrated. She seems to think buying a candy bar and saying hello to the cashier while doing it is going to help my social anxiety.

I always say hello to cashiers when I'm shopping so i can't see how this is gonna help?

As for her relaxation exercises.. they make me laugh rather than calm me down.

So what are some things that help you deal with it?

I dealt with social anxiety before and it caused me to have really severe panic attacks. One thing that helped me was to go to therapy. It sounds like maybe your therapist might not be the best for you? Don't be afraid to go to a different one even if there's nothing technically wrong with her. I think by "say hello to cashiers" that was a specific thing that helps some people push themselves to be more comfortable around people...but she should have asked whether you do that already and reccommended something that actually pushes you(in my opinion).

Another thing that helped me was cutting down on stress(I ended up quitting my ridiculous job). Also, trying to let go of things. Like I used to get really stressed when someone was too close to the back of my car when driving. Now I just flip my mirror up so I can't see them.

I'm not sure this is helpful, but those are my experiences. I really think that it might be good to try a new therapist if this one isn't helpful.

i'm so frustrated with my counsiller too. i dont' really have the same problem as you and i probally dont' know how you feel but i am really shy so in some aspect i kind of might get it....not sure

i'd switch therapists but my social anxiety prevents me from landing a job so this particular therapist, while good and nice, is paid based on my income.. nada lmao

plus I haven't been with her long enough to gauge if she's right for my problems or not, i'll give her two weeks worth of therapy (14 sessions) before deciding on that. But you're right, she hasn't really asked how I respond when out and about. she seems to assume everything sets off my social anxiety when my experience tells me it's mostly authoritive people.. like enterviewers lmao god I have a HELL of a time in interviews!

as for cutting down on stress.. i wish. my life at this point in time is an f'ing mess, i think I'm made of stress these days. In fact, this year has been nothing but hell for me but it's slowly.. SLOWLY starting to get better.

Just like my therapy, I'm workin on putting the pieces of me back into a pattern that works even if it isn't pretty, whole or in order.

well my question is when do you feel it worst?
like when confronted by strangers or a group of people you know, when in crowded places?
what are your biggest triggers? does it dpend on your days?
i can't really help unless i know more about the situation
is it actually social anxiety or sociphobia
i know people with both which ironically enough they are seperate disorders
so if i could have more info i'll gladly help

Okay, it sounds like you've got a therapist just like the one I used to have a few years back when I started getting depressed and keeping myself locked up in my room...

Total crackpot. She taught me these useless arm and finger exercises that were supposed to relieve my anxiety and depression, but they were just too ridiculous. Placebos at best, new-age spiritual crap at worst.

She told me to go out and do similar 'assignments,' i.e. take my dog for a walk and chat with my neighbors. I did what she told me to do, but to be honest, thinking of something so simple as some weird homework just made me feel more isolated and pathetic. It actually made my anxiety worse. The last time I saw her, she insisted we walk across the street and go for a walk. I said I wasn't comfortable with that. I'd just been crying for a solid twenty minutes and didn't want to go out in public. She insisted we go outside, and she took my hand. I felt ridiculous, holding my therapist's hand and walking across the street... I mean, seriously? Seriously?

I told my mom to stop wasting her money on the shrink after that.

Turns out, the social anxiety was just a phase to me. I grew out of it pretty quickly after I found my first boyfriend and starting spending more time with my classmates outside of school.

Well there's nothing wrong with giving her a bigger chance since she's free as long as it's not making your anxiety worse. I guess you could try to take the initiative. Like if she doesn't ask about something that seems important(what causes your anxiety, what social situations you're ok in, etc), just go ahead and tell her anyway. Those are things that could probably help her help you.

Edit: Also, you're right, cutting down on stress is much more easily said than done. There are always things that we don't want to do that we have to. I think that therapists are supposed to help you deal with the stress rather than make the stressful situations all vanish. I'm glad that you're working on helping yourself and I wish you luck. Do you know if it's possible to get an alternate therapist who's free/extremely cheap? Is it an agency sort of thing or just a single person who gives income based therapy?

I'm still dealing with social anxiety, and I didn't find therapy worked at all. I just gave up on it and am still trying to work on it on my own. Though it's not helping I don't do anything outside of work, I work in retail so I must have to talk with everyone I come across to help them find what they're looking for. Slowly it's becoming better, at least with my coworkers.

Otherwise.. I just view it as I'll never see these customers again, so I can test anything I've learned from books on them without worrying about being judged.

The best thing i learn't about my social anxiety is how you
feel in social situations is how everyone else feels to.
They can just hide it so there not stronger or more confident.
I hope that helps.

I've always had problems being social. It makes me really uncomfortable to be around other
people and I feel panicked when there are crowds.

I haven't sought any help for it though.

As I see it, I don't like being around people, so I stay home.
I'm comfortable at home.

People tell me it's bad for me though...