Do I have social anxiety?

[Parsifal]

Hi all,

I'm pretty certain I suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder, but after having read about the different classes of anxiety disorders, I find it difficult to place myself into anyone of them. The reason I post this question "Do I have social anxiety" is because the symptoms of my anxiety always occur in a social setting. The symptoms are quite simple: Nausea and light-headedness. Some examples of when waves of these symptoms typically will occur are:

Eating with other people
Talking in person with people I'm not 100% comfortable with (colleagues, friends), especially while standing
Carrying a tray of food from one place to another in a caffeteria
Watching TV (like the news) with other people
Attending meetings and conferences
Standing in line (i.e. at some store)
Being in stores I'm not familiar withNow, the funny thing is that I'm actually quite a social person. I enjoy giving lectures in front of an audience, I like hanging out with people and I enjoy a good meal out with my friends. I never experience shyness or feel embarrased or worried about what the other person will think of me and what I'm saying. I do worry that the other person will notice that there's something wrong with me, though. Or that I will cause a scene should I throw up during an important business meeting (I've never actually thrown up as part of this symptom, by the way).

The first time I experienced these symptoms was standing in the checkin line at an airport in London one very early morning. I had to leave my place in line and go to the bathroom, thinking I was coming down with something.

So, does anyone have any experience with these symptoms in situations I've listed here? And is this something that can be characterized as social anxiety disorder, or do I belong in the general anxiety class?

[feels_like_home]

I have the same question. I have always thought that I had general anxiety as I have anxiety most days and feel anxious for most of the day. Then I started looking at the social anxiety thread and feel that a lot of my anxiety is social. I have been to a psychologist and was never given a label. We just worked on strategies to help me cope and heal.

[Magik]

Actually, I feel the same way in those situations you've described. Now, I'm not a doctor, but I'd think it would be normal to feel abit uncomfortable being around people you don't really know or being in a place you aren't familiar with? Wouldn't it?

Then again, I also find myself wondering if that's how my problem didn't start out. I liked giving speeches and meeting new people and now, I find I don't go out much and would rather just stick with my family and close friends I've known for years. Anyone else seems like I'm traveling outside my "Safety zone." Even when I get family together in one room and there seems to be too many, it raises my uncomfortability level and I found myself leaving the Kitchen during Thanksgiving. Which for me, was the first time.

As for what catergory it belongs in, I'd say Social would be right. Though, as to whether or not it's a problem, I don't think many would consider it one. I've noticed they haven't diagnosed me with anything other than saying I've had panic attacks..I really should see a specialist to see what class he might put me in, so I can maybe get treated correctly. I don't think my GP really knows what he's doing, even if he is a good doctor.

[Tony1980]

Parsifal, your comments sound practically the same as mine and my counsellor said I have social anxiety disorder. Now, I work in a hospital, and if I work late, sometimes I have to walk down a long corridor to pharmacy or drop off things at the bloods room etc, but because it's late, the corridors are generally quiet with no people and I feel fine walking up and down there. However, when the corridor is busy of a daytime with lots of people rushing about and chatting I feel very uncomfortable and get a wave of panic which makes my breathing quicken and I can only describe myself as feeling like I'm in my own little "bubble" and not taking much notice of anything around me. Along with this, I get feelings of dread and anxiety which makes me think I'm going to faint / collapse.

I have to remind myself that nothing has ever happened to me in this situation in a bad way before so it's unlikely to again, and also I have to remember to breathe properly and not quicken my breathing.

I too get very uncomfortable at times when talking to people when standing up in the middle of an open space - again for fear of fainting etc. Meetings, lectures, standing in queues are also bad settings.

I met my counsellor at the beginning of this year and he gave me a lot of relaxation techniques and coupled with trying to make myself feel better about myself and understanding my problem and accepting that these things will happen from day to day has made me more confident going out, but hasn't solved everything...I still get social anxiety from time to time in certain situations.

What I believe I need to do is to just "let go" of the fear. It's strange that after a few drinks (alcoholic) that I have very little fear of any situations as I can lose my inhibitions that way, so I know it is all in the mind and it's just knowing how to shake the fear off...hopefully we'll both get there one day!

Tony

[Alabasterlyn]

To me these sound a bit like the symptoms of agoraphobia as I have all of those symptoms too but I was diagnosed with agoraphobia and not social anxiety. Like you I am a very sociable person and love meeting people and never have any trouble knowing how to get along with anyone. However put me in most of the situations you describe and my anxiety kicks in. It's all about feeling trapped I think. If you think about all of the situations you feel anxious in they are situations where you may subconsiously be wondering "I hope I don't feel anxious now", which is enough to trigger anxiety.

Having said all that I am not a fan of being "labelled" as I feel most anxiety disorders overlap a great deal and I'm not sure we gain anything by having a label to be honest.

[Tony1980]

True Alabasterlyn...I believe I also have a bit of agoraphobia as I have taken a dislike to getting out and about to local shops (particularly ones next to busy roads) and something as simple as crossing a road a few months ago used to be a total nightmare (a bit better now though). I have no problem being round friends (the more the merrier in social situations). Like you also say, it's the feeling of being trapped in a situation...my bug bears were lecture theatres, classrooms and places where I had to stand still and talk to people in open spaces...I prefer to feel more freer and do what I want, not what other people think I should do.

I'm booking to see a hypnotherapist with a good track record soon, so hopefully she will be able to break a few walls down for me.