View Full Version : New SA-suffering member
Hey all!
My name's Harri, just thought I'd take a look at the boards here (and maybe the chat room - I'm impatient :p). I'm just looking to socialise and make some friends really and online's definitely easiest!
I've had mild Social Anxiety for as long as I can remember but when I went to Uni a few years ago (I'm 26 now and rubbish with working out dates) it really snowballed after an er, experience. Had a couple of panic attacks and became quite reclusive. I eventually got an appointment with an NHS psychologist a year after I finished and over the course of a year used CBT to bring myself back to a fairly normal level and overcome some of the fallacies I was operating under.
I've had a fairly tough year socially and I feel like I'm slipping back into being really socially anxious. I'm really quite a rational, logical person so it's driving me to distraction that I can't comfortably talk to people I don't know, or know very well, without this fear of things that could go badly.
Anyway, enough of the depressing stuff. Hope I manage to fit in here and I look forward to talking to you all.
Hi Harri
We just wanted to welcome you aboard to NMP. We hope you enjoy your stay here and get all the support and advice you need.
Please take some time to read the website articles on the left as well for loads of advice and tips.
hi Harri, I'm sure you'll fit in well
I don't think you can get into the chat room until 5 days after you join (not entirely sure why lol ) but there's a lot of social anxiety sufferers and also quite a few your age too so I hope you find some good friends and you're absolutely right online is so much easier so a good way to build your confidence :)
Hehe yeah I'd noticed when I tried to get in. I'll see if I can wait that long. I had mainly joined because of that. Any idea how busy it usually gets or if it's popular?
Glad to hear there are people my age with the same sort of issues (well, sort of - prefer nobody had them hehe).
I guess I'll go prod the main forums a bit, see if there's something I can talk about.
it varies. evenings are busiest average 20 people maybe? in the day time not many people really.
I think maybe you're best bet is to like you say go through the forums and get to know some people through there. there's a sction on penpals that you might be interested in, where abouts are you from?
I might take a look. I find it hard to get started on forums though. Not sure why - used to be great at them! Having a bit of a dilemma right now. I don't feel bad enough to post a thread or to chime in on an existing one. Might just keep my eye out and see if anything pops up later.
I'm from around Newcastle (upon Tyne), pretty much been here except uni in Manchester. Looks like this forum caters to quite a few places/countries from what I can see.
no way that's amazing I'm from Prudhoe I'm in the process of organising a meet up if you'd be interested? and don't worry about how bad or good you feel, it's really great to just be with people who understand what you're going through so you can build up your confidence for situations you find hard at the mo
Harri, I've just found out you're a boy! lol I quite honestly thought I was talking to Harriet lol was just going to say I love the name Harri for a girl...so I must admit I've been hoping to meet a girl around my age for our meet up but I'm not one to be sexist of course you are still very welcome to join us if we do eventually get a meet sorted.
I'm in North Shields at the moment so not that far!
I'd noticed the thread actually. I'd definitely be interested depending on the date. I've been to a meet-up from a different community before and it was a real confidence-booster, though it was in leeds.
I'll keep an eye on the thread and see what comes of it :)
cool, north shields? is that the one with the beach? and the fun fare? and the Michi something icecream? we were just there the other weekend at the beach when it was hot I do like the michi ice cream
well I think I'm going to start a new thread called 'meet up in Newcastle' if you've read the north east meet ups thread you'll see there there's a few of us from a few different places, I think Newcastle is a good central city. My anxiety is less about social more about feeling safe in places I know reasonably well and Newcastle is just about ok for me still a little struggle. Prudhoe is 10 miles west of Newcastle so pretty close :)
That's South Shields, where I've never been but may be riding through on my bike tomorrow, so I'll keep an eye out for a fun fair. I don't really know much about it though. North Shields is on the north bank of the Tyne and not that great a place really. Luckily I live closer to Tynemouth which is really nice and also has a beach.
I think I'm about 10 miles east of Newcastle so it looks like we're equidistant.
how can you have never been to south shields living in North shields?? lol if you do ride through there be sure to stop off at Michi something ice cream parlour I think it's called Michini's
I've never actually needed to go there and I didn't really know there was anything worth going to there!
Minchella perhaps? I just googled it. If it's italian style then it'll probably be super-tasty. I had some melon-flavoured ice-cream in italy and it was probably the nicest I've ever had!
awww I'd love to try italian ice cream!
I have an ice cream maker at home pretty fun :) but I wouldn't even try to make melon ice cream like the italians lol
keep a check on newcastle meet ups for updates :) there's another guy with health anxiety 22 from Durham so that would be cool for you
enjoy your ride tomorrow
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.