ConfusedByLife - It's all about me

[ConfusedByLife]

Hi ppl. Just so u know a bit about ConfusedByLife i'll tell u a bit about myself and my experiences of social anxiety disorder. I'm 23, male from Northern Ireland and have always be fairly shy but content with my life. That was until I hit my teens. As a teen the changes happening in my body and brain left me confused and anxious about who I was and what I wanted to be. This came to a head when sitting A-Level school exams about 5 years ago, the "trigger" in my opinion to my current social anxiety. I had never been so stressed until this time when my whole body just went into self distruct mode. I was so anxious I could hardly even bring myself to sit the exams and when I did I was throwing up before and felt like it during the exams, even tho I knewthe stuff. I had never felt so out of control in my own body. This started the self doubt and negativity I still suffer to this day, every morning waking up feeling helpless to controlmy brains effects on the rest of my body. This lack of confidence has led to a vicious circle of social withdrawal and further feelings of inadequacy. I am currently on effexor 75mg although i've tried about 3 drugs in the last month ( the lastmonth has been a complete nightmare coming off and going on different anti-depressants. I've never felt so low, although today I seem to be on track again. I just tried Zisprin (never felt so badin my life, if you want a drug to make you sleep and feel anxious, this is it), and have previously tried Cymbalta (poor version of effexor) and effexor, which I think is a great drug but the effect wears off over time. I also take diazepam when I feel extremely anxious about a certain social event. This is also a great drug but also it's effect lessens with time. That's a bit about me. Hope I haven't bored you all to tears. BYE!!!

[trac67]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, you will get a lot of good advice here and make some new friends.

Take care

Trac xx

'Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten'

[FRANKIEISBACK]

U take care mate

[jackie]

hey you. i too am from ireland, belfast to be precise.

i attend a wee group every second tuesday of the month. are you anywhere near belfast

jackie

[Karen]

Hi ConfusedByLife

Welcome to the forum. I also experience social phobia, although I have gone from being totally isolated and unable to speak to a single person or socialise at all, to now having a number of great friends here and gradually I am tackling and facing my fears.

You are right that avoiding situations makes things worse as this is what I had been doing for years before finding this site. It is the encouragement I've received here and some hypnotherapy which has helped me start to make progress and there is hope of recovery from this.

You might find the following information helpful:

First Steps (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=firststeps)

Symptoms (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=symptoms)

social anxiety
FEAR OF MESSAGES (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6303)

Links post: Links to posts about Common Problems (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7784)

You will find a lot of help and support here.


Karen



Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of travelling.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough ~ Christine Cagney, Cagney & Lacey

[Alexandra]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

You will find lots of help & support on here.

Take Care

Alex

Many People Will Walk
In & Out Of Your Life
But Only True Friends
Will Leave Footprints
In Your Heart

[nomorepanic]

Welcome aboard and lovely to see you here.

Nicola

[hayles]

Hi and welcome
This site is great.
Hope to hear more from you in the future!

take care

Hay x

[ConfusedByLife]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">hey you. i too am from ireland, belfast to be precise.

i attend a wee group every second tuesday of the month. are you anywhere near belfast

jackie

<div align="right">Originally posted by jackie - 21 April 2006 : 23:03:43</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Yes Jackie, I live in Lisburn. Thanks for your feedback. I would have to know a good bit about the group before i'd feel confident enough, or consider going to it. I am sure you are all nice people but it's about convincing myself to be confident enough to go, as group situations are probly where I feel most anxious.