Suffering From Shyness?
Are You Suffering From The Daily Anxiety Of Being Shy?
Are you suffering from shyness? Or could it be something more? Some people who think they are just shy are really suffering from social anxiety. Social Anxiety is often misdiagnosed as simple shyness.
Are You Just Shy?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you worry for days, weeks, months about an event you have to attend?
- Do you immediately start coming up with excuses not to attend an event?
- Do you have an extreme fear of being judged by others?
- Do you have extreme fear of talking to strangers?
- Do you find it almost impossible to use the phone?
- Do you panic when someone knocks on your door?
- Do you avoid going to the store?
- Do you find it extremely hard to carry on any form of conversation online?
- Are you extremely afraid of looking, doing, or saying something “stupid” in social situations?
If you answered YES to any of these, you may be suffering from SOCIAL ANXIETY.
You will learn how to overcome your suffering from shyness, as well as overcoming your suffering from social anxiety.
No longer will you have to sit on the sidelines… missing out on life, hoping and praying to be different.
You will also find out why you must not wait and hope for things to change. You must take action now. Not taking action will result in increased fear and possibly bring on additional problems such as Panic Attacks, Depression, Agoraphobia, and more.
This site will offer proven methods I have used that will take you step by step on a journey to overcome your daily pain and struggles of missing out on life. Resources and methods such as:
- changing your thought process
- setting goals
- defining your beliefs and expectations
- assessing your fears
and much more…
How do I know this?
My name is Pam, and I have Social Anxiety. I can remember instances of panic when I was 4 years old. Obviously I didn’t know then what was wrong, and I didn’t find out until much, much later.
I have been to countless therapists, doctors, psychologists… I have read many books and I have spent hours every day doing research online.
My situation was so bad, I couldn’t even walk out to the mailbox and get my own mail. The worst thing is, I have missed out on numerous events with my children.
I know where you are at; I know how you feel; I know the pain, guilt, and embarrassment that comes with social anxiety.
I also know, if you choose to ignore this disorder, it will continue to get worse. My symptoms escalated to depression, panic attacks and agoraphobia. Until I chose to do something, and you can too!
Hi,
I’ve been told that hypnotherapy works and should give it a try, as I have SA. Do you know if this is correct. Would love to hear.
Thank you
TH.
Yes, TH, I have heard that hypnotherapy works for most people if used regularly. Good Luck!
hi, i also suffer from anxiety, well i hav obsessive compulsive disorder, and i get veally anxious if i do or say somethine i,e if i dont want something to happen, and its getting to the point where i feel isolater and trapped in my own mind, i dont know how to deal with it as much as id like to, ive learnt that if you just ignore the problems and try to blank them out of your mind then you come around and feel much better and forget about them, you are not alone, thouands of people have this problem, i wish you well and try not to worry to much as this will only escalate the problem
It is my Dad who suffers from severe anxiety and this in turn has led to a deep depression. At first the whole family thought that he was just lazy and because he too has a drink problem thought he was just selfish and we wanted nothing to do with him. It is only now as i have got older i am beginning to understand the disease that my Dad has and i am comming to terms with it and trying to understand that it is not his fault why he is the way he is. In my Dad’s case it is a genetic thing. His mother and three of his brothers also suffer from the disease. My Dad was signed into a mental health clinic for weeks just lately and i have now realised how mentally sick he really is and that he needs the support of his family to help him through this torture – thats what i call it – a torture in his mind. He is at a stage where he cannot be left on his own as he has such massive fears from his phone ringing to thuder storms. It is a very frustrating situation and you wish you could just give him a kick up the ass and tell him to cop on but now i understand that that will never happen and he actually cant do anything bout his situation -if my Dad was diagonised with cancer in the morning all the family would be giving him all the support in the world and getting the best treatment possible, well to me at last i can see that this depression/anxiety disease that my Dad has is the same as any other disease only maybe harder as it is very hard to fully understand unless you have information and suppoprt in relation to the disease. I write this message in the hope that anyone who has a family member or friend suffering from depression/anxiety to please try and understand and give them all the support you can as they need it so much because they are just lonely dependent people who need all the love they can get!
That’s another reason people don’t seek help that they need. Cancer is easier to diagnose and more believable and accepted. Torture is a great descriptive word for this crippling disease. I am glad you are giving your dad the support he needs. Good luck!
Hi, I find it is really hard to use computer in front of people. When I do need to do that, I feel extremely nervous. Because of this, I hate training at work and it really limited my career. Do you have any advice? Many thanks.
Hey Julie! Keep telling yourself you are in charge, you are the trainer, you can do this! If you find yourself getting too nervous, you can make a joke about the computer (I hate it when they keep moving the tab key or something along those lines) to get yourself back in check and keep going!
Hello,
I suffer daily with SA. I dont like eating in front of people, scared of doing something stupid, etc. Im wondering what little things i can do to help myself in this situation.
MR
I suffer from anxiety, when I am around people at school & when I am eatinga aswell,
And I also get extremly Nervous when I have to go to school, it makes me so ill, I don’t know what to do anymore. Some nights I just come in and cry for hours and hours
I wish I didn’t have this problem it is ruining my life. I have had concilling about a year ago.. but that did not change anything !!!
Reply back, Dreamer xx
Hi Miss Dreamer, Try to focus only on what you are doing at the moment. Try not to look ahead, nor behind. If it’s going to school, concentrate only on what is happening at the present time. In other words, don’t let your thoughts wander to what’s ahead or what you “think” might happen. Repeatedly tell yourself, I’m going to have a great day! Or, I’m going to ace that exam! Never let any negative thoughts interfere. Good Luck!
Hi Everyone, I suffer badly with SA, I feel it is destoying me it affects my everyday, at work, the shops, friends the little that I have. I never feel good enough and always wonder why people would like me because I am so boring, even as much as my family visiting i think ” why do they want to see me” “what am i going to say to them” how am I going to entertain them”? maybe it is a bit of depression now?? how do you escape this torture, i so badly would like to be someone else.
I feel that when i finally get the courage to go out i have to be a bit tipsy otherwise my mind goes completely blank and i cant think of anything to say anyway, i am just getting so tired of feeling this way. help
I have young children, who r themselves starting to become shy now thanks to me, i dont go shopping till im absolutley out of everything, kids miss birthday parties, xmas carnivals, even getting them to school is hard work they’re almost always late so i can avoid running into anyone.I have missed weddings, friends birthdays, n family events coz id rather aviod feeling uncomfortable, than catch up with ppl i havent seen 4 yrs…..My partner doesnt understand what im going through n tells me i should just listen when he tells me that going out 4 coffee with an old school friend would b good 4 me. i know what he is saying is correct it would b good 4 me to not miss out on that but he doesnt understand what i would b feeling 2 sit there n pretend im in a comfortable place, he even laughed at me when we caught a train into the city once n i got really hot n started crying feeling like i was running out of air…he doesnt realise it makes me feel even worse n even more that its all me n my fault, i dont know how to get myself to doctor to get help….
its so nice to know im not alone. I panic and have fear about the most stupid things. like talking on the phone at work, i am worried that i sound stupid to other people. also that everything i say is unnecessary and that people just ignore everything i say. I often think to myself why do i care what people think, but its beginning to take over my life
I was a bus driver for twenty – five years and had to give it up due to my illness. Here is a statement i gave to various job training places i had to attened
Statement – 8th February 2009
Although my CV might be mildly impressive, I am unable to do any of those things as I am suffering from mental health problems namely anxiety, depression and alcohol dependency for which I am having treatment from the Stonebow unit. I am on anti-depressants, attend alcohol counselling every three weeks, see a physcoligsht every three months and am on a waiting list to see a psychiatrist (12 mths).
Normal life is impossible for me. As a former individual who was confident and well liked, I do not like going out alone and rely on taxis to ferry me about and invoke a sense of fear and suspicion to people who do not know me.
Nobody walks away from a £1800 yr job with a good pension easily –a job I had been in for 25 yrs and relatively enjoyed doing. But I struggled for six or seven years until it was impossible to go on and felt suicidal. It is very likely that my PCV licence will be revoked.
I was claming ESA but had to have a medical with their doctor who said there was nothing wrong with me and was forced to claim Jobseekers allowance thereby making my situation more worrying. My GP strongly advised me to appeal which I did and am waiting to hear the outcome. Any appointment is met with anxiety and to be kept waiting an hour for a jobseekers interview in which I have to tell lies is not complimentary to the recovery of my illness.
I feel abused, have low esteem and think the future looks very bleak.
I have written this statement because I read that a person who did not put on her CV that she had depression was taken to court and sued for supplying false information and the recovery of her sick pay.
CBT is an amazing, quick, and lifelong tool. It is also EVIDENCE BASED – I can’t tell you how important that is. It actually WORKS! There are so many dodgy therapies out there, one has to be careful.
HI,i am suffering from social anxiety since 5 years.Whenever i am in crowed or in my class i become consciuos anout myself a lot.My breath become irreguler,i can’t sit confortably in crowed it become stressful and my head start aching.I force myself to think positive but bcoz of the symptoms i can’t think positive.I become tired and stressful with the imagination that people are watching me.Watching my face continously.I don’t have problem look wise means i am a good looking girl than also i have this problem.When i tell my problem to my parents or brother or sister they don’t understand me they say that you are ok.Nothing happened to me but how can believe this?I am suffering from it they don’t know that i am really going through a stressful daily.I don’t have confidence in me.
In my past i wasn’t good in studies at all in school but i am good in studies.I used to dance a lot and i was having lots of friends but now i have friends but i don’t mix up with them bcoz of my social phobia.When i talk with them than i find un little bit confortable but when i sit quietly i become unfortable that they will see my symtoms of fear,nervousness,my nose show my symtoms.Please please help me by your suggestions and advices.
Thank you
I’m a 33 year old male. What can I say, social anxiety has destroyed my life. I can’t work, and I have never had a girlfriend and never will. I wish I was dead.
hi my anxiety is being caused through a courtcase for custudy for my lovely son aidan but im all so not eating or sleeping crying all the time please reply and try and give me some advice lov donna
Hi Donna
I also suffer from Anxiety. Please go and speak to jour Doctor as soon as possible. It can be treated successfully. Dont suffer in silence, talke about it to everyone that will listen, and most of all dont hide it or feel ashemd of it.
wishing jou all the best Erika
Hi everyone, I accidentally came upon this page and read all of the comments….some said they wish they are dead, some say its torture….I KNOW how you guys feel..you guys got me crying and my heart goes out to everyone of you!!!!:((( I had this SAD since I was 18, people have been praying for me …( am almost bold with all the laying on of hands
) have used and bought just about every course on the net BUT still no cure…. but am still searching and positive..maybe its my life’s purpose but a cure/solution I WILL FIND and am looking forward helping others getting out of this HELL!!
Hello everyone. I’m also suffering from social anxiety and it has affected every part of my life. I have dropped out of 3 colleges so far because I didn’t feel like I belonged in there. I currently have no jobs and no friends and every relationship I’ve entered into has not worked out.
There’s always something on my mind as I feel like a thousand voices are inside my head. I can’t sort out my thoughts. This has also led me to isolate myself from my family to the extent that I don’t have contact with any family member now. Right now I think I’m on the edge as life has become really difficult. And I live in a third world country where much support is not available for people like me.
I wish I could get my hand on some form of medication but I can’t afford it and since I’m not working too because of my condition, I am also struggling to meet my basic needs. Sometimes I just want to move away from this country and start life all over again. I’ve been thinking about it a lot these days and I don’t seem to find any solution to it.
I AM SUFFERING FROM SA, TO THE POINT I JUST WANT TO BE BYSELF ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM EATING. PLEASE HELP.
I had social anxiety for years, yes it can really make you suffer. The thing to do is to stay open minded and keep trying different things until you find what works for you. For me it was going to telephone support groups for social anxiety and working the Social Anxiety Anonymous program of recovery, there is a free book for that: http://healsocialanxiety.com/SPAOnlineLibrary.html
Hi
Over the past few months I have started to have a problem with social anxiety at work. This worries me because i never used to be like this. I start getting paranoid, high anxiety of what people may think of me when i do or say something to them or in a group and also have been losing sleep because i am filled with worry. I feel stupid every time i get done having a conversation with someone at work. I even limit myself from going out in public only to get what i need and return home. I don’t attend social events like i used to and this kills me. I for some reason feel much better when i am by myself. These things get to me emotionally and i don’t know what to do.
Hey Kraig, the best thing for you to do is to not limit yourself. Avoiding will only make things worse. If you need a little help with the anxiety, don’t rule out medication. I couldn’t sleep because of my anxiety and my sister in law actually made an appointment and went with me to the doctor. She prescribed an anxiety medicine, and although I’m no longer on it, it helped a lot in the sleeping department. I have some suggestions on the blog that might help. From muscle relaxation to stopping your negative thoughts. I hope you will find helpful ways to turn your situation around.
Answered yes to all of those question. I don’t know how I managed to finish college, I would blush whenever someone tried to talk to me.
I have only had two proper jobs at 28 years old, one was for one month and the other for one week. I find it so hard to speak to people and start a conversation, people must think I’m a freak and will avoid me whenever possible.
I can’t concentrate and end up ignoring people where I think I will say something stupid to them or what they must think of me. I try to avoid using the phone whenever possible and dread going to public places like the movies or a restaurant.
That’s a big part of the problem. People who don’t have Social Anxiety don’t take it seriously. I’ve run into professionals who were “suppose to help” not take it seriously. We’ve come a long way in getting this noticed and taken seriously, but I feel we have a ways to go yet.
Hi,
I have been suffering from anziety for past two years. I fear being alone, travelling in lift, airplanes, driving alone…I have read about anxiety and got to know about CBT. I want to know how helpful is it? what other options are there to overcome this problem…
Life is beautiful and I wont let this anxiety making it a hell…its tough at times.. a small work becomes a task…at times u hv to push urself…
I feel due to this problem I m unable to grow professionally….and its affects me a lot…kindly tell me more about CBT and any other therapy for the same..
Divya
Hello. I am not sure what I have. I think I suffer from Anxiety. I try to ignore it. But it does not go away. I am trying desperately to get work, it is hard. The government says we have to work and I am all up for that. I come from a hard working family background. I don’t know how I have become so ill. I feel really judged when I am around people. I sometimes make excuses not to attend certain things. But on occasions I can attend things. I go for lots of interviews to get jobs but I always fail in my interview, this is due to my anxiety. I don’t tell anyone I have anxiety. I really want to work, maybe if I got work my problem would go away. I don’t want to be on benefits. I just want a life.
Juliet and Andrea have put my exact feelings into the right words. I feel worthless sometimes and I cant do any of the things all the cool people do. I am tired of feeling isolated and scared to leave the house I avoid the neighbors, my friends, family, people at the store who try and talk to me I just get nervous I feel like I am being fake when I do try and make small talk and I over-anayize every social situation. I try to stay cool and focus on what they are saying sometimes my mind wonders somewhere else or I am just so nervous and scared of looking stupid. Its hard to make friends I try to make friends at work but I am scared to look stupid infront of a whole crowd of people its like my brain jus froze up and I dont kno what to say to break the ice and I avoid going anywhere that people invite me ive made so many excuses not to go that everyone stopped asking now I feel so left out. I lost my job and i only have 1 friend left but even she is getting frustrated with me always avoiding going places with her. I would like to go but since I never get out much I dont know how to act normal and what to say. I dont have medical coverage so i cant even think about getting help this is my life and I just gotta get over it or deal with it.
I suffered domestic abuse from an ex partner of 4 years. I had a tough time.I was fine until he got out of prison and i am a nervous wreck, have no confidence unless its one of my close friends or family.
I cant get a job because imso nervous and have panic attacks.
What can help
I have a boy of 1 and feel like im ruining his life already and am a crap mum
Hello gaga, can you get help from the authorities to make sure your ex cannot contact you? Are you on medication for your panic attacks? You are not a crap mum, you are just going through some terrible times right now.
hi! i suffer bad from SA, im only my real true self in front of my boyfriend….funny and goofy but when around other people i get really nervous, so nervous that my voice shakes and mind goes blank….i hate when my voice shakes! when a situation is all over im constantly kicking myself in the butt for acting stupid. Please anybody! give me some advice
i dont really feel i know who i am anymore. i am so stressed about everything. i hate talking on the phone in public, i hate large groups where i am expected to speak or say something and i go blank, i worry about doing small things with others around. i dont like driving with others in my car, i feel as though i might miss a turn and feel dumb, i dont know. i cannot seem to get a grip on life, my fiance is so outgoing, and he has definitely helped, but i still have tremendous stress. i always get nervous and shaking around his friends. sometimes i am more relaxed if alcohol is involved. i wish i could actually talk to someone about this.
My friend is suffering from what we think is SAD, whenever he’s in a social situation he starts to sweat.he thinks it is ”hydrosis” because the sweating is so excessive that he gets so embarrassed that he has to leave. It is starting to disable him and he mentioned he didn’t even want to go to the shops for groceries. We used to live together as a couple and I thought he was lazy and drinking too much and we used to argue about him not making th efort to meet my friends for dinner, drinks, parties, but now we’ve split up I realise that it wasn’t his fault. He actually couldn’t physically face these social situations and so he would stay in drinking watching films and playing the guitar. I am really worried that I don’t know what to suggest to him and he hasn’t seen his family and friends from home in 9 months. I feel responsible as we moved to a new town far from home tpgether and I want to help. I heard about botox injections and other medications. Any advice would be appreciated