Recommendations for Social Anxiety?

I have social anxiety and while researching Paxil, I'm glad I came across this website which has changed my mind about using it. I see several people on this forum with various types of anxiety, but through a quick search, I don't see much dealing with social anxiety. Is there anybody here with this problem? I'm just looking for any help I can get as far as recommended websites, techniques, or other types of medications that deal with social anxiety without such bad side effects/withdrawal.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[MizzT]

check out

http://www.emofree.com/

I have had great success with it. im just still dealing with the physical symptoms of paxil withdrawal.
i will see an NMT and EFT healer next friday for release of the muscular problems and continue over time to deal with emotional issues.

NMT is here....
http://www.neuromodulationtechnique.com

best of luck

[safarigal]

Medications are a quick fix and don't solve anything. You'll suffer less side effects and withdrawal issues from your social anxiety than you will from drugs.

Try reading some books on anxiety, do some soul searching. Learn to become comfortable with WHO you are and accept yourself. Try seeing a therapist. All these things WORK!!!

[darcyb]

Hi aerc10. As a lifelong stutterer I can tell you that I lived social anxiety to the point of not using the phone.

I got through all that by challenging it gradually and over time. At first it was one public speaking event a year, and then two and then three until the years and numbers all went up and up from repeated practice and confidence building. When I was 16 I could barely use the phone but by the time I was in my 20s, I was a kick *** orateur! Today, at 29, I love social situations of any kind. Heck, I seek them out!

The first thing to realize is the world doesn't revolve around you, only yours does. People are not obsessed with thinking about you, they are like you, too worried about themselves! So all this time you waste wondering what others are thinking about you, they are doing the same and you're all just locked in absurdity.

Like it was mentioned in here, learning about how self image and anxiety work through books, psychotherapy and your own adventures in intentionally putting yourself in social situations, will heal this through you. YOU ARE THE SOLUTION!

Social anxiety was why I took paxil.

Here are my drug-free suggestions.

1. therapy, if you find a good one it is great to talk with someone who won't judge you.

2. meditation/breathing exercises. These can help calm you, though it is sort of hard at first.

3. yoga. When I start my day with yoga, I feel more centered. Lots of videos to choose from

4. exercise. Arobic exercise causes the body to release feel-good chemicals. Better than any drug.

5. Practice the situations that make you anxious. For me the phone was the worst. I couldn't even call a business to ask them their hours without dialing all but the last digit and hanging up four or five times. So for me, I would pick a business, think about the worst that could happen if I called them and see that I was being irrational. I would call them, and then reward myself for a job well done.

6. Replace negative self-talk with positive self talk. When you are thinking, "Gosh, I'm such an idiot." Stop and think, "No, I'm pretty smart" This might seem a little forced at first, but a good habit to get into.

7.

Thanks everybody for the help. I've done a lot of research in the past about different ways to deal with social anxiety, and I've even read two books on the subject, but I just get frustrated after awhile. I'm glad I found this website because it's like having someone there to support you. The funny thing is, I work for a company that sells homes and I answer the majority of the phone calls (probably ~50 a day) and make phone calls for the business without much problem, but as you both mentioned, it's hard for me to make a personal phone call even just to ask a simple question. Just out of curiousity, I was wondering how the things you have mentioned have helped you clynn? How have you progressed since doing these things? I just like to hear about the progress of others because it gives me a little something to look forward to! Thanks again for the help!

[Toots]

AERC10,
I have social phobia. It sucks. I was able to do my job with the help of Xanax and believing that I was someone different at work than elsewhere. That led me to not being able to function anywhere. I'm currently off of work and dealing with lowering the paxil and not taking any sedative unless absolutely necessary.
I also don't make personal calls and don't chat online.
I'm doing a lot of soul-searching and building on my SELF at the moment. I've been eatying better and doing anything I think will help. I have to force myself to eat. Sorry to those that have weight-gain issues. Mine is the opposite. Have to struggle to keep weight on.
I try to keep my physical body intact so I have the strength to take care of my spirit.
Reach out for the support around you.
Talk soon.........
Toots.

The stuff listed has definitely helped me. I still have social anxiety, but I keep it under control--it doesn't control me anymore.

I did take paxil, though, and it helped me by allowing me to concentrate on getting better. Fortunately it didn't cause me the problems it caused others.

Therapy is great if you can afford it. My therapist was a grad student at my university, so mine was free. My mom thought she was too young, but this woman helped me so much.

Exercise is wonderful. I lift weights every morning and then I bike to work and it really makes me feel good about myself.

I'm not really good at breathing exercises, but I know if I did them they would be helpful.

[hope]

I think I may have had an element of that. People said I was really shy. When I was 20 I got a job teaching aerobic exercise classes. The reason was I loved to exercise but couldn't afford a club membership - if I taught aerobics, my membership was free!! Thats when we used records and turntables. My first day I was so scared my hand shook when I tried to put the needle on the record. I was so bad people went up the the front desk and complained. By the time I quit to have my first child, my classes were so packed they had to have auditions for my replacement.

Also took a Dale Carnegie Course, Human Relations and Public Speaking, which helped a lot. Still, I am an introvert and will always be one - being around too many people for too long can leave me feeling drained - but all in all I love being around people and making friends - I had to grow into being that way. I bet you can too.