Social Anxiety

[BlueTrane]

When I’m in public, the crowd's noise hits me like a tidal wave, disorienting me and making it impossible to think straight. I try to centre myself, but it’s a race against time, a constant battle to block out the whispers—real or imagined—the conspiracies my mind weaves against me. I do my best not to get overwhelmed, to hold myself together, because the alternative is losing control, and no matter how many times my therapist tells me that wouldn’t be the end of the world, it sure as hell feels like it would be. She tells me not to let paranoia keep me from living, from going outside, from existing beyond the walls of my home. Our work together primarily challenges these fears, forcing me to confront them. I want to be out in the world on my terms. I want to be able to function like others do. I know people with my condition who manage it—if they melt down, they deal with it, they face whatever reactions come their way. But my self-consciousness, my hyper-awareness of everything, everyone, keeps me locked inside my head, avoiding social situations so I never have to deal with the fallout.

[Gremlin24]

@BlueTrane i can relate to this so much. I never used to have so many issues going out but now I have a panic attack pretty much everytime and they are only getting worse. I have ear buds that are noise cancelling and honestly they are a game changer for me, it really helps to at least drown out some of the outside noise. I put them in go in to the shops get what I need and get out as quickly as I can, no it doesn't stop my panic attacks because it's still the fear of everyone looking at me etc. But the noise of everyone and everything happening around me is at least not so overwhelming. 

Everyone is different and has different ways of dealing with social anxiety, so what works for one won't necessarily work for another. It's going to be trial and error, but it can be done. I hope you can find what works for you and having therapy should help you learn to manage it.

Good luck, you are not alone 😊

[Snuggles]

Hi @BlueTrane 

I can relate to this as well. Noise-canceling headphones are the most effective for me, but it's important to stay aware of your surroundings. Another technique I use is repeating a mantra to myself—usually something simple like "Everything is going to be okay. Just breathe." I also count to 100 repeatedly to help ground myself.

I tend to avoid looking at people because I don’t want to attract attention. But that’s just my personal approach. If you're in therapy for social anxiety, I’d suggest sticking with the techniques your therapist recommends. It can take time for new habits to feel natural, so be patient with yourself.

Hope this helps!

Snuggles 😊

[Jynx]

All the other people you are perhaps comparing yourself to @BlueTrane have never had to deal with your anxiety. Maybe if they were, they'd be struggling just as much. 

What about your own progress? For instance is there something you can do now that you weren't able to do a year ago? 

[BlueTrane]

@Jynx 

I am able to go to the gym for my physiology appointment and work out despite the noise of the other people. I would not have been able to do that before.