Social Anxiety Support: Living with Social Anxiety Disorder

Many people wonder whether or not they have social anxiety disorder.  Just because you get nervous from time to time before a social event or speaking engagement doesn’t necessarily mean you have the disorder.  Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not you have the disease:

1.  Do you have persistent fears before a social situation that you will embarrass yourself and that “everyone will be watching you”?

2.  Do you get increasingly nervous in the midst of social interactions? Or does the anxiety dissipate once you get used to the situation?

3.  Do you believe or have you been told that your fear of social interactions and performance is excessive and unreasonable compared to others?

4.  Do you find yourself avoiding social or performance situations rather than enduring the anxiety that accompanies them?

5.  Do your fears increase in anticipation of most social situations or are they triggered by just a few specific situations such as public speaking or a job interview?

Obviously, these questions are not exhaustive when it comes to diagnosing social anxiety disorder.  But, if you answered yes to at least three of them you might have the disorder.  If you suspect you have social anxiety disorder seek medical advice as soon as possible.  Don’t get discouraged!  Remember, the disease is very treatable.

I really struggled last night.  I awoke with panic, excessive sweating and the same old runaway fears about dying, etc.  Then, I made things worse by self-loathing and thinking “Why Me?”.  I hate having this disease and I wish it would just go away.  However, at least for now, it looks like I’m stuck with it.  It’s easy to sit here and write this but it’s hard when your feeling anxious and everyone else seems to be doing just fine.  As I was in the midst of a pity party for myself last night I did two things:  popped a Xanax and reminded myself that I need to accept that fact that I have social anxiety disorder.   Worrying about having the disease only makes it worse.  The Xanax comforted some but the acceptance I came to comforted even more. 

We do have this disease.  It’s just a fact…there’s no wishing it away.  I think the sooner we accept it and try to manage it rather than fight it the better off we’ll be.  The next attack I have I’m going to re-read this post myself and remind myself to be ok with the fact that I’m going to be anxious from time to time.  It doesn’t make me a bad person, it just makes me a social anxiety sufferer.  But, that’s not what defines me as a person any more than diabetes defines a diabetic.  It’s just a part of the deal down here.  We’ve all got maladies, dysfunctions and disorders.  Let’s help each other accept it and get on with life the best we can with what we’ve got!