>sit in moderately busy restaurant >intense anxiety, don't know where to look, don't know what to do with arms, lip starts twitching
>go to shop to get literally one item >intense anxiety, jusy want to escape, don't know where to look, say awkward things in a monotone voice to cashier, forget how to walk or do basic movements and come across awkward af
>to scared to leave house to do simple things like pick up a parcel as I know it'll involve multiple soul crushing experiences and ill come home exhausted.
Take antidepressants. Unless feeling like you're on to some secret jewish psyop feels better than not having anxiety.
Ryan Adams
That second one really bothers me. Like I'd want to buy something, I'll be driving to the store and every passing minute my anxiety will rise until I'm actually at the parking lot of the store and I'll bail the fuck out. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Carter Ortiz
You need friends
Kevin Hernandez
It's worth a shot for OP but be aware that antidepressants don't work for everyone. It doesn't work if your issues are caused by low self-esteem.
Bentley Sanders
Why?
Brayden Hughes
remember noone gives 2 shits about you and will forget anything weird/stupid you do in less than 5 minutes
Owen Gomez
>What do? Seek professional help instead of posting on anonymous image boards filled with bro science.
Really helped me figure out what my problems are and how to work on them. My quality of life has improved a lot.
Josiah Morgan
This is probably the best step you can take.
But since you are anxiety is so bad and you most likely won't do it, you can do some effective work on your social anxiety by yourself. Read up on social anxiety and figure out exactly what you are afraid of and why. Learn how cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy works.
And i mean actually read up on these things, don't watch 10 minute jordan peterson videos on youtube, go and buy actual books.
I had terrible social anxiety for most of my teenage years that eventually got so bad that i dropped out of uni at age 22. I'm waaay better now, never having talked to a soul about it, but it was really hard work. A few personal tips:
1. Your anxiety got this bad because of a positive feedback loop you are creating. You are afraid of some situation, avoid that situation and thus teach your subconscious it was right to be afraid, only making yourself more anxious.
2. Don't smoke weed or drink excessive amount of alcohol.
3. Finally the most important thing, which you already know deep down. There is one "simple" way to solve your anxiety and it's just to face your fears and go out there. Doesn't matter what else you do that might help, whether it be reading books, talking to a therapist or taking medication, in the end you will have to do one thing and one thing only if you ever want to live a normal life. Go out every day and do the things you are so deeply afraid of and it will get easier. A lot faster than you might think.
Dylan Diaz
/thread
John Butler
I know that feel. I started a new job last week and only worked the first day. The second day, I drove all the way there, sat in the parking lot, then decided not to go in and left. There was the familiar feeling of what I can only call 'doom'. Like something bad would happen if I went in to work. Dunno what's wrong with me. I don't know if you've tried antidepressants, but I tried sertraline a few years ago and it kinda worked, but made me irrationally angry while on it after a couple days.
Jack Cox
I don't want my dick to not work
Ian Kelly
This. I can interact well with ppl, but the anticipation beforehand is near fucking unbearable, I don't know what to make of it desu
Dylan Allen
Pretty sure you not getting any pussy anyway so why even care?
Lincoln Harris
Stop watching porn, my anxiety dissapeared that way
This might be true if you meet some stranger for the first and last time in your life, but first impressions are forever and having to be in the presence of someone who you had an awkward encounter with will always remind them of that.
Evan Roberts
Cognitive behavioural therapy. It's quick and effective compared to traditional psychotherapy. Worked for me in 8 sessions and I was probably worse than your post describes. As for drugs, I'd recommend avoiding them if you can - you get dependent on them and they're really not necessary if you do CBT. You thought your way into anxiety and you can think your way out too. I did. Good luck OP.
I also have to deal with anxiety, not as severe, I can usually talk to random strangers without much worry, but I really struggle with approaching people for the sake of social interaction and going anywhere that is full of my peers always fucks me up hard. The days that I noticed were better were the ones that I had spent socializing with people and the ones that didn't help my anxiety at all were the ones that I spent avoiding people and telling myself how I don't need anyone anyways. Though having an awkward exchange with someone, especially someone that I like, made everything much worse and got stuck in my mind for the time being, constantly reminding me of my failure and just reinforcing my anxiety even more. You just need something that would take your mind off of the anxiousness while you are in the moment, socializing itself is the best way to do that.
Ian White
This is pretty much me with my current job. I had awkward encounters with near enough everyone at the start and now they see me as a strange guy that doesn't talk and looks like he's having a 24 hour anxiety attack. Couple that with the fact I failed to stand up for myself in numerous situations where I definitely should have and my "street rep" is absolute zero.
Eli Perry
It's all in your head guys. Literally nobody gives a fuck and people are generally a lot more forgiving than you think. Grown up people, that is.
For me, the best thing to do when I've done something weird or awkward is to just own it. >man that was really awkward Then everyone can have a laugh and move on.
Adrian Mitchell
>tfw 19 y/o doomer Where did it all go wrong bros. Fuck it tho, getting my shit together and in the process of making it.
OP, anxiety used to control my life. I’m not perfect now but I’m loads better. Here are a few simple tips:
>Never run from your anxiety, face it head on This includes both being an agoraphobe and that anxious feeling of needing to escape. Go and do things that you know may make you anxious. Don’t give into that temptation of leaving an anxious situation for relief (for me it was going to hide in the bathroom). By submitting to your anxiety you are solidifying your brain’s dependence on it
>Breathe This is the number one thing to do when feeling anxious and it WILL make you feel better. Breathe in for 3-5 seconds, hold it for 3-5 seconds, release 3-5 seconds. Breathe from your belly, imagine your hand is on your belly and when you breathe you are pushing it away
>Do not define yourself as an anxious person This sounds dumb but I STRONGLY encourage you to learn breathing strategies ASAP and stop thinking about anxiety as much as possible. So many people these days succumb to the idea of being an anxious person and they make it their entire identity. I guarantee that makes it 1,000 times worse and more real to their brain
This is scatterbrained obviously but let me know if you have questions. This is based off my own experience having suffered fairly regular anxiety for many years and now it’s rare. And, more importantly, when I do feel anxiety coming in I know how to control and stop it. I know friends who started having symptoms around the same time I did who are still nutcases because they’ve simply accepted being anxious and just take pills for it
Also regular exercise and good sleep go a long way but since this is fit I’m hoping you already do that
Caleb Jenkins
You know how you gives zero fucks about 99.99% of people and if they died you wouldn't care? 99.99% of people feel the same about you. You're not special.
John Morales
try valium. It worked great for my social anxiety, but then I started abusing it and almost od'd. Unfortunately it got confiscated, and I have to deal with it the faggy way like going to toastmasters and building 'confidence'.
