Social Anxiety Disorder

[JoshDude]

Hey VT. Just looking for some opinions and some help =)

Well, I believe that I have Social Anxiety Disorder. It's basically I have a phobia of doing anything remotely social in any form. I'm scared about talking on the phone, talking to strangers, talking to anybody at all, going out in public, eating in public.... I'm totally scared of making mistakes and looking bad in public!

This wikipedia article explains all the different aspects of Social Anxiety Disorder - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anxiety_disorder

So, I've always felt like this, I just never knew what the problem was until I came across this article. I have a feeling that I should go see a psychiatrist, except having a social phobia makes it extremely hard for me to talk to anybody who can help me. /cry. Speaking to a psychologist seems impossible right now, but I don't know what to do.

Any help, please. XD
Thanks

[Atonement]

See this is where a line has to be draw. Theres a difference between being shy and having a psychiatric illness. Having social anxiety disorder is where you lose your ability to properly function in everyday life. Not just, don't like to or want to, you feel you are physically unable. These people often have physiological symptoms that literally make them unable to do these activites. Such as vomitting and shaking uncontrollably. Now, by the way you discribed yourself, I dont believe you have social anxiety disorder. But, I am not a doctor. If I were you, I would talk to your parents about it and see their opinion. And sleep on it. Don't make any decisions too fast because right now, it doesn't seem too urgent. So, if you still feel this way in a week, then go. But right now, just lul it over and talk with your parents or maybe school counselor.

[JoshDude]

See this is where a line has to be draw. Theres a difference between being shy and having a psychiatric illness. Having social anxiety disorder is where you lose your ability to properly function in everyday life. Not just, don't like to or want to, you feel you are physically unable. These people often have physiological symptoms that literally make them unable to do these activites. Such as vomitting and shaking uncontrollably. Now, by the way you discribed yourself, I dont believe you have social anxiety disorder. But, I am not a doctor. If I were you, I would talk to your parents about it and see their opinion. And sleep on it. Don't make any decisions too fast because right now, it doesn't seem too urgent. So, if you still feel this way in a week, then go. But right now, just lul it over and talk with your parents or maybe school counselor.

I see where you're coming from.
There is nothing that really prevents me from doing these things (vomiting, shaking), but when I do go out it's very difficult just knowing people are there, watching. I can't call up a shop, I'm just too scared... I can't go for a walk around the block. I do think that this impacts on me, because I try and avoid going out places where awkard situations would occur.
Thanks for the help though, I'm going to talk to my parents and then see a normal doctor.
Any other tips would be nice. =)

[Atonement]

Yeah, if you are truly concerned with it, it doesn't hurt to talk to your parents at all. If it concerns you, they should know about it. Hope all goes well.

[ThePhantom]

Psychiatrists won't fix the problem, a behaviorist will. Behaviorists deal with anxieties; social phobia is just another form of an anxiety. Psychiatrists may be able to give you SSRI's but that won't get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the fact that you don't want to look bad.

How/when did this start?

[JoshDude]

Psychiatrists won't fix the problem, a behaviorist will. Behaviorists deal with anxieties; social phobia is just another form of an anxiety. Psychiatrists may be able to give you SSRI's but that won't get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the fact that you don't want to look bad.

How/when did this start?

I'd say it started a couple of years ago, probably.
Anyway, I'm going to get an appointment with a special Psychologist/Psychaitrist company that looks at all different issues.

[Sapphire]

Psychiatrists won't fix the problem, a behaviorist will. Behaviorists deal with anxieties; social phobia is just another form of an anxiety. Psychiatrists may be able to give you SSRI's but that won't get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the fact that you don't want to look bad.
QFT.

The treatments for phobias are all behavioural. Any medication you get would just address your symptoms, not the cause.
I think your best bet would be to talk to your doctor about it and then he/she can refer you on to the right people.