[Reephoria.]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

I wrote this on Facebook just earlier:

I can listen if you want to talk

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by Barrie_Dude

I am one who suffers from this as well

Originally Posted by Shadowcat

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Originally Posted by Miching~Mallecho

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How sad. But this explains why so many of you cling to your little online friendships for approval and social interaction.

I will keep you in my prayers

[ampers&]

Originally Posted by Brenda Mensah

How sad. But this explains why so many of you cling to your little online friendships for approval and social interaction.

I will keep you in my prayers

Save your prayers sweetie. My life is grand.

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by Miching~Mallecho

Save your prayers sweetie. My life is grand.

I'm glad, but there's really no need to try and convince me.

[ampers&]

Originally Posted by Brenda Mensah

I'm glad, but there's really no need to try and convince me.

As if you were important enough for me to convince.

Moving on.

[PatrickRyan]

I have an anxiety disorder, social anxiety is part of it. I use to have really bad panic attacks. Thankfully I started taking medication and seeing a therapist. I'm still not comfortable in social situations however, but I do my best

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by Miching~Mallecho

As if you were important enough for me to convince.

Moving on.

lol bitch I'm devastated.

Ciao. Hope you sleep well tonight.

[Drimal]

I am suffering from Social anxiety too.

I am always anxious to sound or look "ridiculous" in front of other people and avoid interactions. I am shy and look calm outside but I'm very nervous inside. It takes me along time to get confident with new people and often have that odd feeling that they consider me as a strange person because I'm shy.

When I get over myself and have a conversation with other people I often feel alot of nervousness inside.

[Ellen Dawson]

Question for you guys that have social anxiety:

Has the internet helped you get over it OR has it made it worse OR has it had no effect on your social anxiety?

Thanks.

[pov]

My perspective on things like this is very non-mainstream. There are psychologists who do hold similar perspectives but they are often marginalized by the status-quo.

Anyway . . .my perspective is that these things are not always "disorders." The very notion of that concept is based on the belief that there are singular ways in which human psychology functions. Yes, most people operate in certain generalized ways but that doesn't mean that those who don't are "dysfunctional." The standards and pull to fit in created around the most common behaviors are so strong that those who don't often cause themselves more trauma around the mere fact that they are different. What current psychology knows/accepts about the psyche is very basic and miniscule. And the emphasis on drugs? Yes they give people something that often manages to mask the symptoms but aspirin doesn't cure a headache - it just blocks the receptors.

The limits of current mainstream psychology are in part because of adherence to one of the koans of current mainstream science - that there is observable physical evidence for everything in existence. In fact, that koan is so firmly entrenched that to even question it is frowned upon, derided and otherwise dismissed.

[Nicolás89]

Originally Posted by pov

My perspective on things like this is very non-mainstream. There are psychologists who do hold similar perspectives but they are often marginalized by the status-quo.

Anyway . . .my perspective is that these things are not always "disorders." The very notion of that concept is based on the belief that there are singular ways in which human psychology functions. Yes, most people operate in certain generalized ways but that doesn't mean that those who don't are "dysfunctional." The standards and pull to fit in created around the most common behaviors are so strong that those who don't often cause themselves more trauma around the mere fact that they are different. What current psychology knows/accepts about the psyche is very basic and miniscule. And the emphasis on drugs? Yes they give people something that often manages to mask the symptoms but aspirin doesn't cure a headache - it just blocks the receptors.

The limits of current mainstream psychology are in part because of adherence to one of the koans of current mainstream science - that there is observable physical evidence for everything in existence. In fact, that koan is so firmly entrenched that to even question it is frowned upon, derided and otherwise dismissed.

If social anxiety is just a sympton of something bigger like depression or schizophrenia, I can't see how it can be treated without the drugs.

[Chris 84]

Originally Posted by Christina Cha

Question for you guys that have social anxiety:

Has the internet helped you get over it OR has it made it worse OR has it had no effect on your social anxiety?

Thanks.

it has had little effect EXCEPT that i don't suffer from any problems when i meet people who i've got to know well online. with those people i feel thoroughly comfortable, whereas i've had some friends irl who i've known for ages yet never felt comfortable and "myself" around. perhaps they just aren't as good friends, or whatever, but i think it is down to the internet and the ability to interact to the extent that i know these people thoroughly, and am confident with them.

[delicatecutter]

I have strange social habits. Like I hate walking past people. When I'm at work I go out of my way so I don't have to walk by people.

[Petkorazzi]

I'm a weird one I guess. I feel perfectly well with my closest friends and people who I've just met (I've been called a "social butterfly" by quite a few ) but it's my simple friends that I struggle most with. I get really tense when I don't have anything to talk about with them and the awkward (for me) silence just kills me. And then sometimes I feel like something is wrong with me because I see some people on a very frequent basis but can't get any closer with them but one can't be friends with everybody I guess.

And even if my left depended on it, I could never properly public speak without studdering, getting nervous and completely losing control over myself.

And the telephone thing as well I get nervous when I hear the vibration (I pretty much have ringtone-phobia) but I'm usually fine unless it's someone who usually doesn't call me, then I can get kind of tight.

[Sammo]

I do, studies give me a lot of anxiety.

But social anxiety? Nope