Social Anxiety

Hey guys, I was reading up on the depression forum today and someone posted up a topic about social anxiety which I related to a lot.  It actually made me remember when this new therapist I have now told me that he thought that's where the majority of my problems were stemming from.  He said he believed I am just really shy and suffer from social anxiety.

Although I really do have a tough time accepting that I have an illness, and I hate having to live with it.....I do have to admit that he was definetly right about that to an extent.  In the past I would avoid going to parties/situations/even school because of my anxiety/fear of social situations.  If a class I had involved a project that would involve going up in front of the class and doinga demonstration, I would withdraw from the class the next day once I found that out.  I've passed up on going on a lot of trips/vacations with friends because I would get all worked up and nervous about being away from my home for that long.  Not that I feel like it's compeltely safe here and I'm a hermit, its more like what am I going to do in a house upstate for a weekend?  I wake up early everyday, what am I going to do in the mornings when everyone is still passed out?  Stupid retarded thoughts like that consume me A LOT.

I guess my question would be, are these thoughts normal for someone who deals with social anxiety?  And could it just be that my regular anxiety is so high right now that it's making my social anxiety that much worse?  Because I've never really had this much trouble as I've had in the last 2 years, I feel like its just magnifying the problem or something

i have been described by people in school and work as one of the shyest, quietest people they've ever met, but i have never had a counselor who only wanted to treat me for social anxiety, they always wanted to focus on the depression. when i was a student I did try to take a seminar on being assertive, but i felt like the lady was pushing me too hard on doing stuff i couldn't do and i dropped out. If you come across a licensed therapist who wants to treat you just for social anxiety, i would be kinda surprised, i'm just guessing. they always seem to think other things are going on.

I used to love going to parties and events...but not that much anymore. Like Kitt mentioned above, I've become very sensitive to other people's reactions...even my neighbors. I sometimes want to stay home all day and not meet anyone.

Thanks guys, it definetly is true that misery loves company lol. It's good to know that other people deal with these problems. Gets me so frustrated when I see people go up in front of a class and do an awesome job at a presentation, then I go up there and I completely lock up and panic. I hate being the center of attention, I actually will go as far to say that I utterly despise it. My family/friends threw me a surprise 18th birthday my senior year, I was pissed. I hate pictures, I hate everyone looking at me, I just want to be able to do my own thing. Its messed up though because on the other hand, I really do love my friends and family. So it then makes me feel guilty that I get that way sometimes with pictures, with gatherings, etc. It's like a double edged sword, on one end I want to go out and see them and hang around, then on the other end it's like I only want to do it when I feel it's comfortable and ok for me. I'm taking another crack at college once again, I'm signing up again for 2 summer classes this upcoming summer. Hopefully I can stick it out and finish the classes. One of the classes is...public speaking. My absolute 100% worst fear. All my therapists have said to get over the anxiety and feel calm/ok again, that the best way to get over it is to go through it. Well here goes nothing, diving head first again into it this summer. Hopefully I don't chicken out and bail like I've done 7 times before (this is like my 7th or 8th comeback to college). Kind of pathetic when I think about it really, it's like that annoying double bladed sword yet again. On one hand, I know I hate and despite school and it makes me absolutely panic. On the other hand....I know I need the degree if I want the life that I've always dreamed of. This stupid anxiety is REALLY starting to get in the way of my future. I am just trying to not listen to it anymore. I'm just going to let myself feel whatever I'm feeling,a nd just do whatever I have to do. I think it's the only way I'm going to make it. And it's not an option anymore. I HAVE TO MAKE IT.

oh, i've done that too -- throwing up before an interview! Not always like that fortunately. The last time I did a job interview (four years ago), it was over the phone, and it was pretty horrible, really. I managed to keep my current job so I haven't had to continue to look for something new.