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Social Phobia

Posted by brthst on January 22, 2009, at 10:47:07

I have been experiencing CRIPPLING social phobia for a year. I had been a benzo addict for many years -- social phobia was there, but I treated it with benzos. When I quit benzos last March, initially I felt great... but it all went downhill.

Any situation, with literally anyone, causes anxiety--even with my close friends, my family, my own boyfriend, salespeople, the cashier, anyone. Sweating, racing heartbeat. Desire to flee. I won't do many things I'd do in the past without problem--including shopping, museums, films, dinner, parties.

Lots of shame, mostly due to what's, even objectively, a major failure of high expectations of my own and my loved ones. Was working for a time in sales recently to figure out what I wanted to do with my life now, and the social phobia was too crippling to work with others all the time.

I'm intending to return to school for a masters, which I know will give me more confidence, and also doing group for anxiety. I'm social phobic -- also bipolar II, and "borderline" borderline personality.

Currently taking Lamictal for my bipolar II, and it's been 4 months, I'm at 450; I feel really balanced... and that makes me feel worse, looking back and being ashamed of those manic episodes. I don't want more benzos -- too addictive, and destroys my memory and cognitive functioning. Doc has prescribed Abilify for social phobia. Just started and on 6mg/day -- haven't felt a thing. I took Geodon from 1.5 years -- it helped tremendously, but it made me a zombie. Doc thinks Abilify will have fewer side effects and do the trick. From what I've read, Adderall seems best. Doc wants me to take all 3 together, otherwise he's worried Adderall on its own will trigger hypomania. I want to get better now, so I don't miss more opportunities, and on life. I'm determined to get better, and don't want to wait 2 months on Abilify to "see" if it may work, esp since my intuition says it won't.

Anyone with experiences with social phobia with advice esp vis a vis meds? Thanks everyone...


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