Posted by Dinah on September 16, 2008, at 17:26:15
In reply to Social anxiety-feeling stared at and tears, posted by Yoda on September 16, 2008, at 15:52:02
I feel the same way at times. And of course it's only so much use to challenge the thought. You know that people are actually much too busy with themselves to be looking at you. That doesn't necessarily stop the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable.
I cry at the drop of a hat too, when I'm criticized. I used to embarrass myself over bursting into tears over bad grades too. I guess the fact that I'm female helped a bit.
I think what you're feeling is probably not disgust so much as distress, and perhaps a feeling of helplessness on their parts. It still isn't pleasant. But disgust is a different response.
I don't have a good idea for you. The methods I use are probably not all that healthy. I zone out a *lot*.
When I was younger and a bit more social, I'd try to find someone who looked anxious as well, and strike up a conversation with them. Somehow it was better if there were two of us, even if they were also terrified.
You might want to check with your prescribing doctor as well. There are some medications that you might be able to use with the Nardil to help with social anxiety.
Since I'm beating myself up right now about the same thing, it might be a bit hypocritical for me to say this, but... A bit of acceptance can go a long way. Different people are wired differently. Lots of people experience social anxiety. We're wired just a bit differently. It's enough of a challenge in itself. It makes it much worse if we beat ourselves up over it as well. Accepting that this is a challenge we face, and being sympathetic to ourselves as we face it, has to be better than adding self blame to the mix.
poster:Dinah
thread:852321
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080906/msgs/852344.html