Help me with my Social Phobia please?
Hi to all,im going to start a Social Phobia treatment with psychotherapy and drugs, (Anafranil 25mg and Geodon 60mg),as you know this mental disorder annuls you to interact with people. But i can’t just stay at home and watch the world behind the window. My idea is maybe kind of contradictory but i think it can help me to earn some money and self-help for my Social Phobia. My "brilliant idea" is to get a Sales job, yes a Sales job, i think it maybe can help me learn to interact with people and get some social skills. I have a job interview tomorrow for a sales employee (bank products sales) here in my country, i had experience as a telemarketer also a degree in industrial engineering and some other jobs within the industry (i don’t like it by the way so i don’t want to continue practicing it, don’t ask me why),for the near future i want to get a psychology degree, i want to help people with all kind of mental disorders (Mayor depression,OCD,Phobias etc),since my adolescence i’ve been suffering traumas,complexes,low self-steem,Mayor Depression, Anxiety and the Social Phobia, so i know how sad it can be..
How do you think is my idea? =D
Posted in psychotherapy education
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August 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am
That’s not a bad idea. You are trying. You already acknowledged your entity and how you want to enrich yourself. I know how you feel in some points, by the way. Maybe you can also take classes in school or out of school of how to do presentations and endure better social skills. Just remember to always be optimistic. Also, start off small with talks with others. Be influenced by those who aren’t afraid of what others think. Be proud and strength-worthy. Try not to over-analyze. Take your time and good luck.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I’ve had it all my life! I went through the same thing when I was a kid and a teenager. I was afraid to talk to anyone, talk to girls, couldnt make friends etc at school. I was afraid of being in crowds, parties, sporting events, concerts, anywhere where there was a lot of people. I was terrified! School was hell! I was incapable of social interaction. Only when I could get into a one on one or a very small number of people and become comfortable talking to one or two people. I was fine with my family, my childhood friends, relatives, but even with relatives at HOLIDAY’S, FUNERALS, where they were all there I would start to feel helpless when too many of them were all in the same house or place. I would feel the same fear and discomfort. I was always like out of place and couldnt relate. Getting a gf was practically impossible. Only when I turned 19 and my best friends sister showed an interest in me. I tried drinking and drugs as a cure and I made some artifical friends for several years but it wasnt the real answer. I appear normal when I’m around people close to me but whenever there’s a social situation or a crowd, I am helpless. But in spite of it all, I started a career, got married (twice now), have a daughter, I have attended 80-100 rock concerts (I’m a music lover). I have done everything a normal person has done in my life except to be the life of the party. I am still very shy in a crowd and I dont talk much in groups. I accept who I am, medication is never the answer. Depression only comes when you allow the social disfunction from living your life and dreams. Don’t let it stop you. You just do everything you can in spite of the discomfort and enjoy life. Don’t let it stop you from making friends that come along, talk to people one on one, find a girlfriend, go to events that you enjoy. Don’t worry about it. I remember my first concerts, I was terrified. The fear stuck with me for days but I kept going anyway. I did this with every situation and eventually I was okay. I still don’t talk to people much in crowds, groups, meetings, etc. I don’t force myself to do anything that I’m not comfortable doing. I don’t have tons of friends but I have a good job, beautiful wife, young baby, a few close friends, lots of interests, hobbies, and life is good. I have embraced who I am (for better and worse)! I was diagnosed at age 25 as having a personality disorder and depression and my social worker at the time told me about the Rain Man movie (she said a good movie but it might scare me). I also had a lot of little rituals and phobias, compulsive obsessvie habits, etc. But I have broken most of them and I found the real cure is getting out of yourself. And get out and live life!