Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 5, 2002, at 9:14:54
In reply to social phobia...sigh:(, posted by jonh kimble on November 4, 2002, at 20:44:37
>I cant freakin talk to anyone!!!! I have a girl Ive loved for eight years and Ive probably said as much to her as most people say to their gas station attendant that they went to once. I feel suicidal ideation creeping and its really scaring me. I really dont want to die, but the pain of such lonliness and frustration adds up.
--------------------------You express yourself well in this forum, so you know you have the ability. Is there any pattern to the people you feel uncomfortable around? I found that while I was unable to talk to any of my peers, I could converse easily with people whose judgement didn't matter to me (old people I didn't know, mentally retarded people). From this, I slowly worked towards the kind of people that intimidated me more. I'm sure that you've already heard a lot of advice about it, but that's just what I tried. After asking out a girl in a drenching sweat, and then hyperventilating when she left, I knew things had to change.
I'm not sure what drug regimen is endorsed for this right now. It sounds like you need an activating anxiolytic. I've been on several drugs, and imipramine has so far been the best for not sedating me. Effexor wasn't bad either. Serzone zonked me out. If stimulants aren't working to keep you active, you might try provigil. I used it for a while, then imipramine negated the need for it.
Beyond any specific advice I could give you, I'll just say that it can be done, and you sound just as capable and intelligent as any of the other people I come across daily who aren't apprehensive about how they appear to me. You're not inferior.
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:126453
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126501.html