Do you have social anxiety?

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There are days where it is completly dehibilitating. But a long time ago; I decided that since I couldn't relate or understand people. (mind you, this was before most folks had heard of AS or anything outside of very sever autism) I loved to learn though. No matter the subject. So I decided to learn about people. I made them into a project. Instead of studying math or biology or astrophysics; I studied NTs.

I still can't do parties with strangers or go into bars, clubs or the like. But I can do markets and such because I just look on it as a method of gathering more data. Just don't ask me to talk to anyone. hehe

Me too... I'm on on the borderline for [url="http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-pe03.html"]STPD[/url], and it may be a symptom of that rather than normal social anxiety... it does seem though that people with ASD's might sometimes have a few schizotypal quirks though. If you weren't autistic all your life, then there's also a good chance that you may have that and not ASD.

I have terrible social anxiety, i had it really bad when i was 16-21 to the point where i wouldn't go out at all, i was living with my grandmother at the time so didn't actually need to go out for food etc. Then i seemed to get better, got a job when i was 22 and stuck it out for 6 years before the anxiety started again. I've been 'off' work for almost 6 months now but at this point in my life i am living alone which is forcing me to 'keep a lid' on my anxiety as i need to be able to go out sometimes if only to buy food. If i lived with someone else and therefore didn't actually need to go out i think it would be very easy for me never to go out again and i don't want to end up like that again.

Me? Off and on. Citalopram helped (and is still helping) me a bit. But even when I wasn't on anything, I still had social anxiety off and on. I couldn't walk down the street. I was so anxious/depressed I was almost psychotic; I forgot where to look; I didn't know what to do with my hands, how to stand, how to walk, what direction to face in, what expression to have on my face, what to do when someone looked at me, whether I should look at people or away, how long I should look at them for, whether I should look them in the eye or in a more general way, how fast to walk, how to sit at the bus stop, whether to stand or sit at the bus stop, whether to talk to people, the list goes on and on.

I feel that way too sometimes. Sometimes it's real too, like when I went to public school for a couple months. I couldn't eat with the other kids because it hurts me to hear gossip, I couldn't tell whether it was about me or not I can't say, but I hate how people discuss other people so cruelly and later pretend to be their friends. I hate this world and if it weren't for my belief in God and His Word, I would have probably been gone by now.

No social interaction anxiety here.

Tim

Yes I am. I was first diagnosed with it (social phobia). Done much therapy on it. It is a lot better now, in general. If anything, I'm more avoidant rather than classic SA. It was my ex-shrink that first mentioned AS.

But I have anxiety in general otherwise known as general anxiety.

I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. Yes, I am nervous and afraid and anxious about going out and dealing with people and stuff.

And after I do deal with people I feel as though I need a whole day to myself to recover, it is just exhausting and stressful.

Very much so, yes. It can be hell.

I clicked other... I used to have it. I do not any more.

Glad to hear there's hope.

I remember studying it like 1992 or so and coming to the conclusion that avoidant personality disorder was closer match than social phobia to my situation.

Yes. Unpleasant and unending.

Is it possible for a person with SA and AS to be conditioned to be only avoidant or even normal-like?

I'm not sure what you mean. But in general avoidant personality disorder is a very bad case of social anxiety disorder. Well in theory
drugs can suppress anxiety. But its a little more complex than merely treating anxiety. In college I found zoloft greatly reduced my anxiety but I still had major social cognitive/skills problems and
most people likely considered me odd.

I find the most anxious moments for me are situations where I may unexpectedly run into someone that I know. I pretty much ignore strangers, but having to greet and make small talk with someone I know in a public setting is pure torture.

Last edited by bobert on 11 Aug 2007, 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.