how many of us suffer from social phobias too?

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do you suffer/suffered in the past from social phobias?
never suffered from social phobias 12%  12%  [ 11 ]
i suffer/suffered in the past from social phobias 88%  88%  [ 84 ]
Total votes : 95

jk1
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31 Dec 2012, 9:28 am

Hello.

I don't know the exact definition of social phobia. Is it something that you can be diagnosed with? If so, no, I have never had social phobia.

Or is it just a general term that means fear/dislike of social situations? If this is the case, then, yes, I often avoid social occasions, because I fear I will make a fool of myself and be a laughing stock or an object of pity, which have happened many times.



nessa238
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31 Dec 2012, 9:35 am

jk1 wrote:
Hello.

I don't know the exact definition of social phobia. Is it something that you can be diagnosed with? If so, no, I have never had social phobia.

Or is it just a general term that means fear/dislike of social situations? If this is the case, then, yes, I often avoid social occasions, because I fear I will make a fool of myself and be a laughing stock or an object of pity, which have happened many times.


http://www.social-anxiety.org.uk/

This is the support site I used to be a member of before I got my Asperger's diagnosis.

"Millions of people around the world suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia) and related conditions. Despite being the most common type of anxiety disorder and the cause of much impairment and suffering, it is under-recognised and under-treated. Yet virtually everyone knows what it is like to feel shy or lacking in social confidence, often to an extent that can limit opportunities and happiness. Because social anxiety issues are still relatively unknown amongst the wider public, most aren't even aware that the thing which can have such a huge impact on their lives has a name."

"Social Anxiety & Social Anxiety disorder

Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is anxiety (emotional discomfort, fear, apprehension, or worry) about social situations, interactions with others, and being evaluated or scrutinized by other people. It occurs early in childhood as a normal part of the development of social functioning, but may go unnoticed until adolescence or may surface in adulthood. People vary in how often they experience social anxiety and in which kinds of situations. Overcoming social anxiety can be relatively easy, or just a matter of time passing for many, and yet can be very difficult for some. The reasons are unknown: It can be related to shyness or other emotional or temperamental factors, but its exact nature is still the subject of research and theory.
[Wikipedia - Social Anxiety]

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social anxiety disorder, also called social anxiety and social phobia, is excessive social anxiety (anxiety in social situations) causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life. The diagnosis can be of a specific disorder (when only some particular situations are feared) or a generalized disorder. Generalized social anxiety disorder typically involves a persistent, intense, chronic fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by one's own actions. These fears can be triggered by perceived or actual scrutiny from others. While the fear of social interaction may be recognized by the person as excessive or unreasonable, overcoming it can be quite difficult. About 13.3 percent of the general population may meet criteria for social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, according to the highest survey estimate, with the male:female ratio being 2:3.
An early diagnosis may help minimize the symptoms and the development of additional problems, such as depression.
[Wikipedia - Social Anxiety disorder]

Symptoms
Psychological Symptoms
A common experience amongst sufferers are feelings of dread about situations that they will encounter. SA sufferers experience dread over how they will be presented to others. They may be overly self-conscious, pay high self-attention after the activity, or have high performance standards for themselves. According to the social psychology theory of self-presentation, a sufferer attempts to create a well-mannered impression on others but believes he or she is unable to do so. Many times, prior to the potentially anxiety-provoking social situation, sufferers may deliberately go over what could go wrong and how to deal with each unexpected case. After the event, they may have the perception they performed unsatisfactorily. Consequently, they will review anything that may have possibly been abnormal or embarrassing. These thoughts do not just terminate soon after the encounter, but may extend for weeks or longer. Those with SA tend to interpret neutral or ambiguous conversations with a negative outlook and many studies suggest that socially anxious individuals remember more negative memories than those less distressed.

Behavioural Symptoms
Social anxiety disorder is a persistent fear of one or more situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others and fears that he or she may do something or act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. It exceeds normal "shyness" as it leads to excessive social avoidance and substantial social or occupational impairment. Feared activities may include almost any type of social interaction, especially small groups, dating, parties, talking to strangers, restaurants, etc. Possible physical symptoms include "mind going blank", fast heartbeat, blushing, stomach ache, nausea and gagging. Cognitive distortions are a hallmark, and learned about in CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy). Thoughts are often self-defeating and inaccurate.

Physiological symptoms
People who suffer from SA can experience one or more of these symptoms at any one time.
Blushing
Sweating
Trembling or Shaking
Nausea
Difficulty in Speaking / Shaky voice / Stammering
Confusion
Heart Palpitations
Upset Stomach
Feeling weak
[Wikipedia - Social Anxiety disorder]"

http://www.social-anxiety.org.uk/



Biohazard626
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31 Dec 2012, 1:06 pm

I do, and badly enough I require medication for social anxiety



lonelyguy
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31 Dec 2012, 3:22 pm

Yep a def problem for me and has been for yrs...in fact it stops me in my tracks from having a normal life
It all started when i was very young never could mix with the other children and continued through my whole life..even now going into an area where there is a lot of people makes me stressed to the point of feeling sick.....i can go about my life but tend to avoid busy times when i go out...i hate public transport and always drive to avoid interaction with people

My problems might be due to being bullied from a very young age right through into my late teens..so to escape i just went around on my own and tried to avoid people...meeting people always brought me trouble so in the end i avoided them..a problem i am trying to resolve at the moment..but my AS does not help in this matter :(



nessa238
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31 Dec 2012, 7:46 pm

lonelyguy wrote:
Yep a def problem for me and has been for yrs...in fact it stops me in my tracks from having a normal life
It all started when i was very young never could mix with the other children and continued through my whole life..even now going into an area where there is a lot of people makes me stressed to the point of feeling sick.....i can go about my life but tend to avoid busy times when i go out...i hate public transport and always drive to avoid interaction with people

My problems might be due to being bullied from a very young age right through into my late teens..so to escape i just went around on my own and tried to avoid people...meeting people always brought me trouble so in the end i avoided them..a problem i am trying to resolve at the moment..but my AS does not help in this matter :(


I'm the same. I'm semi-agoraphobic a lot of the time, though a lot of that is laziness and lack of inertia as much as not wanting to go out.

I can go out to get stuff done but never enjoy having to mix with people outside the house as I always feel under threat from them as never know how they will react. It always feels like I'm trying to be as unnoticeable as possible but seem to end up drawing attention to myself through my uneasy body language.



Murderface
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01 Jan 2013, 4:19 am

Phobia yes and no. If I had some drinks no. Sober yes. I don't like meeting new people not nice. Taken slowly not as bad. Crowds I feel like I just need to go and be by myself just to speak with an equal.


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alan78
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27 Jan 2013, 12:05 am

My social phobia is so bad i have never been able to work ( i am now 35 ) Also i suffer from agoraphobia also, just being around people in general is a real real struggle. I spend most of the time alone in my house, i only really go out if i need 2, i do have friends but i keep my socialisation to a minimum.



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27 Jan 2013, 12:19 am

I suppose I do to some extent, but I can't describe exactly what it is that bothers me. I never have specific worries, but rather a general discomfort.



MrBackward
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27 Jan 2013, 12:36 am

Social Phobia-No

I hate crowds
I dislike talking to other people
I am terrible in social situations
I have nearly no humor
I worry about what other people think of me

Just because I "dont like people" doesn't mean I have a social phobia even if thats what I used to think


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Jaden
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27 Jan 2013, 1:24 am

Agoraphobia... I literally only leave my house once or twice a month and that's only to pay bills and get stuff I need. I don't socialize in public (since I pretty much don't know anyone), I don't stop for small talk with strangers when I am out (usually), and I normally am only out in town for about an hour. I shop online for the majority of entertainment needs (games, dvd's, etc).


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League_Girl
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27 Jan 2013, 1:45 am

I don't think I have it but I suspect my husband does.


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chlov
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27 Jan 2013, 7:38 am

I don't suffer from social phobia.



Phenom
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27 Jan 2013, 8:11 am

Didn't have much problems with SP when I was a child, at least that I could remember; I guess I just didn't care or notice much, IDK. As I got older though, Its like I suddenly hit a brick wall. I have no Idea what happen. I wish I could go back to being carefree...

Now its kinda bad, but I have learned how to cope with it as well as hide it. It's to the point where I don't even go to relatives house's for things like Christmas, thanksgiving, etc. I literally only do what I must around groups of people like work, school, shopping for food; other than that, I am pretty much by myself and I have no problem with this; I am comfortable. Its a trip when people are more concerned about it than I am.
People who are close to me say things like "your such a quality person with a lot to contribute, why do not like to be around people?". I reply, think about, maybe that's my secret...



Moppy
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27 Jan 2013, 8:44 am

As a kid. Just a wild spaz. Didn't care, since I didn't know about these social s**t.
When I got into comprehensive, I started to feel more self conscious, way more kids than at primary school, and I didn't really ever know anyone there. I'd often skip school, then come back not knowing what the hell is going on because I missed it, then not wanting to draw attention to myself by asking "what is going on?". So I just spent lessons pretending to work a lot of the time.
Then I left school at 12 and became quite agoraphobic. Never enjoyed meeting new people, makes me very nervous, that's why I stay in, in case SOMEONE talks to me, or talks about me. People talk to you randomly and talk about you in the outside world...I don't like that.
So I'd say yes I have social phobia.
I'd say if you do have AS you SHOULD have a social phobia" An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something".
If you don't have an aversion to this socialness, what are you?



AgentPalpatine
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27 Jan 2013, 12:01 pm

Moppy wrote:
I'd say if you do have AS you SHOULD have a social phobia" An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something".
If you don't have an aversion to this socialness, what are you?


Moppy, are you suggesting that anyone with AS must have a social phobia? I'd agree that AS leads to a very high rate of social phobia(s), but I'm not sure that the absence of a social phobia should call the AS dx into question.


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anneurysm
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27 Jan 2013, 12:55 pm

I had pretty severe social phobia from when I was around 9 or 10 until my last year of high school. This was a response to feeling markedly different from others and feeling extremely self-conscious of the way I was. I honestly believed everyone who came into contact with me immediately hated me, and so I would avoid any kind of socializing and social activities like the plague...with the exception of hanging out with one developmentally delayed girl who I felt really understood me.

I often still have tremendous anxiety in social situations, though I hide it well and it's not incapacitating like it was when I was a child and teen.


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This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term psychiatrists - that I am a highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder

My diagnoses - anxiety disorder, depression and traits of obsessive-compulsive disorder (all in remission).

I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.