Social Anxiety Disorder

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Paralyzed in the public, again

Today it happened again.

I was going home from therapy and many factors lead to the next paralysis episode in public.
I was in luck that I had informed my mother so she could pick me up.

I’m experienced with the whole process and the pain that comes with it, so it’s not that scary.
What terrifies me about ”freezing up“ in public are the people.
I can’t tell them that this is my new ”normal“ for me… I can’t react to their prying eyes, answer their questions or tell them that it will go away with time. I can’t stop them from calling ambulance or tell them that it’s not an epileptic seizure.
I can’t stop them from coming to close or touching me.
I’m totally helpless.

So I got home alright, my mom found me and helped me walk.
But still…
Everything tensed up, my hand turned blue.
My left arm is always cramping more than the right. I’m not sure why.
My muscles are still tensed and sore and I have a big tension headache.

This Friday I have an appointment with an neurologist, to rule out epilepsy.

I’m 99% sure it’s just psychosomatic as I can still understand everything that’s happening around me and it’s always triggered by emotional overwhelm.

It’s ”just“ a dissociation motor disorder…
Still this is scary.

And the biggest problem for me is not knowing how long this will last.
There are not enough studies about the disorder.
It can last between weeks or even years.
I’ve had it for nearly 4 months now…

And it’s getting exhausting.

Hopefully the mental health clinic can help with it all…

I just need to hold on.

[Picture by Europeana, Unsplash]

#MentalHealth #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #CPTSD #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialPhobia #Catatonia #DissociationDisorders #dissociativedisorders

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When passion beats anxiety

I did it.
Today I finally sung without caring that people could listen. Wich hasn’t happened for a long time.

For months depression and anxiety stole my voice.
After a time I slowly sang again.
But only in our cellar, in our small sauna, which is somewhat soundproof.
And even then I made sure that no one was in the house that would obviously judge me.
This comes from an overly critical mother wich a much different voice type that I always tried to match and other family members who joked about it…

So today I just sang.
I sang in the kitchen while unloading the dishwasher, while the window was half opened and my parents were home.

Later I went downstairs into the cellar to sing.
So I was finally bold and could sing all the songs I loved in full volume.

I guess the confidence boost comes from finally discovering wich musical role my voice type matches to perfectly.

For anyone wondering I’m an dramatic mezzo and love dramatic, emotional complex or melancholic songs.
I love acting out emotions with my voice.
My voice matches best with powerful but psychological layered characteres like Mrs. Denvers from Rebecca, Circe from EPIC or Jane Seymore from Six.

The pic is a piece of the atmosphere.
The place is so tucked away and the warm lighting and wood makes me feel safe enough to let my true voice type shine.

This was such a happy moment for me. ✨
This time it was finally my turn to win against my mental health disorders!

I just want to cheer other people on and hope they can experience the same happiness even when they circumstances are more than difficult.

#MentalHealth #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialPhobia #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder

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Update on my search for help

⚠️I just ”unfroze“ and my mind is still a mess. But I wanted to get it out in writing so read at your own caution. ⚠️

Hey there guys,

thanks for all the encouragement! I really appreciated it. You all really helped me ❤️

Today was a rollercoaster for me.

I finally got diagnosed!!! Yey!
My Depression is finally official.
I’m moderately depressed so it’s a bit better!
Dissociative motor disorder (the freezing and cramping episodes).
And a traumatic disorder without any further specifics (because I don’t have intense visual flashbacks and intense avoidance… I push myself through the worst of it…)

And I could get an neurological appointment for next week! Yey.

So hopefully I can soon get the help I need.

Because these freezing episodes are creepy and the cramping is painful….

Also I got a reply from the mental health clinic I applied to.
I need to wait 10 to 12 weeks….

My social anxiety is acting up again and all the appointments really freaked me out - but I got through them! Yey!

I’m gonna try and work or something to get through the waiting… I’m not quite sure how though.
Like I want to work at a local flower shop but I’m not sure if I can face customers…
And I can’t work much so maybe 20 hours a week.

And shoutout to @mrspudniks ! ✨

He helped me get through my paralysing episodes, we now call ”becoming a frozen vegetable“. Because I’m frozen and can’t move the tiniest muscle, like a stiff carrot. Afterwards I unfreeze and my brain is all sludgy/foggy.

[Picture from Toa Heftiba, Unsplash]

#MentalHealth #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Catatonia #SocialAnxietyDisorder #dissociativedisorders #DissociationDisorders

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MY BATTLEFIELD The war in my mind painted on my skin

[I’m tired of being scared all the time… So I just do it and share the most vulnerable piece of me…💀]

Every day I try to resist.
The urges to cut, draw blood and go deep.

Often I win,
Sometimes I loose.
But it’s the shame that keeps me in this self abuse.
The comfortable place of pain…
The voices that tell me,
That pain is all I know, it’s all I deserve.

It lulls me in with its siren spell,
I can’t resist, can’t break away.
The urge to cut.
To dive deep.
No matter the blood, it’s never deep.
Never enough, always too shallow.
I wonder, will I keep this up tomorrow?

What if I die?
What if I loose?
By the hands of my self abuse

But the drive knows no bounds.
All it wants is relief.

So the thoughts wreak havoc in my mind.
Until the blade meets my skin…
But then again,
It’s never enough.
It doesn’t even sting.

I rub in disinfectant it but still it doesn’t hurt.
I’ve grown numb…
I scratch and tear,
But the skin stays put.
The pain doesn’t come,
It’s not working as it should…

So hold still and keep calm.
Stay in the dark, away from harm.
But my mind screams, rages in tears.
Wreaks havoc inside,
While all I do is cower in fear.

I can’t let it out.
Cause this time I know
If I do then all is over now.

They’re leading me now,
the shadows I created.
And what little control I once had
is fleeting like dust in the wind.

Now I sit in the dark
Scared of what the shadows will paint on the walls.
But if I survive I learn it’s just this.
Night.
When the sun comes up,
the light will glow.
And all the shadows go into hiding once more.

Still the echoes linger, the shadows growl.
But light remains, still shining through.
Until someone sees and asks „What happened to you?“.

#Selfharm #MentalHealth #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder

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Stressed and overwhelmed could use some support 💕

I got a new job at Starbucks. I’ve been so stressed out, this job stresses me out. This is the second Starbucks I’ve worked at and it’s so high volume and I’m tired of socializing with people.
I want to get out of customer service/retail but I’m actually very nervous and scared to jump into a different field. I’m doing online school for social and behavioral science but I don’t know if that’s what I wanna do anymore.

I really love animals and beauty products, organization, and independence in my own job without micro management. I don’t enjoy interacting with customers. I have no idea what I wanna do, and I could really use some advice 😔 anything helps #Anxiety #SocialAnxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialAnxiety

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The contrast of Live

I just love the contrast of the picture.

Like there’s beauty in every season and time.
I still see it. I have moments of joy.

Still…

I really struggle with my current situation of not getting the help I need…

I do everything I can think of to escape from reality… no matter how distructive it may be in the end…

Suicidal thoughts creep in whenever I can’t face something…
My social anxiety skyrockets…
I’m hypervigilant…
And at the same time nothing matters anymore…

It’s an never ending battle between anxiety and depression

[this post started out good and just got worse with every line… but I’m okay, I just needed to vent… no matter what my anxiety and depression scream at me I’m gonna post this anyways!]

#Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #CPTSD #PTSD #MentalHealth #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialAnxiety #SuicidalIdeation #SuicidalThoughts #Selfharm

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Fall Pictures

These are some fall pictures I took on a walk yesterday.
These are soo beautiful! 🍁
I really like the contrast between the radiant colours of the trees and the blue sky.
And really made me happy.
Slowly fighting my way back to hapiness one day at a time. 💪🏻
#MentalHealth #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #SocialAnxietyDisorder #CPTSD

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A reminder to take care and not trust everyone

I recently got messaged by some people who changed their story as soon as they knew my age… For example they told me the worked for nearly 20 years than said they were in their twenties themselves. They also asked way too many personal questions and had absolute nothing to share on their profiles, and probably lied about it too.
It’s partly my fault because I was too open…
I just wanted to tell people to be cautious.
Stay safe out there.

#MentalHealth #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialPhobia

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Face it by NF

Yeah, I ain't sleeping lately
I ain't sleeping lately
Yes, I know that I'm the only person that can change me
Maybe, that's why I ain't changing
That's why I ain't changing
I got too much on my mind, I guess I don't know how to face it

I just don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, yeah (don't know how to face it)
I don't know how to face it (don't know how to face it)
I don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, how to face it, ah

Don't know how to face it
Let's go back to basics
Yes say what you mean, do what you say, but man I hate this
I just don't know what I'm chasing, don't know what I'm chasing
Yes, somebody told me
Life is something you don't wanna play with

But I just keep on playing like, life is just a playground
I go through this mood swings
Watch everything slide down
I look at myself and I ask me what the goal is
Yeah, tell me what your goal is
I'm just so lost in emotions, I don't even notice

I just slip into a place and I don't think straight
Devil in my ear tryna tell me everything's great
And in a year I'll realize I'm in the same place
Running in the same race, same pace

Yeah, I ain't sleeping lately
I ain't sleeping lately
Yes, I know that I'm the only person that can change me
Maybe, that's why I ain't changing
That's why I ain't changing
I got too much on my mind, I guess I don't know how to face it

I just don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, yeah (don't know how to face it)
I don't know how to face it (don't know how to face it)
I don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, how to face it

Don't know how to face it
Let's go back to basics
Think about the words you 'bout say before you say it
Sin is bittersweet I taste it, bittersweet I taste it
Get that sickness out my mouth
I feel like my train is derailing
I can feel it

Yo, these words are only words until they actions
Words until they actions strive on empty satisfactions
Yeah, the fact is I don't know, fact is I don't know
Yeah, I get on these stages, say that I put on a show
But, yeah, that show it don't mean nothing

If I don't live my lyrics, if they don't feel the spirit in my songs
Then they don't hear it
Homie, yeah, that don't mean nothing
This ain't all about appearance
Everything starts with the man in the mirror

Yeah, I ain't sleeping lately
I ain't sleeping lately
Yes, I know that I'm the only person that can change me
Maybe, that's why I ain't changing
That's why I ain't changing
I got too much on my mind, I guess I don't know how to face it

I just don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, yeah
I don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it
I don't know how to face it, how to face it, ah

#Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #CPTSD #PTSD #MentalHealth #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialPhobia

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Kind to myself by Tenth Avenue North

I've tried to hate myself
Thinking that's how things will change
But it never helps, piling up the blame
Fighting fire with fire, hurt with more hurt
Breaking my own heart makes everything worse

I gotta be kind, kind to myself
'Cause I can't change, change any way else
If the kindness of my Savior is how He changes me
Then I can be kind, kind to myself

I know it sounds insane
But the old way wasn't working
I try to medicate
When the pain's under the surface
I've never healed by powering through
I had to learn how to see me the way that You do

I gotta be kind, kind to myself
'Cause I can't change, change any way else
If the kindness of my Savior is how He changes me
Then I can be kind, kind to myself

Hey (kind), don't misunderstand, it's not permission (kind)
It's conviction over condemnation (kind)
Oh, the curious love of God (kind)
It's such a better and sweeter song (kind)
It has a way of showing me what's really going on, going on, yeah

What does the voice in your head sound like
When you fail for the thousandth time?
Is it cruel or is it kind?

Oh, I gotta be kind, kind to myself
'Cause I can't change, change any way else
If the kindness of my Savior is how He changes me
I can be kind, kind to myself

I can be kind, kind to myself
I can be kind, kind to myself

#MentalHealth #Depression #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Selfharm #CPTSD #PTSD #SelfharmRecovery #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SocialPhobia

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