Anxiety Help

[barry1685]

Hey everyone,

I have a few questions about my anxiety.

I recently started to take Anti-Anxiety for my panic attacks and other things. I've noticed a change in my anxiety which is good.

I a pretty shy guy and hate going out into public. I also have other weird quirks like standing in line at stores, I feel very stiff. When I also am talking with people my lips feel very stiff, its very embarrassing haha.

When I started taking my anti-anxiety meds I felt a little less worried about that type of stuff, and now I think its not helping. Would Anti-Anxiety help with this type of problem? Maybe I should try different meds? The only pros I have of taking the anti-anxiety meds right now is that my panic attacks are controlled.

[sixpack]

Hi Barry

Meds are helpful to many folks and can be part of the solution.  And it seems to be helping with your panics.  IMO they help the thinking to slow so you can use other tools to get you on the right track.  Along the way therapy, self-help books, forums, hobbies, exercise etc are other tools that are useful to get your anxiety under better control.

Part of what causes all of this anxiety is the thinking.  We tend to overthink or think incorrectly.  What I have found more helpful with my health anxiety is to change my perspective on how I interpret physical symptoms.  Generally speaking a person with health anxiety would look at a twitch and think it is a neuro illness instead of stresses being converted to physical symptoms.  Perhaps, and I'm not trying to sound overly simplistic, you could try looking at your stiff feeling lips a bit the same way.  Note that they may feel stiff and you maybe nervous about it BUT in the grand scheme of things how will it really affect your life?  That is unless you run from it.  Try and look at it as anxiety (BEASTY) trying to control you---make your decisions for you.  Then decide that you aren't going to let it do that.  This can be done by therapy etc (as I listed above). 

I don't have social anxiety.  But sometimes I get self-conscious about the way I look or how I respond (or better said How I perceive others' respond to me).  I know though that most folks don't even see those insecurities because they are so busy with what is going on in their lives.

[Gizmoman]

Hello! I had the same problem as you. I got stiff and jittery cause I was obsessing about what people were thinking of me and it drove me mad. My zoloft helps a bit with anxiety and I got benzos for acute stress, but the best thing i found that works for me is to adjust my attitude. I adopted a "to hell with everyone and what they think of me" attitude and seriously, it works. Give it a try. I find myself easier to approach, and when i do engage in small talk it feels easier and more relaxed. I dont sound forced or puzzled. It couldnt hurt to try. My two cents.

[AnxiousGuy86]

meds are a great start,especially if you have found ones that work for you.Medication is not a solution though,it helps with symptoms ,but in order to get over these fears and behaviors ,CBT therapy is one of the most effective ways in dealing with social anxiety.

It exposes you gradually to things that give you high anxiety ans stress,and with exposure,practice and time,you will start to become more confident and at ease during these situations.

Money these days is an issue ,but if you can afford it then that should be your next step.If money is a problem,there are work books that are CBT and they have information and exercises that you can do on your own step by step,and as Long as you stick with it and complete it they do help.I did one for Panic attacks,and i haven't had a panic attack in almost 6 months.
Meds and therapy together is Shown to be the best treatment for any anxiety disorder.

It can be hard with medication because everyone reacts differently to different meds,so it can take some time to find the right ones ,so don't give up on meds if you try out 1 or 2 and they don't work.

Hope you find the help to get better and keep coming back to this site,this site has turned my life around.

here's a workbook that Ive been told by a top anxiety doctor here in toronto  that works for people with social anxiety.it can be found on amazon or other websites.

http://www.amazon.com/Shyness-Social-Anxiety-Workbook-Techniques/dp/1572242167

Good Luck and let us know how your doing