i seriously think i have social anxiety disorder.
after going with my friend(who is also my ex) to a movie, went back to her place for one of her storied 'stoop parties'. people just show up and hang out on her front steps, with or without her.
it took a few beers to get the frightening, panic-attack-slash-cardiac-arrest-slash-tingly-sensation-in-my arms-and-fingers to go away. my heart was racing. something about strangers lately gets me all nervous.
i'm considering talking to my doctor about getting on one of those meds. to me, however, this seems like admitting defeat. i don't want to offend anyone who has a similar problem, but i've always considered medicating a mental problem to be a copout. i guess i just figure i could lick it on my own since i understand that it's all in my head. i don't look down on those who genuinely need to take the medication available, but believe that therapists and physicians rely much too heavily and much too easily decide on chemical solutions for mundane issues. i think if nothing else my problem isn't that severe. but maybe i'm just kidding myself.
plus, what good is improving my social skill if i experience any or all the side effects? if i were to get more comfy with social interaction, what good does it do me if i'm incontinent and flatulent(moreso than usual) and can't get it up?
maybe if anyone undergoing treatment for anxiety- social or otherwise- has a success story after starting meds, you could share??
after going with my friend(who is also my ex) to a movie, went back to her place for one of her storied 'stoop parties'. people just show up and hang out on her front steps, with or without her.
it took a few beers to get the frightening, panic-attack-slash-cardiac-arrest-slash-tingly-sensation-in-my arms-and-fingers to go away. my heart was racing. something about strangers lately gets me all nervous.
i'm considering talking to my doctor about getting on one of those meds. to me, however, this seems like admitting defeat. i don't want to offend anyone who has a similar problem, but i've always considered medicating a mental problem to be a copout. i guess i just figure i could lick it on my own since i understand that it's all in my head. i don't look down on those who genuinely need to take the medication available, but believe that therapists and physicians rely much too heavily and much too easily decide on chemical solutions for mundane issues. i think if nothing else my problem isn't that severe. but maybe i'm just kidding myself.
plus, what good is improving my social skill if i experience any or all the side effects? if i were to get more comfy with social interaction, what good does it do me if i'm incontinent and flatulent(moreso than usual) and can't get it up?
maybe if anyone undergoing treatment for anxiety- social or otherwise- has a success story after starting meds, you could share??
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If you had asthma, you'd use an inhaler.
If you had blood pressure issues, you'd take pills.
If you had a horrible case of the flu, you'd drink orange juice and sleep more.
This is why I don't understand the stigma with seeking psychological help. Your psychological health affects your physical health to many degrees, so your brain should be the healthiest organ in your body. You SHOULD make it healthy, whether that's through therapy or a combination of therapy and medicine.
Once I started thinking of it that way, I stopped feeling like a cad for calling the doctor to say, "I need help."