Social Anxiety Disorder/Agoraphobia

[Elskeggso]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 07 August 2013 at 08:44

[ShadownINja]

Why not get it addressed? Something like emotional freedom techniques will address the underlying cause - likely to be a traumatic event that happened earlier in your life. Come to terms with it (ie not ignore it/put it at the back of your mind) and you can move on in confidence.

[Elskeggso]

At the moment I've been prescribed the antidepressant Ecsitalopram, which should help while a psychotherapist is arranged through my doctor. I haven't started taking them yet though, rather nervous!

[bluto]

CBT is the best way to tackle it. It changes the thought patterns and triggers of the anxiety and should help you to lessen and overcome the SAD. A course of some anti-depressants help too, there are some specific ones that are more effective for anxiety than depression. As for explaining it to friends, its not easy. Try approaching them and say what you are or arnt comfortable doing, certain places that are ok to go to for you and places that set you off. Let them know how it physically affects you and the way it gets to you mentally. They wont realise how it demoralises and exhausts a body. Take it easy for a while, but dont stop going out altogether as it only makes it worse. Hope it works out well..

Im taking Citalopram and it took a while to get on it as the dosage was adjusted a few times, but now im fully on it its amazing. I have lots more energy and no longer feel demoralised or like i cant do things. Ive virtually picked my life up where i left it 2 years ago and am raring to go. Once you get stable on the drugs you should be on them for between 12-18 months to let your body get used to the new feelings. They manage to stop a lot of the bad thoughts and strain, if a social situation was horrific before, you may get a flutter from it once on tablets but you still feel able to cope with it and go ahead.

Edited by bluto on Tuesday 30th June 17:47

[Mr Whippy]

My advice is to expose yourself to the things you have problems with, with help from your friends, so you feel safe etc... face things and reinforce the idea that things don't go wrong when you do them, problems can be resolved easily and without embarrasment etc etc...


Just look at this too... you are not in a minority having anxiety etc... so don't feel isolated or 'different'... just put right what has gone wrong

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/nhsmental/Stress-at...

Doh, can't find the proper link to a recent article, but it said 1 in 5 in Yorkshire who work suffer from some disorder or another (not sure on the stats etc, but it's pretty 'normal' to have some issues )
Key is to get on the road to recovery, some improvement at all, even just acknowledging it is the best step imho!

Stress might also be helping it stick around, imho. A viscious circle ensues here, as you are stressed about the problem, but facing it head on with your friends help will help relieve the stress it brings along!


Good luck whatever you do!

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 30th June 17:54

[War Pig]

bluto said:

Im taking Citalopram and it took a while to get on it as the dosage was adjusted a few times, but now im fully on it its amazing. I have lots more energy and no longer feel demoralised or like i cant do things. Ive virtually picked my life up where i left it 2 years ago and am raring to go. Once you get stable on the drugs you should be on them for between 12-18 months to let your body get used to the new feelings. They manage to stop a lot of the bad thoughts and strain, if a social situation was horrific before, you may get a flutter from it once on tablets but you still feel able to cope with it and go ahead.

Edited by bluto on Tuesday 30th June 17:47

[Elskeggso]

bluto said:

CBT is the best way to tackle it. It changes the thought patterns and triggers of the anxiety and should help you to lessen and overcome the SAD. A course of some anti-depressants help too, there are some specific ones that are more effective for anxiety than depression. As for explaining it to friends, its not easy. Try approaching them and say what you are or arnt comfortable doing, certain places that are ok to go to for you and places that set you off. Let them know how it physically affects you and the way it gets to you mentally. They wont realise how it demoralises and exhausts a body. Take it easy for a while, but dont stop going out altogether as it only makes it worse. Hope it works out well..

Thanks for that, CBT is what the doc mentioned. The trouble is, many of my mates are the type that would say "You're just self-conscious", or "You need more confidence", and laugh it off, that's up to them though. I have noticed in the past few months I have been going out less and less socially and sticking to incredibly regular routines as the anticipation of anything remotely unfamiliar was quite uncomfortable. I guess that is what the antidepressants are for though, before any therapy.

[Elskeggso]

Mr Whippy said:

My advice is to expose yourself to the things you have problems with, with help from your friends, so you feel safe etc... face things and reinforce the idea that things don't go wrong when you do them, problems can be resolved easily and without embarrasment etc etc...

Thanks, I've sort of started doing that, I have to do a lot of things on my own anyway as I live alone (maybe another symptom of SAD) like food shopping (which is almost unbearable, but not quite). It's good that at least a couple of friends understand so if I do need some company whilst doing something then they will be cool with it.

Also, strange as it may sound, being at work is when I am most confortable. I think this is because I spend so much time there and I am in a position of control, either way my job is quite often used as an escape, like going in on my day off to avoid anything social etc.

Edited by Elskeggso on Tuesday 30th June 18:03

Edited by Elskeggso on Tuesday 30th June 18:05

[Elskeggso]

War Pig said:

bluto said:

Im taking Citalopram and it took a while to get on it as the dosage was adjusted a few times, but now im fully on it its amazing. I have lots more energy and no longer feel demoralised or like i cant do things. Ive virtually picked my life up where i left it 2 years ago and am raring to go. Once you get stable on the drugs you should be on them for between 12-18 months to let your body get used to the new feelings. They manage to stop a lot of the bad thoughts and strain, if a social situation was horrific before, you may get a flutter from it once on tablets but you still feel able to cope with it and go ahead.

Edited by bluto on Tuesday 30th June 17:47

The doc explained the Escitalopram I've been prescribed is a starting point. It is a low dose (5mg) so I guess it is a case of trial and error with this stuff, as I've never been on prescribed gear before.

[Murray993]

That must be hard if you live on your own as well. I live on my own and although I like food shopping (well the wine section anyway) sometimes I do feel like a saddo meals for one loser. Likely that doesn't help, sorry.

[oldbanger]

Elskeggso said:

bluto said:

CBT is the best way to tackle it. It changes the thought patterns and triggers of the anxiety and should help you to lessen and overcome the SAD. A course of some anti-depressants help too, there are some specific ones that are more effective for anxiety than depression. As for explaining it to friends, its not easy. Try approaching them and say what you are or arnt comfortable doing, certain places that are ok to go to for you and places that set you off. Let them know how it physically affects you and the way it gets to you mentally. They wont realise how it demoralises and exhausts a body. Take it easy for a while, but dont stop going out altogether as it only makes it worse. Hope it works out well..

Thanks for that, CBT is what the doc mentioned. The trouble is, many of my mates are the type that would say "You're just self-conscious", or "You need more confidence", and laugh it off, that's up to them though. I have noticed in the past few months I have been going out less and less socially and sticking to incredibly regular routines as the anticipation of anything remotely unfamiliar was quite uncomfortable. I guess that is what the antidepressants are for though, before any therapy.

I had CBT too, more for depression, but I'd began to develop social anxiety due to that, which also needed to be addressed. I found it very helpful and it is not some fluffy "tell me about your mother" poor you navel gazing exercise.

Once you are feeling more comfortable in yourself, may I suggest the following to hammer the message home? All have been very helpful to me personally though YMMV of course (all have some basis in the literature too).

Increased exercise, increased exposure to sunlight and/or vitamin D3 supplementation, omega 3 oil supplementation, examination of food intolerances (undiagnosed gluten and dairy allergy/intolerance can be associated with poor mental health), making sure you get enough sleep (lack of sleep increases the stress hormone cortisol), cutting back on caffeine and alcohol (both can increase anxiety)

[Elskeggso]

oldbanger said:

Elskeggso said:

bluto said:

CBT is the best way to tackle it. It changes the thought patterns and triggers of the anxiety and should help you to lessen and overcome the SAD. A course of some anti-depressants help too, there are some specific ones that are more effective for anxiety than depression. As for explaining it to friends, its not easy. Try approaching them and say what you are or arnt comfortable doing, certain places that are ok to go to for you and places that set you off. Let them know how it physically affects you and the way it gets to you mentally. They wont realise how it demoralises and exhausts a body. Take it easy for a while, but dont stop going out altogether as it only makes it worse. Hope it works out well..

Thanks for that, CBT is what the doc mentioned. The trouble is, many of my mates are the type that would say "You're just self-conscious", or "You need more confidence", and laugh it off, that's up to them though. I have noticed in the past few months I have been going out less and less socially and sticking to incredibly regular routines as the anticipation of anything remotely unfamiliar was quite uncomfortable. I guess that is what the antidepressants are for though, before any therapy.

I had CBT too, more for depression, but I'd began to develop social anxiety due to that, which also needed to be addressed. I found it very helpful and it is not some fluffy "tell me about your mother" poor you navel gazing exercise.

Once you are feeling more comfortable in yourself, may I suggest the following to hammer the message home? All have been very helpful to me personally though YMMV of course (all have some basis in the literature too).

Increased exercise, increased exposure to sunlight and/or vitamin D3 supplementation, omega 3 oil supplementation, examination of food intolerances (undiagnosed gluten and dairy allergy/intolerance can be associated with poor mental health), making sure you get enough sleep (lack of sleep increases the stress hormone cortisol), cutting back on caffeine and alcohol (both can increase anxiety)

Thanks for that, seems sensible.

[Elskeggso]

Murray993 said:

That must be hard if you live on your own as well. I live on my own and although I like food shopping (well the wine section anyway) sometimes I do feel like a saddo meals for one loser. Likely that doesn't help, sorry.

It is hard, and is mainly why I wanted to sort it out before I ended up living like a recluse. Coincidentally, I am moving in with my Dad for about a year this month, hopefully that will help.

[bluto]

If your friends laugh it off then thats up to them, dont laugh along with it or they will think you agree. Living with your dad may help, but dont become too entrenched in being accompanied to do things, it can form other habits you need to break. I went places with people but often went in my own car and joined them there, or went with them and shopped alone etc. Bits of help, rather than full-scale. The regular places you visit to stop any unexpected things happening is part of the condition. Its also about control a lot of the time, ie you can control where you visit and what you do and its routine for you. Any break in the routine is out of your control and comfort zone and the adrenaline response kicks in and starts the anxiety off. Thats just a thought as its where a lot of mine comes from. Not always that easy to kick but im doing much better with that these days!! Take things at an easy pace, face stuff with support but once/twice a week, not every day. The body and brain need time to adjust to the new feelings etc. Also keep positive, visiting somewhere whilst feeling st is better than sitting at home and missing out/feeling demoralised. As said before, exercise, less caffeine and alcohol, plus a vitamin supplement can help a lot.

The 5mg is a low starting dose and will go up in increments over time. Each new dose took me a couple of weeks to get used to. Dont expect miracles straight away, let it do its job for a while and one day you will realise the really st bits have gone and the rest of it will go too.

[bluto]

Try reading a book by Dr Claire Weekes - Self Help for Your Nerves. Sounds quaint but the advice is excellent. Its on amazon for about £3 or so.

[ShadownINja]

Are you really that depressed to be prescribed anti-depressants? Fair enough, if so, but doctors hand them out like sweets. A senior doc at The Priory said they only prescribe them to people who were unable to focus because they were that depressed; otherwise they recommended the kind of advice given above... exercise etc.

As for CBT, it can work for some people but it's not the best. It's offered on the NHS for a simple reason: it's cheap.

I'm not saying don't take the anti-depressants or do the CBT; your doc is the official in this matter so you need to stick to his advice.














Personally, in my experience of such issues, I'd rather shove them up his arse with a large projectile weapon from 2 miles away. Unless his specialism is psychiatric illnesses, of course.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 30th June 21:14

[Elskeggso]

Apparently it's quite common for certain anti-depressants to be prescribed for anxiety conditions, and some anxiety conditions can also lead to things like depression, which is quite accurate for me. However, I'm not exactly an expert on the subject so I maybe talking nonsense

[Elskeggso]

bluto said:

Try reading a book by Dr Claire Weekes - Self Help for Your Nerves. Sounds quaint but the advice is excellent. Its on amazon for about £3 or so.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Elskeggso]

bluto said:

If your friends laugh it off then thats up to them, dont laugh along with it or they will think you agree. Living with your dad may help, but dont become too entrenched in being accompanied to do things, it can form other habits you need to break. I went places with people but often went in my own car and joined them there, or went with them and shopped alone etc. Bits of help, rather than full-scale. The regular places you visit to stop any unexpected things happening is part of the condition. Its also about control a lot of the time, ie you can control where you visit and what you do and its routine for you. Any break in the routine is out of your control and comfort zone and the adrenaline response kicks in and starts the anxiety off. Thats just a thought as its where a lot of mine comes from. Not always that easy to kick but im doing much better with that these days!! Take things at an easy pace, face stuff with support but once/twice a week, not every day. The body and brain need time to adjust to the new feelings etc. Also keep positive, visiting somewhere whilst feeling st is better than sitting at home and missing out/feeling demoralised. As said before, exercise, less caffeine and alcohol, plus a vitamin supplement can help a lot.

The 5mg is a low starting dose and will go up in increments over time. Each new dose took me a couple of weeks to get used to. Dont expect miracles straight away, let it do its job for a while and one day you will realise the really st bits have gone and the rest of it will go too.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. The thing that confuses me is that I have had this for a long time, years, and I just got on with things and ignored it and subconsciouly avoided everything I could (stiff upper lip and all that I think). However, now that I am confronting it (almost any form of confrontation is very difficult for me) it is making me more tense in a lot of situations, ones where I know in advance how I will feel. Have you experienced anything like this?

[ShadownINja]

Elskeggso said:

Apparently it's quite common for certain anti-depressants to be prescribed for anxiety conditions, and some anxiety conditions can also lead to things like depression, which is quite accurate for me. However, I'm not exactly an expert on the subject so I maybe talking nonsense

Yes, it's common but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. Doctors prescribe anti-depressants far too readily, as I've stated. Many things can lead to depression; it doesn't mean you need a pill.

There are a whole load of natural things you can do to alleviate light depression.

As for your specific issue, see how you get on with CBT. If that doesn't work, then try emotional freedom techniques. I know this will work.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 30th June 22:56