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Jul 20, 05
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Social Anxiety Disorder
A friend of mine says he's suffering from this, I haven't seen him in a while, he doesn't really come out much anymore. He says whenever he is in social situations, or in a spot where he feels trapped (sitting in the middle aisle of an airplane, in a meeting, etc) he gets very anxious and says he 'chokes' .. sometimes literally.. He says sometimes if happens at random, but he looks really shaken up and says when he has these 'attacks', it's for really stupid, everyday reasons.. he also says he's got a complete phobia of death now too, which really scares me.
Has any one ever had this or know someone who has? I'd like to help him out and supposedly it's treatable.. do you guys have any suggestions on what I can tell him to do? I'd like to see him more, but he says it's affecting his everyday life, which really sucks because he's a good friend.. Any suggestions? 
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Jul 20, 05
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I'm sure theres mental/breathing exercises he can look into. There's tonnes of methods to relaxing the body. Exercise, Vitamens, etc.
Or, he could goto the DR. and they'll get him hooked on Ativan or Clorezapam, and he'll be a laidback zombie.
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Jul 20, 05
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your friends and family are really important in helping you get through a problem like that. it's not very easy to push yourself to go and do things when they cause you extreme discomfort, but it's important not to just slip into a routine of ignoring and avoiding everything that causes you discomfort...that just fuels your anxiety about certain things. having your friends push you slightly to do certain things you wouldn't normally do really helps. starting off small works well.
if it's really bad he should try to see a psychologist as well. there are prescription drugs that help with anxiety disorders like this one, but i'm pretty sketchy about most of them and would want to try to solve the problem through other methods. ps. getting him to change small things that he does in his everyday life will greatly help him out. anxiety disorders tend to get people into comfortable routines and anything that is different from that routine really messes them up and causes them to sometimes even go so far as to have a panic attack. changing small things like walking a different way to work, going to different places, trying new food, etc... will help. anything that is a change from the comfortable routine they normally perform. just be supportive and patient. some of the things may sound really stupid, but believe me, they can seem like extremely large hurdles to the person. Last edited by sidekick; Jul 20, 05 at 12:53 AM.
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Jul 20, 05
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my best suggestion is be a friend. let him know you're there, make him feel comfortable. make sure he knows that if he's out with you, it's okay if he get panicked or really anxious. you won't make fun of him or anything like that. it might help to get him out into social situations a bit more, which will help he see he can make it through.
there's a lot of things you can do before you need to even try medications. i'd suggest talking to a doctor, and possibly getting a referral to a psychologist. they can't prescribe medications, but they can help (psychiatrists are the ones who can prescribe meds) if you need some more resources for that type of stuff, feel free to pm me.
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Jul 20, 05
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There actually are a lot of medications that specialize in anxiety disorders. Paxil is a medication that was desgined specially for the disoder, although it is used to treat other kinds of disorders as well.
Clearly, medication is only one tool to recovery, and doesnt even need to be used for a long period of time or at all, but it is an opinion....also, finding the right kind is a bit of a hunt, just because its an "anti-depressant" doesnt mean it will agree with your unique brain. Your friend really needs to take care of himself...eat well, get enough sleep, get some exercise and do things that make him feel good. Does he have any keen interests? like sports? acting? writing? ETC Also, talking to a professional on a regular basis could be helpful, esp. with soemone who works with anxiety disorders. They can give him "coping strategies" and together they can work on how best to manage it. There are also support groups avaiable and many reascourses at his disposal. Of course it will be he who needs to want to do these things and he who wants to get the help...but if you think he does, feel free to PM me, i work at the crisis centre and there are rescources galore i can look into for you. best of luck. I know this isnt easy...but its clear to me how much you care about your friend, and even trying to understand the complexity of this probably means a lot to him. A lot of people would turn a cold shoulder or impose judgment like "OMG HE'S SO NUTS...WHAT'S HIS PROBLEM?" I think its wonderful you are ignoring the stigma attached to mental health and being a true friend. Having people to support you is key!
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Jul 20, 05
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I am similarly troubled about what I can do for a friend who is going through something that is beyond my own ability to explain or understand..
But because it is beyond my ability to explain or comprehend, I think it's best to leave it up to the professionals rather than to attempt to impose my own solutions which could potentially worsen the problem. Perhaps you could offer to go see someone with them.. that's what I've offered to do for my friend,
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Jul 20, 05
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i used to have a very bad case of this... for along time.. and it wasn't diagnosed to me until i was in grade 7...
i've slowly overcame this when i moved to BC.. and i had a bestfriend... i staretd going out.. doing things... actually being in the rave scene helped me out alot.. but, as soon as i starting getting the weird feelings from friends..and the anxiety feelings.. and the attacks... i cut people outta my life.. and i cut alot of things out of my life... by choice... and my anxiety started going away gradually... now im picking up the pieces.. and i have the important things in my life helping me.. family, boyfriend, friends, dancing and of course music.
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Jul 20, 05
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i refused to take medication.. and i am overcoming it BY MYSELF!.. and i had A SEVERE CASE.... so whatever u do.. don't take head pills.. it fucks u up... i've seen it happen to alot of people. also.. seeing a psychiatrist can be good... but i had to see one in order to go to my school in Montreal... and let me tell u... i regret it. if ur friend ends up going to see someone.. make sure the person isn't a jackass... cuz when i saw my psychiatrist.. he made me feel stupid, and feel like a piece of shit.. and he also told my mom to shut up.... apparently.. he was one of the best .. go figure. Last edited by Ms.Chop; Jul 20, 05 at 02:17 AM.
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Jul 20, 05
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you have any problum these days it's 'oh here are some drugs that'll make it all better' it's a half assed attempt to get you in and out fast. half the shit doesnt' need drugs.
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Jul 20, 05
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id would also say meet with them in a quiet surroundings and chill and enjoy eachother company with out alot of stuff happening around so the intake is easier on them untill they get use to it or grow more accustom(sp?) to it...baby steps you know..and gia is right no pills they just make you mindless and zombie like which isnt the answer ither makeing one numb to there feelings isnt going to help..i use to take anti-depressants and im so happy i dont anymore...seem as though everyone has very supportive comments for you and all sound like good differant things to try.....so much support here for you:)
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Jul 20, 05
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In this case, i was only suggesting it an opinion.
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Jul 20, 05
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I have a very similar problem. And I also wanted to try and deal with it without meds. However, I found that without meds, I would get anxiety about dealing with the anxiety. Im taking a very very small dose of a very common anti anxiety/ anti depressant, and I have found that just that little bit of a boost, helps. I gives me the little bit of a kick i need to deal with the problems. Things dont seem as big. Knowing that Ive got this bit of chemical help, means to me that Im not dealing with the problems alone. I recently found out that the dose Im taking isnt supposed to help at all, and even if thats so, Thinking that Ive got the help of it, makes me stronger to deal with things.
Helping a friend through this may be harder than going through it yourself, just because you really cant have an idea of what their going through untill youve been there. But I found that having solid friends who dont make you feel like a moron, really helps. As stated above, my friends made me go out into uncomfortable situations. Being made to go to the places that freak you out, helps you get over it. Helps to see that its ok, nothing there is acctually going to get you. I found that a nice big hug when the anxiety is almost too much, helps ease it as well. Being held untill you calm down makes you calm down faster. Physical touch by somone you know cares, will make it easier to face. Dont know if that helped at all. But a little bit of insight never hurts.
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Jul 20, 05
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they use ssris like paxil and effexor to treat social anxiety disorder as well.
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Jul 20, 05
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i would seriously not recommend medication for social anxiety disorder. it can really fuck you up if you don't have chemical imbalance, it can create larger problems for the future. (edit: if you have really really strong anxiety meds can be the best option but if you CAN overcome it... it's much better)
the best remedy is just being really accepting, it can take a really long time - its possible that whats happened to your friend is situational and he needs a change of environment etc. but don't push because as we all know that doesn't help anxiety.. maybe start to hang out a lot with this person in situations they are comfortable in, and then slowly help them get back out there. i dunno, everybodys different though. talking to them and seeing if theres anything in particular that has sparked this (sometimes you dont realize why you feel a certain way) could really help to.
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Jul 20, 05
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p.s i know this because im a wlaking disorder(haha jk) just like everyone else, only some people are cleary far more fucked up then others. Last edited by SEAN!; Jul 20, 05 at 06:40 PM.
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Jul 20, 05
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Jul 20, 05
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the one my mom made me go see was a total dick! he made me feel so stupid, and i didn't want to be there in the first place so i refused to answer any of his questions.. all i said was that i have nothing to say.. and i sat there and watched him ask the typical questions without even looking at me.. the guy was so weak i never went to him again.. 2nd one i went to told my mom to shut up too.. i would check out female psychologists... from my personal experience, i've found that they are a lot more sincere, and concerned for your well being..
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Jul 20, 05
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my buddy took celexa for depression and it made him worse but then he tried a different pill and hes a changed man. the fact of the matter is that there are so many different medications out there, some work for some people and some dont alot of times its trail and error. what you preach is total ignorance.
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Jul 20, 05
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Thanks for the anti-med advice tom cruise, but in some cases its required to help someone.
Yes society takes pills for everything, but in some cases it is needed. If its purely in his head, yes he can change it himself, but if its caused by a chemical imbalance then he cant do it himself. Its great some people are able to overcome their problems. Not everyone can. It has nothing to do with being strong or weak. Dumb fucks.
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Jul 20, 05
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Jul 20, 05
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You say suffer like Im not enjoying it.
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Jul 20, 05
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i went to school at the royal victoria hospital in montreal.. it was right on the same level as the psychiatric ward.... the students that went there.. had mental disabilities... there was about 15 students... yes, u need head pills if its extreme.. like bi-polar, or schitz or w/e... but stuff like social phobia... is something you need to overcome.. BY URSELF... and thats what i was talking about... I OVER CAME IT BYMYSELF.. and i am still doing so... as long as you have some support of ur family and friends.. and you have someone you TRUST to talk to.. then it will help u over come ur obstacles... talking to someone u trust is better then talking to a professional.. especially if u are social phobic... with social phobia u tend to not wanna talk about things in front of stranger's.. or w/e.... so bassline!... just lend a helping hand to your friend.. and when he is ready to talk.. let him.. don't pressure him.. or else it will just cause more damage... trust me. for all of u that think taking pills will help the social phobia... trust me when i tell u... it makes u even more weird... they wanted to put me on meds.. for being A.D.D and being depressed and being social phobic.. and being dyslexic... i would be a walking advertisement for drugs.. it helps SOME people.. but it's better to just overcome it urself.. with the help of friends and relatives... or even just having one person to talk to... the weird thing is.. as soon as i popped my first cap of e... and when i talked to my friends about things.. it made me feel better.. of course i don't suggest e.... but in the past mdma has helped out alot of people to over come different forms of anxiety. i took my social anxiety out on dancing.. it has always been my way out, and i think people should find the things they love to do.. and excersize those things... and do it with someone u love.. cuz it will make a huge difference. there are other options then drugs.. drugs are the easy way out.. and will jus lead to bigger complications in the future... it's not ignorance when u see ur mom having to try diff meds to find the right one for her.. and then having to see her goto NA...due to the fact of people prescribing her diff meds to try.. now she takes about 30pills a night.. and she can't live without them.... in fact she cant sleep without them... she doesn't eat cuz the pills cause her to loose appetite.. THATS NOT IGNORANCE.. THATS FINDING A BETTER OPTION.. so excuse me. Last edited by Ms.Chop; Jul 20, 05 at 09:31 PM.
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Jul 20, 05
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S.A.D.'s quite common in society, really. Of course, there are those who suffer from it more than others, but anyone who's worried about what someone else has thought about them can be prone to it. As with most things in the brain, the more you live your life like this, the more it becomes second nature.
Aside from the more severe cases, which seems to be what your friend is suffering from (and can lead to paranoia attacks), almost all cures from it is done through thought excersices. Suggestive meditation, hypnotherapy, and the like. Of course, it takes time to retrain the brain to react to social situations differently. They've yet to find the insta-cure. Incidentally, brain specialists have pinpointed the exact area of the brain where all anxiety stems from: the amygdala.  When this bit of the brain is removed from rats, the rats have exibited signs of zero anxiety when put into the same situations as normal-brained compatriots. So, when something is used to block the signals from this bit of the brain (via medication, surgery, or the most common of inhibitors, alcohol), the tendency to feel anxiety over a situation decreases.
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