Stress Center Peer Support

Just curious as I have been through it and am no better so wonder what I am doing wrong? How does this cure social anxiety?

Hi dj417002, I put this on my favorites, I was hoping some responses would pop up. I'm only on session 7 and so I don't know for sure the answer to your question. I too have social anxiety as well as plain old anxiety disorder. I have improved measurably in my internal anxiety through the first 7 sessions and really love the program. I am learning a lot, but I have not seen a noticable change in my social anxiety. I am hoping the tools I am learning to combat anxiety help with the social anxiety. I believe I understand my social anxiety so much better, but the actual social situations are still very difficult. I might have more to say as I complete sessions.

Dear dj,
This site may help you rise above your fears of social anxiety.... How to Rise Above and Conquer Social Anxiety

Ms T Bones - Thanks for the site ...I have this issue also.

I am on session 7 and I am still having the same problems as I usually do as far as SAD is concerned. I like the program so far and I have learned a lot. I am just not sure if the program can help me overcome the social anxiety.

Hi I'm new to this program. I just finished lesson 3 and I feel more anxious. I also have social anxiety and general anxiety. I did learn alot with lession 1 and 2. I hope this program will help with the social anxiety. with lession 3 I wonder my increase anxiety is because i'm confronting my negative feelings and sometimes having trouble making them positive. I feel like giving up. any suggessions?

I too have the social anxiety issue, I have been shy all my younger life, I am better in social situations as I get older, the other person usually will have to start the conversation b/c I typically don't. I am 51 and I am still finding myself avoiding certain situations. This is my 2nd time going through the program, the first time has helped alot but I just can't seem to get over that little bit of fear in the pit of my stomach. I have to admit after going through this program the first time I can go grocery shopping something I have not done ever. I guess I will have to work harder this time around on the social thing.
Sabby don't give up, when I first got started alot of anxiety came back for me but I kept listening to the tapes, I did the homework, the journal and sometimes I went through the homework book again and picked up something I missed the first time around. We are not the type of people to give up. Good luck everyone. Karen

Well for starters this program doesn't cure anything. It gives you the tools to overcome your anxiety and not fear it anymore. I cannot say were you went wrong because i do not know how you have followed with the program. I can only assume.

The lessons give you the information you need in order to approach diffrent aspects of anxiety but without the relaxation it won't be enough. The suggestion for the relaxation cd is 3X a day, is this something you followed? It isn't important to follow the program to a T but the relaxation is a part you'll need to. That and applying what you've learned (again i have no idea if and what you've applied).

And what about your expectations? I wasn't fully over my social anxiety the first time around, that is always a possiblity but that doesn't mean it didn't work, it means we've come really far and we still need to continue.

There is also the possibility that you haven't accepted that anxiety is not something to fear. The program is ment to bring anxiety on so you can live through it. In this case you could communicate when you feel anxious to a friend and you can have your friend there when you do attempt to do something anxiety producing.



I hope this helps

Mike

Sabby you are still in the beginning stages of the program. Anxiety has a way of sapping our creativity and the positive emotions. Expect not to feel like you can change your negatives into positives well. You are still learning and it's even harder when you don't have that creativity.

What is going to happen is if you really stick with the relaxation cd, you'll be able to start feeling positive emotions and you'll be more creative when it comes to replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones and you'll also be able to believe them more. For now just expect to get used to noticing the negative thoughts and attempting to change them. Don't expect to change them skillfully.


Mike