1
10: Are you shy or socially awkward? Read this
Posted by
Kumata
,
in
General
Mar 16 2013
·
261 views
Social Anxiety Shyness Mental disorder Help
Last week I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder.
I understand that a large number of people on this site are excessively shy in real life or feel nervous in many social situations. If you are one of those people, do yourself a favour and read that article - specifically the symptoms - and if you feel that you recognise any of those traits within yourself please, please summon the courage to talk to a doctor about it.
I've suffered from SAD (that's the official - and hilarious - acronym for it) for nearly a decade. I just assumed I was shy. I accepted it as how I was. Even when I read about the disorder it took me a year to work up the courage to actually talk to my GP about it. SAD is a negative pattern of thinking that is extremely difficult to break out of without professional help. And the saddest thing is the disorder prevents you from feeling you ought to talk to somebody about it. It traps you!
Chances are less than 1% of you are sufferers, but even if I can nudge just one other person toward getting the help they need I'll be happy.
I understand that a large number of people on this site are excessively shy in real life or feel nervous in many social situations. If you are one of those people, do yourself a favour and read that article - specifically the symptoms - and if you feel that you recognise any of those traits within yourself please, please summon the courage to talk to a doctor about it.
I've suffered from SAD (that's the official - and hilarious - acronym for it) for nearly a decade. I just assumed I was shy. I accepted it as how I was. Even when I read about the disorder it took me a year to work up the courage to actually talk to my GP about it. SAD is a negative pattern of thinking that is extremely difficult to break out of without professional help. And the saddest thing is the disorder prevents you from feeling you ought to talk to somebody about it. It traps you!
Chances are less than 1% of you are sufferers, but even if I can nudge just one other person toward getting the help they need I'll be happy.
Good for you for being able to get help! A good portion of society just brushes off people who deal with things like SAD, and even those who are just introverted, as people who "just need to have more courage" or should "just get over it and force themselves" to be apart of social situations. I've even known people who suffer from it, or have a couple of similar symptoms, who tell themselves that and suffer on for years. Thank you so much for sharing this, as well.
Best wishes to you!