social anxiety disorder

[Loren]

I was just diagnosed with social anxiety disorder along with depression. I have had anxiety for most of my life and even briefly saw a psychologist when I was about 9 or 10. For the most part my anxiety was just centered around being around people I didn't know very well or being in large groups. My anxiety intensified in middle school then for most part my anxiety didn't bother me in high school and for most college as well. Then last August, I was driving to the mall and started to get very dizzy and my heart was beating really fast and I had to pull over. I managed to make it to a Mcdonalds parking lot where I proceeded to throw up in the parking lot. This anxiety attack really scared me because I had never had one this bad before. After this attack I was terrified to drive for fear it may happen again. Once I return to college, I started seeing my school psychologist. At first, I tried just therapy for a few months but that didn't work so my psychologist put me one Celexa and Ativan and things have been fine, but i worry what might happen if i go off the medication.

[Fey]

It's tough when anxiety attacks just come at you out of nowhere. Are you planning to go off the medication? Or is it that it's meant to just be a temporary thing?

[Loren]

The medication is just supposed to be a temporary thing but now I not so sure. My anxiety and depression are so much better right now that I am scared to go off it.

[Fey]

I know the feeling. I went on medication for depression 3 years ago now and I was only supposed to be on it for a year max. I'm too scared I'll fall apart without it =(

If the medication works I'd talk to your doctor about continuing on it or asking if they have any other suggestions as to ways of helping your anxiety.

[Timothy]

This fear is really not uncommon guys. Most of us look to medication as a way to improve our problems, and when it begins to, the thought of losing it and going back to the way things use to be can be very daunting.

[sshowalter@foundhealth.co]

I agree that medications can be really useful, but no one (or most people) don't seem to want to have to be on them forever. Talk to you doctor (or an alternative practitioner like a naturopathic doctor) about how to SLOWLY come off of the meds while adding other forms of treatment (like herbal supplements, or mind/body techniques). I'm not saying this works for everyone, but it works for many people who can then be off of the meds!

[gym]

i often have anxiety attacks driving places, i use to be a person who traveled everywhere and done lots of things now i struggle with a simple trip to the shopping centre

[Ashes]

I have not been diagnosed with any anxiety disorders because I am bipolar 1 with PTSD and my doctors act like that explains everything. It may I dont know. I was going to tell you I am the same way about the stores now. I cant even shop for long periods anymore. I get in and leave as quickly as possible. Most of the time I have an anxiety attack before I get out of the store.

[sahlie]

Researchers have theories about the cause of this disease, but have proven to be environmental instead of chemical. Studies have shown the recurrence in families, but are attributed to learned behavior. When family history does not play into the diagnosis, past traumatic situations can play into the reasoning as well as negative experiences in general during early childhood. Extreme separation anxiety during early development has also shown to negatively attribute to future group problems. Social anxiety disorder treatment can simply be the acknowledgement of past experiences and take steps toward changing an inevitable outcome. In addition to environmental factors, there are some biological factors that attribute to the beginning of this disease.