Social Anxiety

[ImScared2]

I’ve had social anxiety for as long as I can remember. Also have depression and general anxiety. I have no friends. The only people I feel comfortable talking to are my close family. I feel so lonely. I’m scared to go out in public most of the time. I’m getting CBT but I have to wait 3 months for it. I’m just getting really sick and impatient and I don’t know what I can do about it.

[Gothi]

Don't worry dear. I also have felt like that most of my past. Just try to occupy your self in some thing that you enjoy like reading,cooking etc. Dont think too much about your fears. Little by liitle get mix with people. I'm sure you can overcome that. Cheers..!!!

[sunrisesunset]

I have severe social anxiety. I understand how hard it is to wait for help. I referred myself last November and started therapy around April this year. It was worth the wait. I've made improvements in the past few months and we're currently planning how I can improve when therapy ends soon.

There are self-help CBT books and websites you can try to start working on yourself while you wait. Before therapy, I used a social anxiety self-help book and websites to improve. It didn't help me the same because I didn't really push myself back then. It'll be different this time.

Good luck!

[ImScared2 in reply to sunrisesunset]

Really good to hear you’ve made improvements. Suppose that gives me some hope. I’ve tried self help things before but it’s just not the same when I don’t have someone pushing me. I’ll give them another look.

Thanks for replying to me, it’s not often I talk to someone I don’t know. Good luck to you as well.

[sunrisesunset in reply to ImScared2]

Yes, having someone push you does make a big difference. I'm feeling well enough to join self-help groups so I can have people to be "accountable" to or be there to talk to. We can add each other as followers "friends" on healthunlocked if you like. Then we can "push" each other.

I've had severe social anxiety for almost 20 years. If I can improve, I'm sure you can.