I'm currently 17 and I have been suffering from Social Phobia for at least 6 or 7 years with it becoming worse at the age of 14.
So I at start thought I was just normally shy, but my behaviour went far beyond shy: I couldn't make phone calls, talk to any strangers without difficulties - not even shop clerks, talk to the people of opposite sex at all unless I've known them for years (and sometimes even not then), had difficulties from having a speech in front of people and was always thinking negatively about my speeches, blushed easily for seemingly no reason (someone walked past me and I blushed) and I do sweat excessisively when some stranger or member of opposite sex is near me, I was also always thinking about everything in a negative way. This condition is both the cause and symptom of my poor self-esteem (I mean, I had low self-esteem then this made it even worse). Social fears helped making me a porn & mb addict (a thing that I have managed to start beating), caused depression and via the depression surfaced some OCD's. So this has pretty much f**ked my life up and I seriously need to beat this. My psyc. suggested CBT for this and I think I will be starting it soon.
I seriously wish that this condition would have been diagnosed earlier but that's too late to feel sad for that.

What have I managed to do despite the social phobia? Well, I have managed to get a dance partner for our formal dance at school but even that was seriously difficult, it was almost impossible to get even those words out of my mouth. But then I really need to get this in better shape for the dance so I am not anxious as h*ll in there.
I have few times also managed to act in a play but even then I was in panic, no matter how small the crowd was (in one case it was 7 people and I even froze then).
So I'm looking forward to getting in better shape with this and getting on with my life.

Hi Shdew and welcome to oFear

Couple of thoughts in response to your post:

1. At 17 - porn and mb are usually a frequent past time of many. Don't be alarmed by your interest in both.

2. Performing to a crowd of 7 is often worse than performing to a crowd of 7000 - as with a wider audience you can have a much bigger hit/miss scope.

Good job! You're 17 and you've identified 2 problems - watching porn and anxiety! Pornography is as addictive as cocaine, if not more so. So, while an interest in it might be viewed as "normal" it is nonetheless a great idea to find better things to do with your time.

Anxiety has screwed up your life, but you are at "rock bottom" as they say and are moving forward. You will be amazed at the progress that you make each year, should you keep with it. Great work at getting yourself a dance partner! Even though it was terrifying, you did it anyway! This is a powerful anxiety-reducer. I used to be mortified by doing that kind of stuff too, but as I continued to challenge myself by taking real risks, I found it got much easier the next time. While things may be tough now, they will be so much better for you in the future, so keep doing the things you are doing!

Seeing a therapist for CBT is a great idea as well! Once you have been doing these things for a few months, you will notice your life conintuing to improve. If you need any further advice/guidance, don't hesitate to PM me or post replies here!

[edit to remove advertisement in signature - Shy guy 16/1/09]

In 1997 was when I was first diagnosed with social anxiety, but the male psychiatrist recommended that I take the CBT program, but it didn't help my social phobia as my psychiatirst first called it before calling it social anxiety disorder. It was until four years later that I was referred to a social anxiety group, but it was mostly to educate me on how to cope with social anxiety. Unfortunately I ended up dropping out only after two sessions.

Debra

I'm a veteran of SA--I'm in my fifties (female) and have had it before anyone could tell me what was wrong with me. I had a traumatic teenaged experience (baby at 17 who I decided to keep and raise with the help of my family). At that time, this was such a no-no, that it triggered my propensity for social anxiety. This anxiety (of going back to school--happy ending--I went to college and grad school, my daughter also and we're all healthy and happy) manifested in talking in public (rendering me mute in certain situations, fear of writing/signing in public, fear of speaking on the telephone).

I overcame these by sheer will at first and by determination to support myself and my children. However, this is what I learned:

hypnosis didn't help (maybe it was a bad session? During the session, the hypnotist said,"don't you think this is weird?")
self-talk helps slightly
immersion therapy helps if you do it on your own (practice writing in public, etc).
Anti-depressants don't really help except that you don't care so much.
Benzos don't help except for anticipatory anxiety, but doesn't take away the symptoms of the fear (shaking, stuttering, sweating, etc) + you'll get addicted.

Beta blockers--Yea for me. These helped and I've been on a small dose each day 10-20 mg or sometimes more if I give a speech. They are non-addictive, can be taken situationally (don't have to take them every day). They don't take away the anticipatory anxiety, but you will find that that anxiety goes away or lessens as the actual situation becomes less painful.

I figured out that my social phobia stemmed from a hereditary shyness gene (my whole family has some kind of issue), as well as a physical 'over-response' that causes adrennaline to surge through my body. this is why the beta blocker works for me. However, I take Propronolol (the grandmother of beta blockers). Some of the new designers ones don't work the same way.

There you have it--myself in a nutshell, so to speak. I'm proud and happy and fulfilled. I've got a happy marriage (and we can laugh about my weirdness because he has some too), happy kids (who didn't seem to inherit my shyness), a good career.

Ironically, I write mystery books. Just not while anyone is watching.

Please all you young ones out there--don't let this stop you. Find a way (without over-medicating yourself) to overcome this. Turn it into a positive. You've got a long wonderful road ahead.

Oh, I almost forgot to address you Shdew (newbie). You're very young and you're lucky to have this fabulous thing called the Internet and blogs and this wonderful forum. When I was 17, I thought I was the only nut on the planet.
When we have phobias, we're very inside ourselves and it's hard to focus on anything besides the fear.
I think you're right to have tried things like Theatre (don't give up--and maybe it's your calling in life). Do and try as many things as you can each day--my mantra for the last 10 years has been: Do something brave today. Don't be afraid of embarrassing yourself. As you get older, you realize that it doesn't matter--you tried, that's what matters. I also try to put the fears in a compartment in the back of my brain and realize that others have fears that we don't know about--half of us are faking it and doing it anyway.
You're going to overcome this and do great things with your life, I just know it. You're so young, give yourself a chance and give others a chance to help you.

It is a great start you identified your problem now~! You are still young, and there's alot of hope. But, if you really want to get your social out of the window and solve it once and for all. I have the magic solution for you.

Go out and talk to as many people as possible. Doesn't matter if you ask them what is the time or whatever... As long you talk to them.

I've dealt w/ Social Anxiety for the majority of my life. It took me a long time to seek help but the sooner you do the better. The best treatment is w/ therapy particularly cognitive behavioral therapy where you basically confront your fears and the thoughts you have that contribute to your anxiety. Medication can be helpful, it depends on the person. It can help manage the physiological effects anxiety has on the body and mind, but therapy is the best help b/c you have to change thought patterns and beliefs.

Buy Generic Ativan