C
ckyk
New member
I am a 21 year old guy with diagnosed depression and anxiety. I was diagnosed with both when I was 15, but I always had lots of friends and good relationships with family and other people. I used to love speaking to people and being involved in debates/discussions within groups.
However things have changed quite drastically over the last year/year and a half. I have become INCREDIBLY withdrawn from my friends and family and spend almost all of my time away from work alone in my bedroom.
At first it was just large groups and new people. I started finding it harder to converse and my anxiety levels were going through the roof in certain situations. It has however deteriorated to quite a severe extent since then.
My current situation is as follows: I am terrified of talking to people. I would do anything to not have to talk to people. I find it impossible to hold a conversation and constantly run into awkward silences and dead-ends. I feel so embarrassed and go red in the face, and normally clam-up and stay silent which just exacerbates the situation.
I dread any social situation. I hate going to work because I have to try and talk to people. Most of the time people just start to ignore me after a while and come to expect my bizarre behavior, and I prefer it that way. Most people around me always start saying they are tired and bored whenever I am around, which puts more pressure on me to say something.
The more pressure/anxiety I feel, the more silent I am. Which makes the situations worse and it's a vicious circle.
It's got to the point I can't even speak to my family or friends (all 2 of them) very well. My best friend has similar, but very mild, social issues, so he empathises and puts up with my weirdness. I have lost all my other friends (used to have dozens) and I never make new ones or manage to maintain the weak acquaintances I do have.
What can I do? My doctor isn't interested, and I feel like I have no where to turn. I used to be so social and outgoing and it really used to help my depression and anxiety (originally unrelated to this current social problem).
Please help.
However things have changed quite drastically over the last year/year and a half. I have become INCREDIBLY withdrawn from my friends and family and spend almost all of my time away from work alone in my bedroom.
At first it was just large groups and new people. I started finding it harder to converse and my anxiety levels were going through the roof in certain situations. It has however deteriorated to quite a severe extent since then.
My current situation is as follows: I am terrified of talking to people. I would do anything to not have to talk to people. I find it impossible to hold a conversation and constantly run into awkward silences and dead-ends. I feel so embarrassed and go red in the face, and normally clam-up and stay silent which just exacerbates the situation.
I dread any social situation. I hate going to work because I have to try and talk to people. Most of the time people just start to ignore me after a while and come to expect my bizarre behavior, and I prefer it that way. Most people around me always start saying they are tired and bored whenever I am around, which puts more pressure on me to say something.
The more pressure/anxiety I feel, the more silent I am. Which makes the situations worse and it's a vicious circle.
It's got to the point I can't even speak to my family or friends (all 2 of them) very well. My best friend has similar, but very mild, social issues, so he empathises and puts up with my weirdness. I have lost all my other friends (used to have dozens) and I never make new ones or manage to maintain the weak acquaintances I do have.
What can I do? My doctor isn't interested, and I feel like I have no where to turn. I used to be so social and outgoing and it really used to help my depression and anxiety (originally unrelated to this current social problem).
Please help.