Social anxiety and alcohol

[Janedoe543]

Please stop talking about the alcohol. Social anxiety is the problem hence why i posted in anxiety forum

 

[Janedoe543]

Yes, that sounds great. I hope you find a way to get there. I think this social anxiety just prevents us from being who we want to be. You see people who are at ease socially, enjoying themselves, and wonder why you aren't like them. What is the difference between you and them? (this question is directed at myself too). Why is it easy for them but not for me?

Exactly the way i feel. What is the difference with their brain and mine to make them feel so assertive in groups and social situations

 

[jajingna]

Yeah, basically I think they just feel safe to be themselves, whereas we are seeing danger. It's like a survival mechanism gets switched on because we feel threatened. Doesn't matter that we know rationally that the threat is not really to our survival, as our brain or emotions see it as a real threat. How do we remove the threat? Make it less scary so we can feel safe?

 

[prsn]

I've never been bullied I was just born with anxiety. I don't go to the pub or surround myself with drinkers. I think u are misunderstanding and going into alcoholic discussion whereas my problem is social anxiety. When I don't have to interact with people then I don't drink. I can go days without wanting any alcohol but the minute I need to meet someone then I will drink or cancel. It's becoming unbearable and I hate myself and wish i would just be confident

Hi Jane forgive me for not understanding your issue correctly.
love and peace to you P

 

[Janedoe543]

Yeah, basically I think they just feel safe to be themselves, whereas we are seeing danger. It's like a survival mechanism gets switched on because we feel threatened. Doesn't matter that we know rationally that the threat is not really to our survival, as our brain or emotions see it as a real threat. How do we remove the threat? Make it less scary so we can feel safe?

Is it a chemical imbalance? Is it something we can't stop no matter how much therapy?

 

[Janedoe543]

Has anyone overcome years of crippling social anxiety? Does anyone take medication? I've tried 3 types and all were useless

 

[prsn]

Has anyone overcome years of crippling social anxiety? Does anyone take medication? I've tried 3 types and all were useless

I believe I have Jane like you I have tried several different meds. I was very anxious for many years but now do not suffer any notable social anxiety. Sertraline, Citalopram, Anafranil, Diazepam, Amytriptilene, beta blockers, Codiene and many more I have used over the years to try to overcome anxiety and depression which are so closely linked for me, one seems to feed of the other

 

[prsn]

Is it a chemical imbalance? Is it something we can't stop no matter how much therapy?

I think therapy has its place as a counsellor it would be silly to deny that but for me it was and is a chemical imbalance. Anxiety is just the brains way of saying stay where you are you are safe, out there beyond the safety is a scary world. Humans are a tribal communal animal and are designed to live in close knit groups watching out for each other and all having a role in the tribe maybe your role would have been to watch for the danger as your brain and senses are finally honed and alert.

 

[jajingna]

Is it a chemical imbalance? Is it something we can't stop no matter how much therapy?

Not sure. I have heard that 'chemical imbalance' is just a theory, never proved. It was a successful idea that I think really took hold in the 1990s, that helped sell a lot of antidepressants. You'd see it mentioned in commercials even, if I remember correctly, as though it were fact. "It's a chemical imbalance but this drug fixes it" was the basic message. That theory remains today but it has been challenged, and is not as strong, though many still think that explains things.

Another one is that you may even be born predisposed to social anxiety. Think this one comes from seeing young children acting timid and fearful, and this is considered something that makes it more likely for them to have social anxiety in later years.

I've watched some youtube videos where long-time sufferers have overcome their anxiety, or most of it. I do think that EFT (tapping) can help, and it has scientific support. Other things I haven't tried, might help too.

 

[prsn]

Not sure. I have heard that 'chemical imbalance' is just a theory, never proved. It was a successful idea that I think really took hold in the 1990s, that helped sell a lot of antidepressants. You'd see it mentioned in commercials even, if I remember correctly, as though it were fact. "It's a chemical imbalance but this drug fixes it" was the basic message. That theory remains today but it has been challenged, and is not as strong, though many still think that explains things.

Another one is that you may even be born predisposed to social anxiety. Think this one comes from seeing young children acting timid and fearful, and this is considered something that makes it more likely for them to have social anxiety in later years.

I've watched some youtube videos where long-time sufferers have overcome their anxiety, or most of it. I do think that EFT (tapping) can help, and it has scientific support. Other things I haven't tried, might help too.

Well I have got to say that when I take drugs such as alcohol and others I certainly feel different why would that happen if the brain is not responding to chemicals, i.e Dopamine.

 

[prsn]

Well I have got to say that when I take drugs such as alcohol and others I certainly feel different why would that happen if the brain is not responding to chemicals, i.e Dopamine.

Saying that of course we are all different and what works for me will not work for everyone I suppose

 

[jajingna]

Well I have got to say that when I take drugs such as alcohol and others I certainly feel different why would that happen if the brain is not responding to chemicals, i.e Dopamine.

Brain sure does respond to chemicals, but no one has proved any illness is caused by a chemical imbalance.

 

[Janedoe543]

I do believe it is a chemical imbalance. As many mental helth problems are. I believe this because even with therapy you have to learn to live with it and cope but it is still there in the background and like was mentioned,my brain reacts to alcohol and also cbd oil. It is clearly a chemical imbalance as i have had this as far as i remember and i dont think the medication has worked because i haven't had a high enough dosage. This is not a learned disorder and i don't know why social anxiety is brushed aside as shyness unlike similar conditions such as bipolar disorder or depression. It is just as serious

 

[jajingna]

Everybody reacts to alcohol and other substances. But I'm not sure if many people understand social anxiety that well even though it is pretty common. As a disorder, that is, not just a minor thing. With so many people with this disorder, why does there seem to be little in the way of treatment? It is debilitating, and it can make for a hard life.

I think it is a complicated problem and therefore few people really understand it well. It has to do with complex emotions and beliefs about oneself. Those are not so easy to comprehend, and not easy to change. And people would like a simple solution like "just face your fears" and "take a few risks" or whatever. Will that resolve, or reduce the anxiety? Maybe it brings some relief and confidence for a little while? Then you've got to keep on doing those hard to do things despite the anxiety? It seems to me we need to treat the cause of the anxiety to reduce it. That's where it gets complicated as figuring out the cause is not an obvious thing at all.

Basically, as I've said before, we have a safety issue. So we want to understand what it is that makes us feel unsafe. That's where the complex emotions are. They put in you in survival mode though nothing is threatening your survival. Logic does not resolve an emotional problem, so that requires working on those beliefs you have about yourself, and clearing away the emotion associated with them.

And I'm just theorizing here. Clearing away old pains is a process that takes time. If you can make even a little bit of progress, consider that a victory, and it can motivate you to keep going. But where do you begin? I'm not sure.