Anxiety and confidence

skinny_guy

I suffer from social anxiety and I noticed that my self confidence has plummeted over the last 5 years (I'm 21). Some days I'm okay and some days I get very depressed and don't leave the house and I hate it.

I want to tackle the problem before it gets worse. I was thinking about trying cognitive behavioural therapy. I say I will do it but I keep giving myself excuses. Do I have to go to my GP about this?

Any tips would be helpful!

Ickle Magoo

Hey there,

You can contact therapists directly...there's a good "how to" guide in the charter HERE.

Social anxiety and some of the issues that come with that are discussed on the Phobias forum - which you might find a useful read.

All the very best. :cool:

I used to suffer pretty badly from social anxiety and approached a GP about it. They prescribed me a relatively low dosage of anti-anxiety pills and I used this as a crutch (notice how I said crutch? This is the important thing - the pills won't be a fix-all solution and shouldn't be treated as such), and forced myself into more and more social situations. It was a long process, taking maybe a few months to a year, but now I'm mostly fine and can deal with it a lot better. Would definitely recommend going to be a GP and a counselor though.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

LegacyUser

Same here suffering for the last 6 years or so,it started mildly but eventually turned me into recluse,only few friends or situations that wouldn't trigger me into extreme panic mode,the only way to tackle it is to Find a GP who will be willing to work with you and prescribe meds until you find the right ones with the needed dosage that will take away anxiety,but knowing its Ireland and even Ibuprofen is seen in most cases as class A drug,it will be hard to get anything effective,So if you can afford seek for professional psychotherapist and some sort of SA group.GL OP

shell10

It was around last july that i became aware i had anxiety ! i suffered pretty bad and told no one until i realised after a few months that i became afraid to go to sleep and start the next day ! i just felt constantly nervous and panicky ! once i realised that it was seriously taken over my life i went to my gp and she refered me to CBT and it was the best thing i ever did ! i kick myself everyday for not going sooner! i started in jan and went once a week for about 3 months then it soon dropped to twice a month now i go once a month just to keep in touch and keep on to of it !

i didnt want to take any meds because i felt i was too young and because it was relatively new i thought i could beat it ! it definitly is alot of hard work but once you see the changes its so rewarding !! im not 100% now but the change has been amazing ! ive got my life back and you'll get yours

Best of luck !!!

banquo

CBT is the way to go. Don't go to some random therapist with a Diploma in Aromatherapy or something, you want someone qualified in CBT.