Fellow Jubbers, chime in.
Hello all, so sorry to not have answered you before. It's one of my worst ever period of time now, my avoidance syndrome is at a peak, and even writing now make me cringe and have palpitations
Nonetheless, thank you very much for all your input, I'll try to answer you.
I went through avoidance during my 22-24 it was extreme, now it's been decreasing now that we're realizing I might be Borderline.
It an awful disorder I avoided outside and people's eyes, and any form of human contact (basic thing like the cashier and other little things scared me), it's truly a hurtful disorder and in my case it was worse because it came with clinical anxiety, shaking, strutting, etc.
So you're not alone, pm if you want to talk about it. or join a forum there are great ones for social anxiety which is basically the same, they give great support and seek help, don't let it go to Depression, that's the next spot on the circle.
Alas, I'm in depression. The meds hold me, so that I don't drop to low mood wise, but my agoraphobia hit the roof, now talking to my best friend 10 minutes drain me completely of energy. I can't cope with any responsibility, even posting a mail take me 3 weeks, to have the courage to go the the post office
Sounds very much like how I feel about things. Very sorry to hear you have this problem. I wouldn't wish these feelings on anyone...
Thank you for your concern. It's insidious as that cut me from other people, and it kind of create a vicious circle of loneliness.
I have plenty of the symptoms listed, but I don't feel I have the disorder. I feel the disorder is on the extreme side of shyness. And although I can be shy at times, I don't feel it is me.
Yes, even my parents thought that it was just shyness, but it's far worse and very socially debilitating. I used to phone my parents every day, but now it's 4 weeks I haven't talk to them
It seems as though this is tied to low self esteem and hyper sensitivity to criticism. Learning to separate oneself from one's performance, whether it be school or work, is a start. Observing confident people and what they do and say in social situations helped me feel more comfortable as I imitated some of that behaviour until it became routine.
It's very difficult to distance oneself from performance and the thought of what other people would think. For me it's so ingrained that it's pretty much subconscious and automatic. I keep making walls between me and any situation when I believe I may fail. I admire greatly confident people, but I lack the energy to mimic them.
This goes beyond shyness (being bashful at the prom). MY symptoms over the years: extreme agoraphopia; spastic colon (abated); panic disorder (hyperventilation, numbing feet and hands, so much so I carried a breathing bag); tranquilizers (massive) and antipsychotics; suicidal ideation; maintaining a driver because driving terrified me; shakes and inability to talk; fainting. Thankfully, with an excellent psychiatrist, most of that has been conquered. I never thought I was shy; despite that for 8 years I flew every wee on business.
Sorry to learn that palbert, dear friend.
I quoted in Bold what I feel also. May I ask you what kind of things did you do with your psychiatrist ? Was it behavioural therapy ?
I am agoraphobic since very young, but since my adulthood things were more controlled. But since the beginning of my depression last year, this emotion is worse and worse. I see a psychoanalyst and that helps me to understand some things inside me, but that doesn't give me keys to try and resolve this issue. I feel quite lost I must say.
Once again, thank you very much for your input, and I'm very sorry to be so late in answering.
