Four Things that Counselors Don't Know About Social Anxiety Disorder

[@maggiethecat76]

Having social anxiety disorder is extremely mentally exhausting. Some days i'm able to keep it in check and pretend to be okay but the next day it becomes too overwhelming and I just have to avoid social interaction for a while. The severity comes and goes.

[@bonniebunny25]

I’m the same. Somedays I have just enough energy to pretend I’m social and cheerful and all well but some days I just can’t and I isolate myself at work. I find it unbearable to even go to the restroom out of fear of running into someone and having to do my fake smile and small talk and act like I care when I’m absolutely exhausted.

[@Axel-ib9ms]

Appreciate Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I would love your thoughts. Have you ever tried - Mahorrla Execute Shy Method (should be on google have a look)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for beating social anxiety minus the normal expense. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my mate after a lifetime of fighting got amazing results with it.

[@Zebedeez_Nuts]

I find the less I interact the worse it gets. Cashiering at a Domino's for 1 1/2 yrs helped a ton. I had to force myself to look people in the eye and train myself to stop mouth breathing. I used to get anxiety so bad my breathing would be too loud and people would hear it which made it worse cause sounding on the verge of panting is pretty weird. I still wonder if I'm breathing to loud when I feel anxiety and it begins to spike thinking I'm panting even though I overcame mouth breathing well over a year ago and I know nostril breathing is quiet. Get a cashiering job or floor sales. It helps a ton. Having a predetermined reason to communicate with total strangers helps being way more comfortable socially.

[@chaswr]

The socalled experts say you just need to push yourself out . Kind of hard to do when youre so emotionally drained and tired.

[@evadebruijn]

@@chaswr Almost all mental health workers are clueless and in the worst case retraumatizing. Buyer beware. Better be your own therapist, and getting by with a little help from your friends. 🤗❤️💪👍🍀

[@bethanysaxton7351]

My social anxiety initially, and for many years, played out as a combo of hyper self consciousness in grooming & my appearance, uncomfortability being the center of attention, awkwardness in sports and other activities at school and grew into a fear of speaking in front of groups of people, writing checks in front of others, eating with coworkers, attending work-related social gatherings, getting my hair cut at a salon - just to name a few examples. The older I got the worse the anxiety and then I also started to struggle with either excessive talking, over sharing, or going off on more than a couple of tangents during conversation as I started to isolate more and more, which only made things worse when I would then talk with others, apart from my interactions with customers or patients. I am sure that I came off as being “flaky” and unintelligent. This was always frustrating for me because I’m neither. I’m sensitive & empathetic, as well as quite intelligent & insightful, but when very anxious, I’d disassociate a little and feel overwhelmed, become preoccupied with how I might look or sound and then would lose track of either what I was talking about, or of what the other person just said. I believe my SA started at home and in school with my elder sister who has several narcissistic traits and who both bullied & excluded me while growing up while, at the same time, took advantage of my giving nature. At school I was teased by a couple of classmates up through junior high. Adding to this, I was raised in a Christian home and was also very sheltered by my parents in what I was allowed to both watch on TV and listen to on the radio. This, combined with my sensitive & empathetic personality & being taught to “turn the other cheek” contributed greatly to my very idealistic personality. Unfortunately, as well-intentioned as my parents were, I never learned how to be assertive or how to stand up for myself. Healthy boundaries were never discussed, at all. At school, from elementary up through junior high, although I had a couple of girlfriends, and always seemed to have a “boyfriend” (even if too shy to talk to them directly) I was often unaware of many of the things that my classmates were informed about (current music & sexual lingo, etc.). Or, as I had experienced in my early childhood - one day the Easter Bunny & Santa Claus were real & trick or treating was okay - then by age 5, they were all ungodly......by junior high, some secular & mainstream music & 4H on Sundays after church was fine...until it wasn’t. There was a lot of back & forth over the years. These things made it difficult to really fit in anywhere longterm, and moving around didn’t help, either. In high school, I went to a very strict & legalistic 4th Baptist school with less than 600 students (k-12) and was made to feel not good enough. No personal relationship with God was discussed - only rules: “shoulds” and “should nots”. Dancing was prohibited and dating frowned upon. I had always been a good student but by 10th grade, I started struggling with focus & both learning and retaining information. My father was often critical and worked a lot while my mom was the submissive and often passive wife, yet she was often left to attend to the daily concerns of the three of us girls on her own. As an only child with a very cold and narcissistic mother, she did her best but also struggled with emotionally validation as my dad did. As a result of the dynamics between both home and at school, I started developing (undiagnosed) panic attacks and missing school because I thought I was losing my mind - literally. I started distancing myself from my few friends as I was so scared and didn’t understand what was wrong with me. There were no counselors - neither for career/post secondary guidance, nor to talk to regarding everyday stressors and my parents were not emotionally available so I had no one to talk to. I started working after school at the age of 16 at a local restaurant chain, but the kids that worked there went to public school, and it was awkward. As my school was over 30 minutes away and my closest friend lived an additional 30 minutes from our school, most of my socializing outside of school was with acquaintances at my job. I did hang out with one or two of them occasionally, going to parties here and there, when invited and occasionally getting together to hang out, but I always felt so uncomfortable unless we were drinking wine coolers or beer, as I learned that it soothed the SA. Even so, I was still sometimes picked on for being too straightlaced, or prissy, even, by both my sister and others because I didn’t like pot and didn’t rebel as so many others did. By the age of 18, while most teenagers couldn’t wait to move out from their family home, the thought terrified me. I wasn’t prepared to live in the world that I had been sheltered from. I had no street smarts/life skills and felt quite dependent on my parents. I continued working after high school and attempted community college at 20 but ended up dropping out after one year due to undiagnosed panic disorder. I wasn’t actually diagnosed with panic disorder (and also GAD) until the age of 32. The diagnoses that I had received up until then were “perfectionism” at 18 (the only time either of my parents took me to see someone - and, it was a Christian counselor), depression at the age of 25, and SA at 30. I saw a few people in between the ages of 26-30 and explained that I always felt like I had stage fright - still, no recognition of SA until 30 and then panic disorder a couple years later. I was so relieved to have a name for the SA - I thought “Finally, there is help for me!” and “I’m not crazy, afterall!” Unfortunately, in the years that followed, despite my efforts at finding a therapist who was both familiar with and knew how to effectively treat SA was a failure. The only options were talk therapy and CBT - no tools were offered, whatsoever. Antidepressants did more harm than good, exacerbating both anxiety and lengthening episodes of depression until after 23 years on them, I finally said enough is enough and eventually looked to diet & nutrition for that leg of treatment. What truly saddens me is that even years later with SA now finally being widely recognized, the majority of mental health providers still have little idea how to treat it. Because of this, at my worst, I ended up accumulating additional diagnoses within the 10 years following my initial SA diagnosis: GAD, panic disorder, and eventually agoraphobia and even avoidant personality disorder. In my personal experience, one of the biggest mistakes providers make in attempting to treat SA is to group it with other phobias. SA is NOT the same as a fear of flying, or of crossing a bridge, or of taking an elevator. People can lead very functional & productive lives despite these obstacles. With SA, it goes with the person everywhere they go. In my case, there were the first few issues that I previously shared that led to the birth of my SA, but due to lack of a diagnosis and as well as an authentic understanding of SA by the mental health community, my multiple attempts to treat it became a pattern of defeated efforts. Then additional challenging experiences became triggers due to lack of effective coping skills and contributed even further, eventually leading to additional diagnoses. I truly believe that validation is ESSENTIAL in effective treatment of SA. Allowing the patient to express their experiences and story and both acknowledging & empathizing with them is so vital. Then identifying any traumas in order to tailor treatment specific to them should be next. The current sterile questionnaires & checklists used are both intimidating & often feel quite violating - and they are pushed before even meeting the therapist and establishing an initial rapport. And, this is for most mental health diagnoses, not just anxiety related disorders. Patients, especially with with SA, need to feel they are both heard & seen. And they need to be educated on the brain & body’s response to anxiety, panic, trauma & triggers before being pushed to move forward with behavior changes. If exposure therapy, alone, were the answer, I would have been cured decades ago..... I still worked, I still went grocery shopping, went to the mall, I even got married. For years I suffered on a daily basis. I struggled to make and maintain female friendships the longer I went without appropriate treatment, until the effects of worsening symptoms led to job loss, loss of a network of support, and loss of self esteem & confidence. The ONLY therapies that have helped me at all are a combination of The Social Anxiety Institute’s online program (EXCELLENT) and DBT. We read all the time that SAD is the most common anxiety disorder... I don’t understand why they don’t teach therapists what actually works??? There is no excuse for our schools to continue peddling old information to students who truly wish to make a difference in the field of mental health. There also need to be higher standards in who is permitted to call themselves counselors & therapists. There are far too many “practicing” that are not qualified to treat what they claim to be well versed it. No one can specialize in everything, yet far too many claim to. It It is demoralizing to patients when they try therapist after therapist; and, at its worst can traumatize or retraumatize patients. It sends the message that they are the exception - the one beyond the grasp of help.

[@indrakamalyadav2921]

I feel the same it hurt s

[@debrajones7344]

You write very well, articulate and logical, I wish I could talk that way to others, too.

[@dbzvsbleach10]

I can fully relate to your story except in my case being a male people around me were much less tolerant. People I opened up to about this issue just kept telling me to man up. Shyness in a man is deemed as the most unattractive quality given confidence is what makes us attractive to a woman just as physical beauty in a woman can get her any man regardless of whether she has a good personality. In addition to having no close friendships I’ve never had a girlfriend either. I ended up turning to pornography to feel some sort of fake connection in my head to the women I was watching. Our social anxiety usually comes across as shyness to those around us. While social anxiety sufferers are thinking people are judging them as weird losers what they’re really thinking is we are shy and reserved and want to be left alone. We want connections and friendships but when there’s constantly that voice that’s beating you up in your head saying you’re not good enough it is extremely difficult to just get yourself out there. Always feeling worthless I avoided people and my avoidance fed that feeling of worthlessness because it was me confirming to myself that I am not good enough to be around others. I wasn’t comfortable avoiding and I wasn’t comfortable dragging my feet to social events. I’ve also tried the social anxiety institute’s program. They really understand the disorder unlike most therapists today. What keeps social anxiety going is constant negative thoughts about yourself so it trains you to develop thinking and behavioural habits to reduce the power those thoughts have over you. That’s what social anxiety sufferers are in desperate need of: discovering tricks to reduce their constant negative thoughts about themselves. I think the key to recovery is patience and self compassion. Patience in that it will take many months to years before you can learn to keep your anxiety under control.(changing the brain takes time). And self compassion in that the more you beat yourself up for failing to be “funny” or “intelligent” or “attractive” or “outgoing” the harder you’ll make recovery.

[@chrisrentfrow1400]

Hey Bethany, I too am doing therapy through the Social Anxiety Institute. It’s helped me immensely but I still struggle with feelings of anxiety. Thanks for your comment.

[@CesarClouds]

You expressed yourself well, wish I could write like that. Thanks for sharing.

[@georgiannfibbe6026]

anxiety can also be caused by CONSTANT VERBAL, and critical intentional remarks.. lowering self esteem, can also be the cause of stuttering.

[@BeckBeckGo]

I stuttered briefly as a kid because everyone talked over me, I suspect. Now as an adult when I encounter someone who interrupts constantly, I just don’t speak. Let them go on and on. It won’t affect me.

[@psychsephone9832]

If anything I think counselors focus way too much on exposure therapy, and way too soon. I’ve had SA my whole life (part of why I’ve gotten a psych degree) and the main problem I’ve had with all of my therapists is they hear “social anxiety” and immediately try and force me to go out and do a thing I CANNOT do. Its like telling a depressed person “ok now go out and be happy”, yeah sure I’ll go ask out a random stranger wow so doable why didn’t I think of that, I’m cured! I know you have to face your fear eventually for it to go away but people who don’t have SA, counselors or not, don’t seem to understand how small you have to start with exposure (ex: telling us to just try and smile at a stranger instead of expecting us to jump up and talk to them), and how you have to get to the ROOT of the problem before you even start with trying to force us to do things. Like maybe make an effort to understand the individual patient instead of shoving them in a box and prescribing a cookie-cutter “treatment”. Maybe I’m just a “bad client” but it’s done me more harm than good to pay an arm and a leg for therapy and always see that judgmental, exasperated look from a professional who’s supposed to be empathetic, but instead gets mad when I can’t just do their job for them.

[@geraldfiore1662]

You are absolutely right, small steps, the way I moved forward was using something I kind of invented myself, a kind of implosion therapy or flooding in your imagination, that seemed to work for me and of course identifying specific fearful situations and identifying the part of that fearful situation that I feared the most and writing it down in a notebook

[@evadebruijn]

The sigh, the irritation, you feel the judgement you're a PITA. I think bad therapy is retraumatizing for invalidating, after being psychologically severly damaged by a life of invalidation since birth. With a central nervous system already out of whack it is the stressor that brings sleepless nights. Transference, countertransference, it is a very delicate thing most therapist seem to be not that aware of which is truly sad and counterproductive for the therapeutic process.

[@chaswr]

Exactly! This psychiatrist and his wife who called herself a therapist that i saw thought i just needed to get myself out and force myself into situations! So glad I no longer see them.

[@Harker911]

It's just like learning. The best results come when a student is dealing with material a little more challenging than what they've learned or are accustomed to. I think the urgency is important. But the urgency is more about taking steps and following through with them, no matter how small, and then progressing. It's true though. You can't sit there and expect things to change. It takes a lot of practice. It's a harsh realization, something I didn't admit for a long time. Come up with your own plan, at your own pace. And keep to it. It's almost like exercise. You have to progress, but the rate of progression is up to you. Only you know what you can and can't handle (but know the ultimate understanding is that you can handle a ton more than you think). And ultimately you know what's something that's challenging that is uncomfortable but you can overcome and you should push yourself to do. It's a game of averages. You're not going to overcome everything, every day. You're going to fail. But If your "batting" average is pretty good, then you're on the right track. Don't let this eat years of your life away. It can. Mental illness is so insidious.

[@ElenaSemanova]

Yeah if they're judgmental, they're a shit therapist

[@jesseishere9959]

SAD is very hard disorder to live with. It affects everything from relationships to even going to a store or making a phone call.

[@vice2versa]

Im pretty sure a few mass shooters had symptoms of social anxiety. Social anxiety van be a magnet for bullies and also most outgoing pwoplw dont like people with social anxiety disorder so that can lead to social exclusions. That can develop intense hatred for normal people.

[@prettyguardian8386]

I think you hit it really well. I think the largest issue when it comes to counselors not treating anxiety patients, is a lack of funding. We need a lot of patience from clinics, and frankly, they aren’t funded enough to handle a lot of the symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. A lot of people have the mentality of “if you’re really suffering that much, you’ll do everything to stop it/ be the perfect patient”. And that’s simply not the case for many of us. Our level of functioning determines how much help we need/ patience from counselors.

[@DrGrande]

Thank you!

[@pocoeagle2]

Thank you for talking about Social Anxiety Disorder this time Dr. Grande. The video was very good in understanding better what some counselors sometimes are not aware of in helping their clients ☺

[@lindseywong9667]

Well Ive had social anxiety disorder for most of my life. I liked how you emphasized the how this condition is often chronic. For me, how much social anxiety ive had has depended a lot on life circumstances. Another thing, Im not sure how much the exposure aspect helps me. Sometimes there are life situations that cause anxiety that I cant avoid so I face them but it never gets better.

[@rabbster7]

Completely agree, I have had social situations that are ok, but I agree it never gets better... Still I persist. Pick myself up and carry on...

[@irregular_force2602]

Agree 100 %! For me, the setting as defined by the people around me (their cultural upbringing and behavior, the country I am living in) changes my symptoms, while SA itself never completely goes away, hence it is chronic

[@paulheinrichdietrich9518]

It's really a shame that after so many decades this disorder is still very poorly understood, and there are still few competent therapists.

[@indrakamalyadav2921]

You are the man who really knows anxiety inside out.

[@lajohnson1967]

I have suffered from this since age 5 when I started school. Unfortunately back in the 1970’s when I started school, this disorder was not widely known. I suffered greatly in school, especially the early years. It got somewhat better in jr. high and high school as I had a core group of friends that made me feel safe. After high school, I took a summer job at a small country inn hotel. I was hired as a desk clerk. Part of my job was interacting with the guests. It was painfully hard at first. The way I coped was I saw the actual physical front desk as a barrier that kept the public safely away from me. I continually reminded myself that these strangers knew nothing about me and were going to base their impressions of me solely on how well I did my job, nothing else. This helped tremendously! Over time, being friendly and not fearing that others were continually judging me got easier. Now, I only have issues occasionally. Sometimes, out of the blue, I have hesitation in social settings. I can talk myself through it though and get on with things. It’s very difficult to overcome, however one of the best ways is just good old fashion logic. Have a conversation with yourself and just ask this one simple question. Why would people you don’t know and don’t care about you be constantly judging you?! Answer is: They’re not!! Once you realize that 99% of the time you don’t even register on other people’s radar unless you want to, interacting gets way easier. Exposure therapy is very effective but it is hard in the beginning. Do what I did and look for ways to create a safe space for yourself as you learn to interact. Blessings to all who are struggling, my heart is with you.

[@carrielopez4520]

I believe I have this Social Anxiety Disorder that you describe. I've spent the majority of my 72 year old life having difficulty socializing in any manner. I'm retired now, so I suppose you'd call me a functional mess. I'm introverted and a bit reclusive. I could go on forever so I'll enumerate in an attempt to make this easier to read. 1. Unable to talk on a telephone, even with my children, grandchildren anybody at all. I do text and e-mail because those options give me the chance to respond if and when I choose and avoid lengthy verbal discussions. I just can't. 2. I have no friends outside of the home, I feel better that way. No demands and me to take part in discussions, listen closely, make choices. 3. I'm unable to feel emotions to any appropriate degree. I just want to avoid pain or discomfort of any kind. 4. When I must go to a physician, it's difficult for me to communicate. I have this difficulty in any situation. My mind goes blank. I'm just stuck, in a black hole of nothingness. 5. I believe a lot of these feelng go back to all of the emotional abuse I've endured all of my life: name calling, bullying, threats the list goes on and on clear back to elementary school to the present. I feel fortunate t have found your youtube program. You are a valuable resource for folks such as myself. Thank you!

[@kirstengabriels9575]

I have had SAD since my teenage years, or maybe even before that, and these videos are so accurate in describing the symptoms. However, dealing with this disorder, I always think one thing is overlooked. The step to actually go to a therapist and get help, is exactly the kind of thing that makes me anxious. And especially when there is exposure therapy involved. I just simply don't want to go through that. I have tried on many occassions to expose myself to the things that scare me. And it doesn't work. I get anxious, but after doing the thing, I feel like I have overcome my fears. Then the next day, it's all gone. I am anxious again, about the same thing that I succesfully did the day before. I guess in therapy it could be different. But how do I overcome the fear of even going to a therapist?

[@Anastashya]

At the height of my PTSD I suffered from Social Anxiety Disorder moderately, but performance anxiety was intense, extremely debilitating. I spoke with my PCP about it and he gave me a mild dose of beta blockers. They worked, but also gave me asthma. Ugh 😑. Seriously, I then became so angry at myself that some type of determination set in. I went from panic attacks which paralyzed my movements and dropped my BP down to 70/50 from my usual 110/70 to internal self talk where I’d feel an attack coming on and say 'ok, come and get me, do your worst'. They would fizzle out if I sought out their terror. Sorry, I don’t know why, I just know that confronting fear of the actual attacks worked for me, like inviting anxiety and panic. In turn my Social Anxiety disappeared completely. Maybe what we say internally to ourselves is sometimes more important than the cause. And maybe not. Thank you. I think addressing this issue will help a lot of people Dr Grande.

[@karenswartz8280]

Excellent, educational video, Dr. Grande! I’ve never been a particularly anxious person until about a year ago. I do have a diagnosis of Bi-Polar lol, depressed. But I was let go from a job that I held for 40 years, with no warning, and no good, solid reason (in Ohio you can do that). I was devastated. A series of other losses followed in rapid succession, death of my mom due to dementia, I was her primary caregiver, death of another significant female figure in my life, and most recently, one of my oldest and dearest friends, with whom I worked most of my nursing career, committed suicide without any warning. Then the anxiety kicked in full force. Unable to go to family functions, cancelling and missing appointments, making up excuses as to why I can’t do something, and then on top of it all....Covid 19. I thought it was depression, but now realize it for what it is. No panic attacks, thankfully, but the anxiety is real. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a real struggle sometimes. And exhausting.

[@MsSquarebanana]

TLDR: Sorry for the novel - your videos are incredibly helpful. --- This was helpful. I've never been officially diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, but after listening to your videos and reading up on it, I"m fairly confident that I do have it. I think I've always had it but somehow managed to brush it under the rug or get through it. Since having a, let;s say strong-willed child, and going full-time in my own business, I have seen a drastic increase in the anxiety I have around anything with social situations, and have experienced my first panic attack while on a Skype call. After that, I experienced more panic attacks the following months. Stress definitely is a trigger for that, which isn't exactly surprising. When I go long bouts of low social interactions, I notice my anxiety increases significantly the next time a social situation occurs. I say this only to reinforce that exposure therapy definitely makes sense and I think I'd like to find someone to help me with it.

[@cindigonzalez7350]

I feel like as my problem worsens the more of my mind I'm losing. I live within myself and deeply in my emotions. I'm afraid to show that I have a personality at work which is where I am most of the time. I've gotten into the habit of scouling all the time and feel uncomfortable smiling at ppl unless I hear something funny. And I can't even walk without feeling ugly and like I look weird. I feel like my mom and even some teachers helped kickstart the fear....as a kid I was always alittle different and I didn't like big groups...but I didn't start feeling stupid and unlikable until my teachers made me feel that way and my mom worsened it because she would get mad at me for acting anxious and scolded me in public. My mom has it too though is the weird thing..she just knows how to fake a personality so ppl like her. Sometimes it's alittle too fake.

[@sarahwhite4906]

You are empathetic. Those of us with General/Social Anxiety feel a lot. We're internal, we can't stop our brains from absorbing, assuming. I smile too much because: "is that what people want?" Even though my brain is tearing me down. Then, I worry I'm like you're mom: am I just gonna keep faking it? Have I been faking it it?! I can't think like that (even though I do). I was an awkward kid, and now I'm an awkward adult and I'm still stuck in my head. Enough about me. You're still here! I'm still here! It's difficult, but we are able to articulate what's happening and find others who understand.

[@shruti4715]

@@sarahwhite4906 I was also an awkward and quiet kid my teachers also scolded me for being clumsy (that clumsiness was because of the anxiety :( ) and stupid during games and not being able to concentrate in math. Also, I used to watch tv when I was alone. And I got scared by the bullies in tv shows (maybe that's why I am afraid of being bullied) I am still awkward, and many times I cringe at my 'nice' behaviour. Due to this I avoided my neighbours and have been in isolation. But now I'm regretting it. I get startled violently when suddenly the neighbours appear. It's emotionally exhausting

[@caitolent]

Very few of the therapists and psychologists I've had over the years have taken my social anxiety seriously. Some of them have even used blatant disapproval as a way to motivate me to do things that they think would be healthy for me, but this disapproval is the exact kind of response that triggers my anxiety. It became so stressful for me to go to therapy that I gave up.

[@evadebruijn]

I understand completely. Therapy is stressful and when it is not helpful you doubt whether you should bother to continue. When I was diagnosed I asked about prognosis. The answer was Good, if you stay in therapy. In the next 25 years I stuck with therapy but slowly deteriorated. I quit giving myself false hope. If I am unable to herd I'll convince myself that solitude is bliss instead of putting this huge pressure on myself to 'get better'.

[@caitolent]

@@evadebruijn Ultimately, if you are happy the way you are, then you have no obligation to change yourself. It's usually *other* people who want me to get out of the house, but I'm perfectly content on my own. So all the power to you!

[@ruthdenova5984]

Dr. Todd Grande, I am most grateful for your sessions because I have the privilege to learn more about things that I wish to learn.

[@melissaforgiven2825]

I was treated for a severe anxiety disorder when I was young. I believe it was caused by gaining almost a hundred pounds within a year and being bullied. I also isolated myself to the extreme within that year. None of my therapist nor psychologist ever tried exposure therapy. I believe most don't because it takes time n a lot of effort. I'm sure most people with not the greatest insurance are ever even offered exposure therapy. (I definitely was not) However I think that technique would've been the most effective. I still struggle with anxiety, but now am suffering a whole other set of issues due to trauma. Thank you for the excellent vid. Social Anxiety disorder is so frustrating at times to explain to people. And from a patients perspective, it never seemed as though my therapist/counselors/psychologist truly understood what I was going through.

[@robhoffmann3434]

Great video. I actually commented on another video moments ago. I'm having intense anxiety around people, but a battle I've had with my psychologist for months is I feel its more than anxiety, and he thinks its just really bad anxiety. I'll try to keep this brief, but I've had issues in 20's, but slowly got over them. I'm 41 now, and have had had anxiety for a year. Meds, doctors, naturopaths, meditations, I've tried so many things. Past month and last few weeks my fear has gotten to a critical level and I have vivid beliefs I"m going to go crazy. I'm so afraid to talk to people, especially people I know. I'm not nervous of what I'm going to say, it's just that I have such intense fear and anxiety I don't want them to see me not doing well. Of course I feel the need to leave, like I'm going to faint etc. It's more than that, you mentioned in a schizotypal video that it can be more than anxiety when the more you expose yourself in public, you feel worse after. In 20's I felt better. I have an older brother with schizophrenia and I'm now in intense fear all day every day, and it's unbearable. I actually fear going into psychosis, landing in a hospital, not knowing who I am, end up like my brother etc. I know this message really jumped in intensity quick but I'm really struggling, and I although I feel I don't actually have schizophrenia, I wonder about schizoid or schizotypal and leading to schizophrenia later. I just wish I could explain this intense feeling of fear that lasts all day, but it feels borderline paranoia. I don't think people are out to get me or have exterior motives.. it's not like that. I just feel on edge, like my mind has a physical feeling in my head that literally feels I'm about to lose it, go crazy etc. Sorry for rambling - I'm on edge now :( Thanks, Mike, Canada

[@pommie5093]

Thank you for your continuing education, Dr. Grande. I have done a great deal of research on things like anxiety, through my own attempts to deal with struggles from PTSD-but I really appreciate any information about the subject of anxiety, in general.

[@mercedesconus1576]

Great review Dr. Grande . As a mental health provider I appreciate this reminder especially when you explained the relationship between trauma and social anxiety.

[@whoever6458]

It seems like before you expose people to being frightened in a social setting, it would be good to remind them that what other people think of them is a matter of those people's opinions and that no other person is completely privy to what's it like to be you. Also, one of the most powerful things I learned, ironically from a random friend on Facebook who stood up for me when I was being bullied, was when someone is accusing you or berating you or embarrassing you, to just say, "So?" That puts the onus back on them to justify why they are picking on you and it's also a manifestation of the notion that whatever they are saying is still just their opinion. The hardest opinions to let go of are the ones that have some truth to them but no one has the ultimate truth and also there isn't any human who is perfect so even if every single criticism about a person was true, we're all only human in the end. I guarantee you that bullies need for other people to understand when they make a mistake because they're only human too. To be honest, here's how I overcome social anxiety at least enough to go where there are more people than I otherwise might like (because that would be just me if I was able to go become a hermit or something). First of all, I remember that whatever other people say about me is just their opinion and, when it's not too painful, I try to examine what they've said for any truths that might help me learn about myself and become a better person but I don't let anyone's judgement of me because the de facto truth about who I am. Then, according to chemistry, alcohol is a solution. Alcohol is addictive and dangerous in many ways and perhaps you can find a safer chemical to mediate the intensity of social anxiety in the moment, but I have found that alcohol is embarrassingly effective. Not everyone just goes off and becomes an alcoholic but everyone should be aware that this is a possibility for them too and that driving under the influence is a bad idea for everyone, plus some people who are used to alcohol don't realize how impaired they are. Having said that, there are ride sharing services, taxis, and buses so that's a good balance. If you're poor like me, you might take the somewhat greater risk of riding a bicycle and then having a bag with some food and water in it in case you have to wait out being too drunk to ride home. I will honestly say I've fucked this up before and found myself asleep in various places in the city, plus I've fallen down some and, even though I fall over ever so often anyway, if I had any alcohol, I can't rule it out as a contributing factor either. If you do drink at all and ride your bike, wear a helmet because nothing is worse than messing up your brain (or adding to the chaos therein).

[@genzoonnet9475]

I have social anxiety too, I've been struggling for all my life. That's why I make videos and record my self to see my self on other perspectives. So I can improve and Learn to speak and practice my English too 😄. I'm glad I'm not alone. Start recording your self guys 😄 Understand learn your self. YOU CAN DO IT!! You are not that bad!

[@Nefariousaa]

I missed my childhood friends engagement party yesterday.. feeling really shitty about it but I just couldn’t go. I was on the way when I pulled off the highway and turned around. I’m really regretting it and it’s been eating me up ever since. I just couldn’t do it.. ughh

[@rabbster7]

This is a 2 year old reply, but anyways just wanted to say don't worry about it. I've done turnarounds and cancelled a meeting with a friend at the last minute. It happens.

[@chaswr]

Another 2 years later reply. Dont beat yourself over it. Only you knew whether you were up to it or not.

[@asadmech12]

I called all my great friends that I had lost them by avoiding socializing with them..I felt sad and disturbed because they were not showing any enthusiasm, maybe because they were I need something from them or I avoided to meet them because I disliked them..

[@Complexanxiety]

I missed my best friend’s wedding because of a panic attack.

[@cdorman11]

3:02 Etiology: strongly related to a specific type of trauma, social victimization: both a distal cause and the most proximal risk for maintaining the disorder; two types: relational trauma (bullying, exclusion, neglect) and overt trauma (physical and verbal aggression) 5:34 Chronic: stressor is episodic, not the disorder; the disorder is a trait, not a state 8:19 Exposure therapy is underused for this disorder b/c counselor sticks with preferred modality 10:11 How to use panic-attack specifier: co-morbid but not nec'y for SAD diagnosis 11:09 Performance-only specifier is listed with SAD description, while panic-attack specifier isn't, so counselors know the former but not latter

[@Mmk12a]

I've had social anxiety disorder ever since preschool (I could've had it before, but I can't remember any social interactions before then). I definitely think I had a disposition towards developing anxiety based on genetics, but my parents are also pretty judgemental and authoritarian. I wonder if that's what caused my social anxiety from such a young age.

[@wonderwoman5528]

Does anyone else have a fear of rejection as well as social anxiety. You’re scared to make friends with people you like in case you embarrass yourself and they reject you so you end up befriended people who lower your self esteem and make you feel worse, exacerbating your fear of being judged negatively and social anxiety

[@celestecelestial90]

Could you do a video on how social anxiety disorder affects romantic relationships/dating?

[@bropoke6799]

I really wish more psychologists would talk about social anxiety and relationships, especially dealing with ppl who dont understand the severity. Ill tell my mom im getting anxious and she tries to tell me im fine which just makes me feel like im going crazy for being anxious. Ppl tell me they have no idea, but thats cause my symptoms give me more anxiety so ive learned how to mask them

[@celestecelestial90]

@@bropoke6799 I think it’d be helpful because I know someone with social anxiety and would like to better understand it so I can be aware of how it really effects our relationship. Sorry to hear that your mom reacts in that way, and I hope she makes an effort to understand how you feel and empathize with you. I remember my mom acting similarly when I was a child and in my early 20s because she didn’t understand that anxiety is a real mental health issue, and it wasn’t just me being a little nervous. I don’t have social anxiety disorder, but I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks. I’m a 90s baby and back then anxiety was taboo especially in my culture. I didn’t even know anxiety was a mental health issue until I was half way through my bachelors degree because that information was not readily available to me. I think I was born with anxiety because I remember having separation anxiety from my mom as a little girl. I was afraid my mom wouldn’t come back to pick me up or that she’d die in a car accident on the way to pick me up from school. I had so much anxiety about going to school that I didn’t want to eat lunch and people assumed I was anorexic, without making an effort to ask me WHY I didn’t want to eat much lunch. 🙄 When I started having full blown panic attacks in high school I didn’t even know what they were. I’m glad that current and future generations will KNOW that mental health issues are REAL, and not just made up. I’m glad there’s more information and help available now.

[@srtj.av.2556]

I can't keep a job I can manage 6 months and its the longest, dealing with people for me is exhausting, I have to be someone else in order to interact with people I don't know and worst I don't like at all. Some people make me feel disgusted, some people make me feel like I want to run away from them... Its pure hell more because I've been working at call centers... Where I need to talk then the panic attacks put me in to the edge

[@eddiew2325]

No offense Sam but have you tried therapy

[@MarcDufresneosorusrex]

a state is temporary, a trait is stable.. dang Dr.. that's crazy smart

[@laura987123]

I've not had much luck with exposure. It always seems to be working for a while and then I just seem to slam into a wall with it and end up worse off than ever and start having trouble doing things that I didn't struggle with before. When my anxiety gets bad enough I also start to get sick which doesn't help. I'm not sure if I push myself to far or not far enough? I've tried several different approaches and can't seem to make it work, I've never really gotten much guidance from counselors about it. I think what's really frustrating is I've seen it do wonders for other people and although I feel so happy for them it also makes me feel kind of broken that I can't seem to figure it out and make it work for myself.

[@bethanysaxton7351]

Laura Flora, exposure therapy does not work for many. This frustrates me terribly. Treating SA like other phobias is ridiculous & defeating, IMO. As you already know, SA goes with the person everywhere, unlike other phobias. Look into The Social Anxiety Institute’s online program. This was the first therapy that helped me - it is AWESOME. DBT has also been helpful.

[@laura987123]

@@bethanysaxton7351 Thanks a lot for the resources , I'm really struggling and loosing hope, it means a lot that you took the time to reach out and offer suggestions

[@bethanysaxton7351]

Laura Flora, you are so very welcome. The only thing that I would add is that with Dr. Richards’ program, the SAI online program, is that at a certain point he suggests finding a local group. There was no local group where I lived so I had to just apply what I could at that point. The lessons up through even just week/lesson 8 were so helpful and validating. Also, regarding the DBT, it has really helped me with practicing mindfulness - detaching from the past and ruminating about the future. I struggled with horrific anticipatory anxiety, and it has really helped me to focus on the present moment. I’ve participated in combined group and individual DBT, including phone coaching with the individual therapy.

[@Lh_757]

i experienced a counselor being cynical of exposure therapy because they didnt want to cause me more suffering,and i eventually overcame some social anxiety obstacles by working(around people in a team,rather than alone) in the world. I still have more work to do,of course. Social anxiety can also be seen as a fear of showing personal power..

[@evadebruijn]

Fear of showing personal power, that is interesting, do you happen to know of a good book that deals with this theory? I have the feeling this could help me a lot on my healing journey.

[@Lh_757]

@@evadebruijn fear of showing personal power isn't that psychological..I read some spiritual books on this a long time ago. I'm trying to remember them name(I dont have the book anymore); google it?? I also went into a task-oriented group. It was a cognitive group where we all did tasks each week. I made a lot of progress in that group

[@excessiveworry3838]

I have struggled with social anxiety for a long time. I believe that my ADHD (primarily inattentive type) is at the bottom of it. With ADHD comes difficulty regulating emotions and when I do come in painful social situations (sometimes because of the other symptoms of ADHD) I have problems regulating my emotions and then suffer greatly both during the situation and especially after the situation. I have tried exposure therapy and it has worked for a while, but it was horribly painful and only worked for a while.

[@kjorndog]

I have social anxiety, and although I made a lot of improvement with meds and therapy, something I struggle with is how anxious therapy itself makes me. Even though I know my therapist knows what I'm going through and is ready to hop in and help generate discussion if I feel like I've run out of things to say, I still dread therapy for at least two days in advance every time. I know how illogical it is I just can't help it.

[@kez-chick5647]

You describe this very well, it’s me ! Plus I have other disorders.

[@Silliness4U]

It’s a nightmare. I walked away from a $100k+ job because they wanted me to organize a conference call with clients I never met. I do art, I don’t talk like those corporate guys. And my new manager was a corporate robot with no soul, so instead of giving him ammo to fire me (he had just fired all my art friends and all that was left was me) I quit. I was already miserable after my friends were gone. The conference call was the last straw. I felt like I was hit in the chest with a sledgehammer when he asked me to set that up. He went over how to do it over the phone and I was just ‘not listening’, and after, I went home and planned my escape that weekend. Now I’m still looking for work and hoping I can get a job where I just do creative work without the corporate office BS and nightmare extrovert leaning culture. I think my career as a pro artist is over as I can’t advance in that world or do anything “managerial” because ‘that’ could mean speeches, and meetings and presentations.

[@HighKeezTV]

After about 10 years of no one understanding; including you; you start to think that everyone thinks you’re LAZY or an “underachiever” especially when you have a talent like singing everyone says “man if I could sing I’d be rich.. etc. Hell to be honest I can barely hold a job because of it. I couldn’t even sing for my own brothers funeral. The amount of debilitating anxiety I feel with strangers; Just as well as friends is disheartening. Also doesn’t help that I’m now riddled with guilt. Lost a lot of ppl with a “Zest” for life! A passion for interaction and to an artist eye- a Art of interaction. Recalling every moment you missed out on a chance to make another memory with them. Knowing that every breathe you “waste” sitting alone waiting to “feel better” - they no longer have. Hell every relationship I’ve had with a human has been affected by this disease - that most people don’t even acknowledge or understand enough to believe in. Now I regret tarnishing relationships because I’m afraid no one will be around for my daughter(2yo) because I wasn’t there in the past. Her 1st bday I didn’t even invite ppl for fear they wouldn’t want to come. She deserves love from as many family & friends as possible. It’s a cycle smh.

[@benjaminthornton1919]

Love your channel, Dr. Grande! Subscribed!

[@DrGrande]

Thank you so much!

[@swim610]

Can you do a video on how to become a social butterfly that fall under this disorder?

[@taniabergau4112]

Your a very good Dr. My 17 year old son does and was diagnosed with Social Anxiety! He quit school in grade 10!

[@chaswr]

Me too. Quit going in my 10th grade year. Wound up going to an RTC for a year and a half. Of course this was 1983-84 when no one knew anything about SAD.

[@audreydehaarte8092]

I don’t think that performance is the only contact that makes you afraid to be around people...it’s a lot to do with the non chalant behaviour and lack of consciousness...if you’ve had this since you were a child, and had no idea what was happening to you, and then other things happened like a medical condition and coronavarius which feed into my social anxiety..you’ve had to live this way for a long time. . And you are right...others just don’t think it’s a thing...something you have to think about constantly ...and when you do get up the nerve to go outside for even 10 minutes the anxiety is overwhelming!.. and I’m back to square one...as while I’m inside I’m calm and safe nopalpitations or panick attacks

[@EmergentSea]

What I personally need people, not specifically counselors, to know about social anxiety is that it's not just negative thoughts. It causes physical symptoms which can be debilitating. Thankfully I don't experience panic attacks but dry mouth in the middle of public presentations, uncontrolable shaking and mostly digestive problems (and I'm talking gas and diarrhea, i know not very glamourous) which ruin my life. Of course I don't want to expose myself, it's not just causing me negative thoughts and sweaty palms, it actively makes me want to go to the bathroom. Help me work on that first.

[@nikkik3263]

My ex had social anxiety disorder. He hates going out to meet people. He worries about eating lunch with colleagues at work. But i sense its linked to other things. Eg.. he rarely communicates and lacks empathy.

[@ΧρηστοςΠαπαθανασιου-ρ4λ]

I have two questions;How can somebody change your thinking,when you've been feeling like that from a little kid?and can anti-depressants have long term benifits for social anxiety

[@shruti4715]

Same. I have this anxiety since kindergarten I would sweat, heartbeat got rapid and my mind would go blank at school. I never enjoyed school, I was the only quiet kid. Also my parents and sibling don't have this. Now I also have to worry about uncontrollable shaking.

[@Ali08]

@@shruti4715 Same here. I do not think I ever felt very comfortable in a socialize setting (yes, school included) on a daily basis. No one I am aware of have it in my immediate family and I too, am dealing with physical shakiness/muscle tension for the last 11 years. :( It will be incredible to know exactly why a lot of us deal with this outside of being highly self conscious, lacking extreme self esteem, and have these constant ruminating thoughts that the average person is not overly consumed with. Why are we born with senses in overdrive?

[@bekd4550]

This isn’t only something that comes with anxiety, but I would like to know more about how counselors deal with clients with dissociative symptoms. Are there common things about them that a lot of people don’t know? I ask this because of personal experience. I have had three different therapists that I have mentioned depersonalization symptoms to (having them over a long period of time) and none of them asked into it. They just gave a sad smile and moved the discussion (then when I brought it up again to one, using the name “dissociation” she just said “yeah you’ve already talked about that a while back”). I had one who was in short term treatment with so she could refer me out and she’s the only one who acknowledged it and got me to talk about trauma tied to it. So did I just win some unlucky raffle or do a lot of therapists not get trained in dissociative symptoms? It seems odd considering that it can be a symptoms of common anxiety and mood disorders

[@kristinblake9294]

This video is very informative providing background info on social anxiety disorder. As stated, per the DSM it regularly occurs in social situations, the client will avoid social situations, and is out of proportion to actual threat. It must be present for 6 months and causes impairment. Ideologically it is related to trauma social victimization and is distinct in the most proximal risk for the disorder. I also did not realize that social anxiety disorder is a chronic disorder. The symptoms may come and go but the tendency remains. It is interesting that it affected by stressors. It can go into remission. Furthermore, I can see why exposure therapy is a good treatment modality. Though it is not preferred, exposure makes sense in terms of treatment for the disorder. Panic attack specifier doesn't appear in the definition of the disorder but should be evaluated when diagnosing the disorder.

[@jkg2088]

Very good. Thank you!

[@j9andphoenix]

I would like you to comment about the cross over or differences between Avoidant Personality and Social Anxiety Disorder.

[@nohasamir3134]

Just a thought, can the therapist use GROUP THERAPY as a form of 'gradual' EXPOSURE to prep the client to cope with more overwhelming social situations?

[@paintfreightsjessewaits4323]

Social anxiety makes grocery shopping so tiring. I never go shopping with people, my brother and grampa understands. My dad and mom do not. They would refuse to buy me food as a kid because I couldnt be in public

[@miamanning7871]

Yes it’s chronic, mine was with dating. I didn’t marry until 42.

[@letsadgo]

So Sad - I Wish You Good & Good.

[@strongdan1]

Thanks my friend Todd the big

[@tinab7791]

As someone who has lived with social anxiety for as long as I can remember I can absolutely say that exposure therapy can be helpful for many people. I haven't had exposure therapy but I had forced exposure over long periods that lessened my anxiety eventually. And I do notice that if I tend to isolate for a bit, going back out into social situations is almost like being back at square one. And then I need to go through all the exposure stuff again. So I guess all this rambling is to say I think it can work but I also think it's a short-term thing unless you constantly keep exposing yourself.

[@dwaynejones1555]

My Generalized Anxiety, is a curse and a blessed at the same time. Keeping me safe.

[@mamagoose4721]

Dr. Grande, what are some ways a counselor can practice exposure therapy in a small room, meaning the counselor’s office? Say for example a client has a fear of dogs due to a traumatic childhood experience. What can be done in a small room to decrease the anxiety and fear of dogs?

[@sixlacroix6014]

I have struggled with SAD since toddlerhood and was diagnosed at age 8. I am not completely convinced thats what it is as yes there is fear, but I also genuinely do not understand how to socialize. What to say, when to say it, how to say it, volume, speed, etc. I cannot relate to people. Anyway, I have yet to see a counselor who will acknowledge the social anxiety in a meaningful way. They do not understand how it runs my life (I have no life due to it). They focus on the depression which is about 20 years old at this point and have almost no suicidal ideation present. Its incredibly frustrating as it takes all I have to seek help in the first place. I want to some day have a life worth living...and this is not it.

[@person9366]

You can't have SAD as a toddler. You'd probably have to be at least 10-11

[@tedoymisojos]

Thank you, very informative

[@ShadowIsMoi]

How can I explain to my therapist that I'm 100% okay with standing on stage to perform, or goingto work as a service / customer service employee because it's like acting for me. I put on a character to get through those situations and I can get through the day. I still get major anxiety doing it and when a client leaves or I get off stage, I'll stim the shit out of myself for a solid minute to release all my anxiety. For some reason, my therapist can't correlate actively putting myself in public and still being able to suffer anxiety at the same time. Maybe I just have a shit therapist.

[@bigtimetraderjaquay8321]

I feel like I'm a hopeless case

[@sharoo8761]

Me too. I feel like my fate's been sealed years ago. Just finished watching a few videos on this disorder and I'm pretty sure I have it. So many years I've suffered without realizing why or what was going on with me. I'm losing faith in my doctor's competence and I can't possibly see how things could turn for the better. This comment section is so full of so many painful stories... damn.

[@wonderwoman5528]

You need to find something you’re good at like a hobby or talent. Build your confidence up. When you’re interesting in something other people will respect you and you’ll find it easy to talk about things you’re passionate about. You’re not a hopeless case. You’re watching this video to try and help yourself and that can only be a good sign

[@markferwerda7968]

Dr. Grande, could you please recommend an expert therapist for a severe case of Social Anxiety Disorder in central Florida? . This is a case that has been ongoing for years and it is highly disabling for a close relative who is in their 30s. Please help us!

[@FrancesShear]

Perhaps I have had social anxiety disorder since the age of 13 while never being diagnosed for it. If so then I have already received more than enough exposure therapy when younger maybe to help me avoid getting agoraphobia too since that tendency runs on my dad's side of the family after retirement age when most people start spending more time at home. I am not sure if that tendency to get social anxiety disorder is truly inherited since us French Canadians from a MEtis background out west often experience social trauma in urban settings.

[@VasacceDivv]

Excellent! ❤

[@Ambre333]

My partner of 20+ years has been diagnosed with morbid anxiety. The last couple of years, he has been displaying dementia like symtoms. His neurologist just explained the extreme anxiety that is not treated properly (he has been in therapy for almost 20 years since developing the disorder) can mimic dementia. Can you explain this topic please?

[@taniabergau4112]

My son gets aggressive with me though!What can I do!His anxiety is terrible!His meds bony work and He quit seeing his Psychiatrist and Psychologist!I don't know what to do!

[@andreaswilcox9158]

What are your thoughts on the psychiatrist Dr. David Burns and his books Feeling Good and Feeling Great? Can you do a video on these books and other books if you haven’t already?

[@billhildebrand5053]

8:20 importance and role of exposure therapy...

[@BeckBeckGo]

My therapist thought I had this but I don’t. I’m not afraid of people. I just don’t want to talk to them in person. What I’m afraid of is what they’ll take away from me once they figure out I don’t want to be their friend. Socializing with coworkers for example is fucking miserable. People are petty and boring. They talk too much about things I’m not interested in and expect me to feign enthusiasm or even understand what they’re going on about. Tv shows I’ve never watched or activities I don’t do. Im the goon who babbles about the weather because it’s the only thing we have in common. We both live under the same sky. If I meet someone who can genuinely engage with me, I want to be around them. That’s not what you’re describing here, it sounds like.

[@kathaa-b6972]

Couldn't it also be that social victimization is an effect of social anxiety, not its root? I'm not saying it's never the root, or that we bring social anxiety upon ourselves, just that maybe in some cases a certain behavior or way of thinking can lead to very stressful/harmful social situations which then intensify the anxiety in certain social situations ...

[@kathaa-b6972]

@@elainelouve Good point, that might be it … But/and also - once the anxiety is there, it's (sadly) easy to 'collect' more and more bad experiences in the social sphere, add more layers of social victimization so to speak, -- quite a vicious circle, if you don't get help or know how to help yourself.

[@kathaa-b6972]

@@elainelouve Definitely. Not just anxiety disorders - I think literally everything that's connected to health, to our bodies and minds, is too complex to have one simple explanation.

[@ZYX84]

Good Evening Dr. Grand🧩e. What a very long & strange trippy day it has been! I hope you’re home tonight.. enjoying your dinner. If you happen to get a free moment, possibly look up, it’s going to be another bright full moon. 🌕 🌎🌍🌏 You know I think you’re very good and kind.. right? Thank you Dr.Grand🧩e!

[@billhildebrand5053]

2:57. Ideological - is causal, and trauma tends to contribute...

[@Ratelau]

How does Social Anxiety Disorder relate to cluster C personality disorders such as AvPD and DPD?

[@drhust1955]

Dr Grande is Social Anxiety Disorder related to Agoraphobia? Can one lead to another? I had SAD beginning at 10yrs old. I got better over time. Then at 24, I suffered a panic attack and my world got smaller very quickly. I was home bound. With a lot of CBT , I got better over the years but still tend to isolate. Any comment on my question? Thanks

[@bethanysaxton7351]

Renee Hust, in my personal experience - absolutely. At my worst, I was 80-90% housebound and diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder.

[@drhust1955]

Bethany Saxton Thank you for commenting.

[@koricoconut4293]

This has literally ruined my life. It can be managed I suppose with the appropriate CBT, although even that has many different variables. The older I've gotten, the easier it has gotten for me to be able to white knuckle my way through my particular stress triggers, but it will always be there. It has ruined many really good career opportunities early in life when I should've been newly starting to implant myself firmly to my life goals and setting me up for my future in old age. Now, I'm trapped in working jobs in which I know I will have a small probability of having to encounter any of my triggers, which is very limiting, and as a general rule it seems have not proven to be very lucrative or stable.

[@doctorshell7118]

Unlike many other human traits, we’ve evolved to be highly social which has benefited our survival. It’s a deep seated evolutionary trait so it’s no wonder that SAD is unique in its etiology and can be treatment resistant.

[@kncole92]

Can Social Anxiety Disorder and PTSD be linked? For example if someone had SoD or GAD could they be at a higher risk for developing PTSD if they have experienced trauma or threat?

[@Sultan-cf5wf]

Any relation to the channel Grandayy, who is also a doctor?

[@bropoke6799]

Personally my therapist is amazing, but i feel like we've hit a road block. I wish more therapists would try different types of treatment. I dont want to just manage the symptoms. I wanna get better

[@Syktris]

I feel the same way about every therapist I've ever had

[@billhildebrand5053]

5:38 chronic nature of the disorder..

[@amyhall4099]

You've lost weight! That's just my observation. Along with MDD, Treatment resistant, PTSD. I HATE TO BE REDUNDANT but I Also have Social Anxiety Disorder. Always. When I was an adopted child and very young If someone was walking down the sidewalk towards me, I'd cross the street. Mainly since I am 71 year old female, I've been tormented all my life. I've also been in therapy since adoption at 2 years old. I do not know my adoptive dad at age 3. Raped by my brother at 11, led me being exploited by my brothers friend's. My mother was in grief until the day she died. She was cold to the point where I would cringe if she touched me. We lived in a very small house and my mother had to know what was going on in my brother 's bedroom. Door wide open. I think she just didn't know what to do. I cut at the age of 5, not knowing why, but didn't think about it much. However, I raised two productive children, college graduates, making so much money that I can't believe it and my four grandchildren, very happy college graduates. I ran away at 14 with my girl's dad to get married. Too long a story, once to SC, where we couldn't get married, sent home. Left again headed for Mexico. Caught again and sent home, then pregnant. Married in Richmond at age 14. Daughter when I was 15. Second at at age 19.

[@amyhall4099]

Married for 14 years. Married 2 more times and now divorced and lonely. Still can't go out unless someone is with me. Good working record in Career Criminal with DA's Department and loved it. Volunteered for Rape Crisis, was a Guardian ad Litem ,for years and very good at it. MDD always continued. Private law firm working in real estate until an attorney joined the firm and I joined him. For years until I new "my mask" was disappearing. Tired now

[@amyhall4099]

Never accepted in school.

[@ObserverZero]

I have a some kind of performance only anxiety, which very often results in epileptic (TLE) focal onset seizures. I lose my ability to speak, I have to deal with a severe sense of doom and confusion, and yet I'm an actor. I guess because I like self abuse... :P

[@crowredeye8066]

Waxes, wanes. Like tidal waves. Or grief.

[@npcimknot958]

check check check.

[@daphne1065]

I think I'm dumb

[@aleksandarivanov3911]

Why do you refer to us as "clients" we are patients.. We are people suffering.. We are not a business.

[@muhammed7922]

The truth about mental health services is they act like they want to help but they take the piss they don't they want peace

[@xpicklepie]

That's what YOU think.