Having personally suffered from social anxiety, I am fully aware of the implications, and more importantly the struggle it poses on a sufferer. Panic and anxiety disorders are amongst the more common mental health issues. They have proven to be treatable, normally with the help of a talking therapy or sometimes prescription drugs.
Suffering from an anxiety related illness is not easy. Every day can seem like a constant battle of emotions which leaves the sufferer feeling tired and worn out. Many people often start to avoid most social situations, sometimes rarely leaving the house. This is known as a safety behaviour. To sufferers it seems as though avoidance is the best way to cope, but these safety behaviours are what keep the anxiety going.
My struggle began in my early twenties. I was an outgoing lad, full of confidence – always out with friends or up to no good! I then began to feel the effects of my anxiety, particularly in social situations. I would dread going to work and it finally led me to quit, I then became house-bound and reached a real low point in my life. Having now received professional help for my illness, I urge anyone out there who is suffering to seek out some medical advice – the sooner the better.
Working on your illness with self help strategies is the best method to beat any kind of anxiety related illness. I believe that prescription drugs are only temporary solutions which come with a whole host of unpleasant side effects. Changing the way you think to take a more balanced approach to situations is key to really lower you anxiety.
Head on over to my website for a more in depth look in to some of my findings and triumphs in beating my social anxiety.
