Social anxiety unbearable

@tmz41

Hey 

First thing Thank you for sharing this with us and it's okay to vent .we are all here to support and help each other😇🌷don't worry about that. 

I hear the weight of what you're carrying, and it sounds incredibly exhausting. The disconnect between where you were feeling competent and in control and where you are now, feeling stuck, disconnected from your own strengths, and overwhelmed by social anxiety, is painful. It’s completely understandable to feel lost and frustrated when the very thing that once made you shine, like your social skills, seems to be slipping away or turning into something that causes more stress.

The fact that you've been trying therapy and medications for years shows how deeply you've been invested in finding relief and healing. It sounds like you’ve really given a lot of effort, and it can be incredibly disheartening when results don’t seem to match the effort or your hopes. But I want to acknowledge your resilience despite these struggles, you’ve held on, kept going, and have built a career for yourself in leadership. That alone is a huge testament to your strength. And i am really happy to see that you are trying to help yourself 

  For me as I have social  anxiety so I know Social anxiety doesn’t just impact behavior—it affects the way you see yourself and your place in the world. When anxiety starts to control more of your life, it can begin to erode the parts of yourself that you value, like your social skills and empathy. It’s almost as if the anxiety makes you feel like you're not allowed to be your true self anymore, or like there's something inherently wrong with you. The good news is that this feeling, though intense, is often temporary, and you can start rebuilding your connection to your strengths

  Maybe Idk It's easy to feel like the head of sales or any leadership position *should* feel fulfilling or that you “should” be happy with your success, especially when you compare yourself to others. But when anxiety takes hold, it can distort your perception of what success means. The truth is, you’re in a leadership position, but that doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, or always on top of your social game, or performing at your highest level constantly. The pressure you’re feeling—thinking you need to be the version of yourself you used to be—can exacerbate the anxiety and feed the cycle of self-judgment. It’s important to challenge that idea that you have to be the “old you” or perfect to succeed.

   Also Could there be space for you to redefine what success looks like for you right now, especially considering how your mental health is impacting your career? What if success didn’t depend on your social fluency in every moment, but instead, your ability to be kind to yourself and take small, manageable steps toward building confidence again maybe 

  I know It’s hard to escape the pressure of your role when you're in it. But is it possible to give yourself permission to take the pressure off, just for a little while? Instead of focusing on how much of your personality or skillset you feel is lost, could you find small, everyday moments to reconnect with your         current self, rather than the self you think you should be? It might be a little thing at first speaking in a meeting, even just sharing a sentence. Giving yourself space to feel awkward, but doing it anyway, might help you regain confidence over time. 

   Compassion is key here. You’re already showing empathy for others who are struggling, but the same empathy needs to be extended to yourself. You don’t have to be fully healed or “back to normal” to move forward in your life or career. Small, gentle actions like taking a brief break from a stressful situation or admitting that you’re struggling and need help can be a huge step in rebuilding .

   °°maybe If there's an underlying trauma component to your anxiety (even if it’s not immediately obvious), this could help you work through deeper emotional patterns. Even small or subtle past experiences can shape the way anxiety presents itself today.

 °° accepting anxiety rather than fighting it, and learning to live in alignment with your values even when anxiety is present. It’s less about trying to get rid of anxiety and more about finding ways to keep living despite it.

   ☆Anxiety often stores itself in the body, and practices like yoga, breathwork, or even somatic therapy can help release the tension and emotions that are locked up physically. Sometimes, a mind-body approach can break the cycle when traditional therapies haven't fully worked.

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   If you're feeling drained by your leadership role but unsure how to pivot, it's important to remember that your career path doesn’t have to be one unbroken trajectory. It’s okay to rethink your role, take a step back, or adjust your responsibilities. There’s no shame in needing a change, even if that means leaving a career that was once a perfect fit. But you don’t have to make these decisions in a vacuum. Seeking guidance from a career coach or mentor who understands mental health challenges might also give you a clearer view of alternative paths that still honor your experience and skillset.

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And for your question you have asked  I will say from my opinion:

It’s so understandable to feel trapped by anxiety, especially when you’ve worked hard to build a life that you want to maintain. Anxiety can make it feel like everything is at risk, even when you've invested so much into your path. Finding relief while maintaining the life you've built is a delicate balance, but it’s possible , maybe The key is not necessarily to eliminate anxiety altogether "which can be impossible maybe " but to learn how to coexist with it in a way that doesn’t impede your well being or the life you’ve worked hard to create. It’s okay to not have it all figured out right away, and there’s no shame in reaching out for help or making adjustments as you go

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You’re navigating an incredibly tough time, but the fact that you're questioning, reflecting, and reaching out for support shows that there's still hope however hidden it might feel right now. Healing is a journey, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.

Omg!!I say alot lol 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️😅sorry 

Hey there. Let me ask you - what do you think is the answer? I know you’re reaching out and obviously that might mean you don’t know what to do… but I think we all do have the solutions within is, it just takes bravery and courage (unfortunately… since those things aren’t necessarily easy) to implement what we know would work for us. So… what would help you? You know yourself better than me, 7 cups listeners, or any therapist out there. At least that’s what I think… what do you think?