Is this social anxiety?
Hi! I'm not sure if I have social anxiety or not and it's something I would like to know somehow. So I guess I'll just tell you my story. Basically, for the past 5 years I think I've been dealing with this. Feeling awkward and scared in groups and when meeting new people. Feeling like people are judging me or just don't like me. Feeling terrified of what people might me thinking about me and thinking about what awkward thing I said over and over again.
In the beginning I used to not even want to order anything for myself, forcing my family or friends to do it for me. After getting a job at a restaurant and being forced to talk to people, that has disappeared. When I was in high school, whenever I had to give a presentation I was completely shaking from stress. One time this lead to a panic attack. Now I'm in University, luckily I don't have to deal with it anymore. Somehow I do keep pushing myself to do stuff I later regret. I stupidly decided to join a form of sorority, which required a kind of hazing to join. This lead to two more panic attacks. Then I decided it would be a great idea to join the "planning team" of the sorority thing. Until I had to have meetings and give my opinion about things. This gives me a lot of stress, but I can't back out of it anymore as it was my choice to join. I've currently fallen back into not being able to sleep because of overthinking everything. I get 2-3 hours approximately.
I'm not sure if it really is social anxiety.
I'm not able to properly assess the situation but I'll give you my honest opinion
". Feeling awkward and scared in groups and when meeting new people. Feeling like people are judging me or just don't like me. Feeling terrified of what people might me thinking about me and thinking about what awkward thing I said over and over again."
That is definitely a part of it.
In the beginning I used to not even want to order anything for myself, forcing my family or friends to do it for me. After getting a job at a restaurant and being forced to talk to people, that has disappeared.
By "not wanting to order" were you afraid to speak or afraid of being judged for making the order?
When I was in high school, whenever I had to give a presentation I was completely shaking from stress. One time this lead to a panic attack.
It's always natural to feel nervous when giving presentations of your work. What were your thoughts like? What about afterwards?
Now I'm in University, luckily I don't have to deal with it anymore. Somehow I do keep pushing myself to do stuff I later regret. I stupidly decided to join a form of sorority, which required a kind of hazing to join. This lead to two more panic attacks. Then I decided it would be a great idea to join the "planning team" of the sorority thing. Until I had to have meetings and give my opinion about things. This gives me a lot of stress, but I can't back out of it anymore as it was my choice to join. I've currently fallen back into not being able to sleep because of overthinking everything. I get 2-3 hours approximately.
Stress and lack of sleep defintely contribute to anxiety. Those are big things you have to do so it's definitely overwhelming I hear you.
It seems like you might have social anxiety. If you think you have an anxiety disorder you should talk to a professional and they'll give you an opinion. Then they'll offer you some more support. You also have us to speak about your anxieties in the meanwhile. Feel free to express yourself here.
Welcome to 7cups.
@ShadowTag
Hi! Thanks for replying. I think I wasn't afraid of speaking to people, just being scared I'd do something awkward. For the presentation, I actually love doing presentations for like people I know. It's just the fear of messing up something and everyone laughing or judging me that was stressing me out. Afterwards I would ask a 100th times to my friends if I really did okay. Probably also overthink every single mistake I made.
I did go to see a therapist. When I asked them about it, their answer was that they didn't like to lable people like that. So it didn't really leave me with any answer.
@bubbleWatermelon5668
That has to be social anxiety can you visit someone else for another opinion maybe that therapist was just bad.
