Sick because of Social Anxiety.

Today there was a quick introduction day in my school ready for the new academic year. I've been going to this school for about 8 years and so I know everyone and have nothing to worry about. BUT lately, I've been feeling sick in social situations (this started about a month ago) and today, the morning before the intro day when I was at home, I was sick. At the front of my mind I wasn't nervous, I love seeing my friends even now as I'm writing this, but it's a subconscious thing that whenever I engage in social situations I feel nauseous and for the first time today actually being sick. This is extremely distressing for me, and the first day of school is this week and I really don't want to be sick. I have tried breathing and reassuring myself, but it doesn't work. Note that I don't fear social situations, my subconscious mind does. Any help from people that may have suffered this condition or indeed another form of social anxiety is appreciated.

 

Thanks for your comment, these panic attacks are awful and will try my best to overcome them @Cruciuß

 

@Elchicoloco thanks for your post! As you're on a long streak, do you find that NoFap is helping with this?

 

Yes NoFap definitely helps with anxiety, especially at the 14+ day mark.

Also, someone here showed me "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy", and it's something I'm trying for my anxiety.

The basic premise in this one guy's teachings about it that I found helpful to remember:

- Accept your anxiety. Most of the time when we get anxiety our first thought is "How do I stop the anxiety?" "How do I make it go away?" "I want this to stop". It's actually this panic about not being able to stop the anxiety that is causing us to feel bad, not the anxiety itself.. In other words we're anxious about being anxious! Once you accept the fact that you're anxious and that being anxious isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's like you defuse the bomb, and it suddenly stops being quite as scary.
- Commit to your values. Decide on what it is you value so much that you don't intend to let anxiety get in the way. Maybe you just want to ensure you have a good time at school and get good grades. Maybe you want to use your school time to socialise and make friends. Whatever it is, decide that you're not going to let your anxiety get in the way of doing this, and commit to doing it EVEN though you feel anxious/sick.
- Then act. Act in spite of your anxiety. You're feeling sick/anxious socialising? Well continue socialising anyway. Feel nervous about your next class? Head to class anyway. Remind yourself of the values you committed to, and that it's okay to be anxious, and go ahead and do it anyway. Through repeated action, that's when your anxiety WILL actually begin to become less of a burden.

 

@JesusGreen Thanks for your post; your advice is very useful. I'll keep facing my fears

 

Hi @ZeroTheHero I haven't seen a professional but I have settled into school now and have not had a panic attack since I posted the thread. The only thing I'm worried about when seeing a professional is that if I was diagnosed with social anxiety I would not want this on my health record in case employers saw this.

 

@Al123

Hello Mate,

About the Panic Attacks.

Concentrate on your breathing...

You breath in, you wait for 2 seconds (2x Mississippi) and then you breath out.

As long as it takes. It will take you couple of minutes but it should return to back to normal... ;-)

If the whole situation does not improve within 1 month, see a physician or counsellor.

//

If it improves a bit, I would suggest you put yourself gradually more into these situations.

Reason: You have just hit a psychological limit somewhere inside you. It is like a muscle which you cannot stretch properly (it is too weak), the way to feel complete is to gradually stretch the muscle to the max.

I hope it helps.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

@Daredevil99 Thanks for the support. I'm glad to hear your anxiety is improving

 

@ZeroTheHero I'm in the UK but I just checked the NHS website and they can't check your medical history without permission, and apparently you can amend it with your doctor's permission. I think I'm going to hold it for now, as I'm now settled into school and not feeling anxious now, but if a new situation comes and I have a panic attack I will probably see someone about it. Thanks for the advice and coincidentally I started weight lifting recently!

 

@tyler007 Thanks so much for the advice! I will try to put myself in much more nervous events, and the analogy about the muscle is 100% spot on

 

@Daredevil99 dont worry I sometimes feel sick in the morning even when it's not anxious related. Sometimes because you've been going 8-10 hours without food or water when asleep. Make sure to have a glass of water and something to eat to settle your stomach before going to work.