Any others in the forum with social anxiety?

[SlowButSteady]

I'm thinking of seeing a hypnotist for social anxiety (among other things). Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Tuckervill]

I went to a medical hypnotherapist to reset my mind about weight loss. PM me and I'll give you her info. She's in Phoenix, and it was worth the trip. I became convinced after a couple I know traveled there with their adult daughter and all three quit smoking in one session.

I've found that the self-hypnosis she taught me has been essential to my success. But, if you already meditate, you'd have a leg up on me. I went because I believe you can just "change your mind", but accessing that place where you "decide" is sometimes hard to do. She helped me access that place.

Karen

[solobiker]

[QUOTE=Crankin;327525]Don't take this wrong, but social skills are not overrated. In fact, based on my 31 years in education and my husband's 25 years in the software industry, I would say in the end, it's as important or more important than technical skills.
Believe me, I have not liked everyone I've worked with and often couldn't stand the endless talk of kids and babies, even when I had little kids. But, you can't be mean about it! No one wants to hear me talk endlessly about my bike, my average, where I rode last weekend. It's a fine line between "professional" friendliness and being friends. I really don't socialize with people from work anymore. I used to, but I find it's best to keep the spheres separate.
But, you have to be able to talk with people, customers (in my case, parents), and other professionals. It's hard to deliver bad news or give direction, but it's a skill that comes with practice.
I love talking to people in all situations, so advice from me probably means nothing. But a large part of my job as a teacher is teaching social skills. It's amazing to me what some families do not pass on to their kids...[/QU

I would have to say that social skills are not overrated either. I don't have problems with that in a work situation dealing with work issues. It is just rather annoying when one has to spend most of their days with people they have nothing in common with. I work full time so I spend more of my week at work then I do at home. I work with people that do not have similar interests as I do and vice versa. Therefore it is hard to join into their conversations. I also don't really talk what I have done over the weekend because I usually just get the rolling eyes or some other immature behavior. That is where the social issues arise. They are often immature and often exclude others from their conversations. I share a very small office and therapy gym with 8 other people so it is not like I only see them for a little bit during the day. I just need to let things go. I have gotten beter about it.

[northstar]

Wow, so interesting to read the responses to this thread. I see a lot of commonalities here between what I experience and what many others mention. Avoiding so much...I have left many workshops/classes before they started because I felt totally overwhelmed and terrified...like someone might discover that I'm not perfect. It ebbs and flows, but was probably the most debilitating when I was in college. My doc prescribed citalopram, which helped a LOT. I remember walking on campus one day, shortly after starting the medication and just feeling - different - and I realized that I was walking with my head up and making eye contact with people. I could actually SEE the world instead of hiding from it. I have not used it since college, but wouldn't hesitate to go back to it if I really felt it was needed.

It's particularly challenging because 1) most people see me as very successful and together, have no clue that I struggle this way, and 2) I'm married to an extremely extroverted person. My DH would go to EVERY social event he's invited to, not to mention a lot of them he's not! Fortunately, he is very gentle in trying to understand when I have a rough day. He still doesn't understand my total terror of being embarrassed, even over the tiniest thing, but he handles it well.

Anyway, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who has a hard time with this.