Social Anxiety Disorder.

AdamD · 13-07-2006, 15:06

Hey everyone,

Quick question for anyone here who knows about this
Does anyone here suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, or know of anyone who does?
I have it....unfortunatly, have done for many years and it's getting to the point now where it's basically destroying what life I have left.
I went to the doctor for the first time today, after putting it off for 3 months or so, all he did was prescribe some anti depressant/anxiety tablets and sent me on my way...which really didn't help matters, because I have a mortgage to pay, have no job because of the SAD (lol, interesting) and now i'm stuck not knowing what to do..

Jules · 13-07-2006, 15:10

Is there just the one doctor at your surgery?

**Hugh** · 13-07-2006, 15:12

Sorry to hear about your problem - here are a few sites that have some relevant info. The first one is probably most relevant as it is UK-based.

http://www.social-anxiety.org.uk/
http://www.socialfear.com/
http://www.socialphobia.org/

Has your doctor given you the "old" type depressants - these take a couple of weeks to kick in, so you need to give it some time.

Do you have any mortgage/health insurance that could help cover your mortgage whilst you are unwell?

Good luck.

AdamD · 13-07-2006, 15:46

The tablets are called "Sertraline", 50mg, 28 tablets.
I might try and see another doctor, him and another guy there are really cold towards their patients.

Salu · 13-07-2006, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamD

The tablets are called "Sertraline", 50mg, 28 tablets.
I might try and see another doctor, him and another guy there are really cold towards their patients.

Well that is the usual drug of choice to be on but the problem here seems to be that your Dr has only addressed half the problem......the symptoms. The drug will ease the symptoms but not address the cause. Sadly the NHS is not resourced to deal with the volumes of patients that present with depression and other disorders so you do get this form of filtering. The drugs are comparatively cheap but treating the cause is more expensive and there simply aren't the resources.
You are basically left to treat the cause yourself......
I'm no expert on this but I believe that cognitive behaviour therapy and particularly NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) have been successful in treating this but you'd probably have to fund it yourself....

Ramrod · 13-07-2006, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salu

......... your Dr has only addressed half the problem......the symptoms. The drug will ease the symptoms but not address the cause. Sadly the NHS is not resourced to deal with the volumes of patients that present with depression and other disorders so you do get this form of filtering.

Is 'filtering' a polite word for 'cr*p treatment'?

**Maggy J** · 13-07-2006, 16:29

Errr..Is this related to the seasonal anxiety disorder..the one where a lack of sunshine causes depression?

lauzjp · 13-07-2006, 16:43

I have had depression since I was about 14 when my Dad and nan died. I know what causes my depression, so counselling and all that hoo-hah has not done me any favours. Some people may find it helpful to talk over what is bringing them down, some people just want guidance on how to get back to 'normal' - I just tell other depressives that you have to take things slowly. You will get better, but you really have to take baby steps again- I know sometimes it's a struggle to even motivate oneself to get up in the morning, let alone get washed and dressed, do your hair, etc. Even if you do one thing a day, it is progress. I want to get back to work, but at the moment I still find it hard to walk over the road to the shops on my own. (I'm shaking thinking about it right now!)

I have found that although sertraline / lustral / seroxat worked very well for me in affecting my day to day being able to function, these type of drugs can have nasty side effects like making you have more bad thougts, including the obvious, and wanting to hurt other people as well as yourself (not just my opinion, several mates are on anti-depressants too, and one of my best mates is a mental health nurse, convenient, huh!?)

I would say - seek out a second opinion from another doctor. And if you feel it might benefit you - ask about counselling, and always ask about the side-effects of drugs & the alternatives if you don't like the sound of something. Hope this helps.

Flobajob · 13-07-2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Errr..Is this related to the seasonal anxiety disorder..the one where a lack of sunshine causes depression?

I think you're getting confused with Seasonal Affectation Disorder which is something entirely different.

**Maggy J** · 13-07-2006, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flobajob

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Errr..Is this related to the seasonal anxiety disorder..the one where a lack of sunshine causes depression?

I think you're getting confused with Seasonal Affectation Disorder which is something entirely different.

Well with all the acronyms in the world you would think they would have come up with a different name because that is called SAD as far as I know.It makes life confusing.

AdamD · 13-07-2006, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauzjp

I want to get back to work, but at the moment I still find it hard to walk over the road to the shops on my own. (I'm shaking thinking about it right now!)

I'm glad i'm not the only one
I've been suffering from it for about ...well, since I left high school really
I started my first job at Worthing Hospital down here in the south and it was hell..
The guy who was in charge of me (I started as a trainee computer tech) used to belittle me and criticise everything I did
Even with 3/4 other people putting in official complaints and myself included, he got promoted
I put up with him for some 4/5 years and didn't realise what damage it was doing (And yes, it really did do alot of damage)
I put on a ton of weight, became depressed and started fearing any/all social encounters, even with family

It's the same now, unfortunatly, but worse because of the stuff going on at home (See other thread about brother/father/house situation), lots of stress, mortgage payments looming that I have no money for and looking for a job is...well, it scares me just to think of going outside, it's gotten that bad.

Chrysalis · 13-07-2006, 17:32

ask to see a counsiller, this may help or may be useless but I think it should be better then anti depressents.

Flobajob · 14-07-2006, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Well with all the acronyms in the world you would think they would have come up with a different name because that is called SAD as far as I know.It makes life confusing.

I swear they make up new names for psychiatric illnesses every day, when I was a kid most of them weren't even known about let alone treated, I remember a friend of mine who was put in a childrens home as his parents couldn't cope with his behaviour, later on in life he was diagnosed with autism.

AndrewJ · 14-07-2006, 16:48

I know a few people who have it, I myself have Aspergers Syndrome and am on Anti-Depressents, I cope well enough but I have my gf who understands me well and is their for me.

aliferste · 14-07-2006, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamD

Hey everyone,

Snippy snippy

Your GP is being the jack of all trades master at none (although no offense to him), he should be refer you to a psychologist as well. Medication is effective alongside a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Go back and tell him to refer you.

Alistair