but im not sure it could be social anxiety disorder. it's so confusing the syptoms are similar.
i have no friends
i'm afraid to talk and eat in front of other people
i don't make eye contact
everyday i go to school i'm worried about being embarrassed
peope think im a mute and that im anti-social
i don't know how to start or finish a conversation
my voice is low and when people start to talk to me and ask questions my chest caves in,i get sweaty and my heart beats really fast
and my mom just says that im shy
but she doesnt know that i feel this way
how can i tell her It does sound like social anxiety disorder and NOT autism.
You are describing anxiety signs and symptoms. Talk with your doctor. You could also be depressed (SAD is seasonal affective disorder which I doubt you have). Ask the counsellor at school what to do about it, or school nurse, dont know your age. Help is so close. Your local mental health (call your health department for the number of local mental health). Help is so close and may even be free.
Good luck. Sounds like SAD, go to the doctor and get some help! Well i am sure if you parents really thought that you were a little more than shy they would have known if you were autistic.
My brother has autism and he is very shy and he does things that he thinks my get people to like him - like if they told him to jump off a cliff he would delay it but then eventually do it.
:(
dont let people take advantage of you- just a personal note.
anyways there is alot more to autism. the signs start to show when you are a child, and as you get older.... you dont change that much, like you still have the brain of a kid.
Some of them live in their own little "worlds" you know, just a place to get away from everyhting.
Do you talk to yourself?
Do you laugh out of know where because you thought of something funny - but you cant tell anyone what it is?
you should just sit down with them and talk to them
or if it makes you feel more comfortable look future into the conditions, and when you are ready lay it all out for them.
I am not saying you are autistic, but i know from experience, it is hard to determine whether a person is or not - since when writing you have more time to think about what you are feeling and what you are going to say.
I hope the best for you.
You know people will, and do care.
:) There are no neurological tests for autism. There has been no autism gene or gene complex isolated for autism. All so-called co-morbid symptoms are typical neuroses. All medication prescribed for the treatment of autism is psychiatric. The most effective medical treatment for the symptoms of autism are cognitive behavioral therapy and "play therapy," which are forms of psychotherapy. The following environmental determinants are associated with both autism and anxiety disorder:
Premature birth.
Caesarean birth.
Trauma in early infancy.
Neglect in early infancy.
Finally an entire branch of science, Psychoanalysis, insists that autism is mainly psychogenic,--albeit with a genetic component for a predisposition to autism in many cases.
So, autism is, in fact, a severe neurosis. ALL neuroses are forms of autism. It is no surprise you have many autistic symptoms.
Finally, your mother is right. Everybody experiences some degree of shyness. Your case is severe enough to require therapy though. If I were you I would brow beat your mother into getting you to a doctor. Most mothers hate to think their children have psychiatric problems. You watch. They will give me a lot of thumbs down on this answer. But if you insist long and loud enough, she will eventually have to give in. If you were autistic, you wouldn't be worried about this issue, because soceity is simply less important to people with Autism.
Social Anxiety Disorder is the name psychologists have given to shyness so they can treat it and be paid by insurance companies. Yes, it can still be debilitating. But one thing about shy people is that they are often very caring people as well.
Try this. You obviously have spent some time reading about what is 'wrong' with you. Talk to an adult you think will listen, and try to find a way to do some volunteering. Maybe you could go to a nursing home and just spend time with some of the people there. Some of them are so lonely! You can play cards with them, or other games, or just be with them. You don't even have to talk.
This will accomplish two things. You will be able to exercise your caring heart, and you will take your focus off yourself. You will also get some practice on your social skills. Each day, think about the interactions you had that day, and what happened. Did you speak to someone? What happened when you did? Was it good? Did anything bad happen? How did you overcome it?
Eventually, logic will have to overcome fear, which is the physical reaction you are experiencing, and you will realize that human interactions aren't always so scary.
Also, when you do talk to people. Smile first. Even if you don't feel like it, or are scared. Just do it anyway. Practice in front of a mirror. This will accomplish two things. It will put the person you are talking to at ease, and they will alrready have a reason to like you. It will also actually help you feel more confident.
God made you terriffic. I know this without knowing you because He makes everybody terriffic. Sure, there's lots of jerks, but they could be terriffic too if they tried. You probably have some faults, too, but so does everybody else.
You have talents and abilities and good things to share. The shyness is difficult, and it will take some time to overcome, but it is important to do that because it's keeping you from sharing the wonderful gifts God gave you and the wonderful person you are.
Give yourself some room. When you begin, just try to do one thing a day that interacts. You can start by smiling at someone. See how that goes. Don't forget that people have an idea about what you are like, so they might be surprised to see you reaching out. They are people too, so give them chance to get used to the idea. Once you start trying it, and studying to see what happens, think about the thing you do each day and when it starts to get more comfortable for you. That is when it is time to try something different. Saying Hi to someone, or smiling at two people a day. Just keep going and stretching your comfort zones, and before long, it will be large enough.
You'll probably never be one of those charismatic, magnanimous, loud people. You weren't made that way, and the world needs people like you, so that is a good thing. But it's really important to be able to fulfill your purpose, and you can't do that without stretching. |
