Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety Support Group

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."

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Relationship Anxiety after Therapy

amber8616
amber8616

Is it possible for social anxiety to worsen and appear only in romantic situations, even after receiving therapy and successfully recovering from Social Anxiety Disorder?


I have been dating this guy for almost 5 months now (this is my first real relationship, btw), and it has been great. We've only had a couple of bad arguments, and he is very supportive and compassionate. I am very happy with how our relationship is right now, yet I find myself becoming severely nervous and insecure over the smallest things. For example, recently we were viewing pornography together (which I hope is not unhealthy lol, we enjoy it), and he made a comment about the attractive appearance of one of the women we were watching, which made me feel a little insecure because I do not look like her. We both openly talk about what we find attractive, so I was not upset at him for that. Later that night I felt the urge to cry and ha*rm myself, which does not happen very often. 


This hypersensitivity and over-reaction has been a pattern for a while, but it has not been getting better. Every two weeks or so I find myself becoming anxious about something small, and feeling suffocated by it.


This reaction may be normal for someone who has not yet been to therapy, but it seems abnormal for me. My anxiety has been nearly eradicated in every other aspect of my life, except this one. I'm not sure if this means that I need to break up with him even though I love him, or I need to go to therapy again, or something else. I really want this relationship to continue growing, and I hope I will be able to overcome this persistent worrying I am having about it.


I really hope someone can give me some tips or advice!! :) Thank you!

GirlinCalif
GirlinCalif
Out of the two choices, I think you going back into therapy is a good idea. Being in your first relationship can bring up all kinds of new feelings for anyone, whether a person has anxiety issues or not.

Him saying another woman on the video was attractive means nothing. Try not to take that comment personally. Men are visual creatures and I am sure there are guys or celebrities that you find attractive too, that don't look like your boyfriend. Your boyfriend obviously loves you, and not just for your looks.

Again, I would look into getting into therapy again.

Everything is going to be okay!
arfie
arfie
Left unchecked, my anxiety often obsesses over a single target at a time. It will often obsess over the healthiest pieces of my life. Thinking about my healthy parts is easier than thinking about the parts that are in serious need of work. The great tragedy of that approach is that I all too often damage the healthy parts with the obsessing.

When I catch myself obsessing, I try to distract myself by working on the parts in need of extra attention.
Faith70
Faith70
Hi, if you haven't already you should talk to your boyfriend if he is a keeper he will understand and maybe open dialogue will deepen trust and relieve your anxiety. If you had thoughts of self harm you really need to get some help,that's a terrible way to feel you owe it to yourself look how far you have come. You over came before , means you can do it again. Sincerely ball the best
Faith70
Faith70
Lol that was of course all the best. Damn auto correct
abcdefghijklmop1
abcdefghijklmop1
Sometimes old thinking patterns or behaviors can be triggered.Go back to therapy and do the things that help you feel better. I am also overly sensitive, I understand , anything and everything makes me feel insecure. Sounds like you have a healthy relatioship with your boyfriend.However, it is only my opinion that he should have been tactful by not comenting on other women's looks. His eyes should focus on you only. That is my opinion, but I also understand how men are and regardless of what he said it sounds that he loves you. People on TV have operations, plastic surgery, etc, they are not real.
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