You're welcome Mike. Glad to have you here - but also sorry you have to be here. I agree with you that it does make so much difference to connect with others who understand what you are going through. We all know it's not 'all in your head' and that you can't just 'stop thinking about it'.

So glad you are finding the support you need here. :-)

This is one awesome board! Great people, great advice and great listeners! Nobody on here judges anybody for anything or if they do, they should't! We are glad you are here and hope you do stick around! It is nice that when you do get better, you want to help others!

Hope you have a great weekend!!!!!!

Mike.....your thank you made me happy. I can tell that you are considerate and compassionate person, just for the fact that you are so appreciative to all of the wonderful folks who seem to visit this site. I too appreciate these wonderful folks. It was, however, your last sentence though, that reminded me as to why I am here.

Like you, I made a promise to myself that if I found my way out of anxiety I too would spend the rest of my life helping others to do the same. Well, I did....and I will!

Here is what I found out about social anxiety and how I overcame it:

First off....negative thoughts are truly the root of this problem. So change your thoughts and your problems are over...done!

Haha....if only it could be that easy...right? No really....negative thoughts really are the root. If you have anxiety and depression like I did....it is gonna take some work to change those uncontrollable, habitual, negative dialogs that are happening in your head.

I decided to take it slow....one week at a time and learn how to reprogram my brain. I kept a little notebook with me at all times and wrote down any negative thought that came to mind. They happened so quickly at first that is was almost hard to catch them and get them down on paper. Immediately after writing down the negative thought I would write down a countering companionate, soothing, positive thought. At first, this seemed sooooo hard,....positive was easy for me to see in other people's lives, but, not in mine.

My current brain now sees that this was truly the main reason I had social anxiety....I never felt up to snuff with the others that surrounded me. I was constantly telling myself that I wasn't smart enough, or interesting enough, or pretty enough...etc! Yikes....I was so consumed with myself....it was not remotely possible to enjoy the company of others.

Once I started seeing my negative thoughts getting easier and easier to catch and conquer.....I started doing more things. I started with volunteering then forced myself into connecting more with my friends and relatives. The more things I did...the more things I could talk about....I began to actually feel more connected and interesting.

One more thing....I work out for a least a half hour everyday. Nothing major...just enough to get my heart rate up. I have researched this extensively and have found that exercise according to many studies have shown to be as effective as medications in relieving anxiety and resulting depression. On top of that....the effects of exercise last longer and has no negative side effects....except for looking fabulous!!! Haha!

My best to you!

Hi, Mike! That's so nice of you to show your appreciation. You seem like a very caring and thoughtful person. I'm also a newer member, and have found everyone on these forums to be incredibly helpful, caring, and kind. Anxiety is tough, but it helps so much to know that we aren't alone.

Best wishes!