Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety Disorders
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Friends are starting to annoy me

emmyvisigoth
emmyvisigoth
So my anxiety is turning me into something I never wanted to be. Group outings are no longer fun for me, as too much stimulus becomes jarring overtime. It's becoming harder and harder to pretend to be the same outgoing and fun-loving person I used to be before certain people in my life just broke my spirit into a million pieces. My social anxiety is just overwhelming me anymore and I am losing touch with my friends. Not because I don't like them, but because I find human interaction almost pointless anymore. Like eventually I will start pushing everyone away. I don't know what to do...Whenever people come over to the house I go and hide, lately. I hate this so much...
meandmydog
meandmydog
I know how you feel. I don't have any answers for you because I'm just trying to get through it myself but I do have hugs and prayers for you ....
emmyvisigoth
emmyvisigoth
Gosh, thank you so much for that. I am definitely going to bring this up to my therapist for sure...it just helps for now knowing that another human being is going through something similar.
enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
Definitely can relate to that, sometimes I just feel like being left completely alone and I don't like being bothered, it's not very often but it still happens. Do you feel like this very often?
idiosyncraticrose
idiosyncraticrose
I'm going through what you are, just the same and I've been struggling with anxiety, depression since my late teens. Over the last few years I've been trying to cope with haphephobia. Know that there are others out there, myself and many good people here who understand, who strive to cope, who want to cope and want to help you cope as well.

Be well x
emmyvisigoth
emmyvisigoth
Enigmaticloner: Very often, I find myself feeling like this...it's painful...

Idiosyncraticrose: Thank you very much for the reassurance. I am trying so hard every single day to remember that...also, what is hapephobia? I have never heard of it.
andrealambert
andrealambert
I understand. My social anxiety is such that I can only handle group social engagements if I am well-prepared, psyched up for it and stoned. And even then I can only hang out for a short while.

I have found that as Introverts, one-on-one social interaction to be a lot more enjoyable for me. Now instead of going to a party or a club I'll hang out with just one other person. That is more chill and enjoyable.

Definitely mention this to your therapist and it's good that you have one.

So many of us have gone through the same thing, believe me, you are not alone.
emmyvisigoth
emmyvisigoth
AndreaLambert, you always have the best input. It's funny you mention the whole thing about introversion...I am actually an extrovert. I have had a lot of things happen to me over time that have made me almost fear group outings.Thank you so much for the support. I definitely will mention this to my therapist.
enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
One on one conversations are more my style as but it's hard trying to explain that to people sometimes who are not the same. People seem to think that I'm trying to "own them" and what not. I've even been told before by a former good friend of mine that "You can't own people" but it was nothing of the sort. I was not trying to completely own anyone's time, I just don't usually find a lot of interest in being in groups, especially if it involves people I don't know. Unless I have to be in that situation for some reason I'll usually just walk away or exit the conversation and be quiet. I've gotten tired of telling people that prefer group conversations that I'd rather talk to them alone, it just makes things seem even more awkward for me.

Emmy, your profile says you're from NJ too, this is a pretty crowded state, I've lived here for years and I know it must be pretty hard to be here as well if you're like that too. Do you also feel like you're overcrowded at times because of your area? Or are you from a part of NJ that is pretty quiet?