“Social anxiety?”
Hi there. My name is Joel. I wanted to ask about something that happens quite frequently in my life. When I'm in social situations such as at work or with friends and extended family or just having a conversation with someone, I get anxious and stressed and my concentration suffers. My breathing rate increases as does my heart rate. The real challenge I face with this is that I get zoned out and retreat inwardly into my mind and I notice the feeling of tension and pressure there and it absorbs my attention. I think I have social anxiety. I also take medication for a psychotic illness. Is there a way to overcome or counteract this feeling of spaced-outness?
Male | 20 years old
Complaint duration: jdhndrxx@gmail.com
Medications: Abilify, Cogentin, Trazadone, Nardil
Conditions: Psychosis, Anxiety
4 Answers
This is what happens when your inner mind perceives a situation or event as a threat to your survival or wellbeing. The original primitive response, which we share with a rabbit, is to get ready to run like hell or freeze and hope the fox doesn't see us. It sounds like you're right about the social anxiety. The spaced-outness, or spaced-in-ness, will forget to show up if your mind can clearly see that there is no real danger. You might get embarrassed for a few seconds, or make a mistake, but they're not going to kill you or break your legs. That will be helped by re-processing a few bad prior experiences that set you up to expect and dread another one.
I hope this is helpful.
I hope this is helpful.
The type of anxiety you describe can be helped with a good therapist.
Hi Joel,
Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty being present in the social situations. You mentioned medicines. Who prescribes them? A Psychiatrist or your primary care physician? What is their opinion? Are you in therapy? Have they recommended it? It would be better for you to pursue regular therapy with a licensed professional to work through your issues as medicines by themselves are not resolving the issues. You can explore the issues including of psychosis and being spaced out when anxious in social situations. Hypnotherapy including desensitization, ART therapy, EMDR and CBT are several approaches that can help you resolve these issues that impair your social functioning.
Take care and remain safe.
Dr. Lata Sonpal
Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty being present in the social situations. You mentioned medicines. Who prescribes them? A Psychiatrist or your primary care physician? What is their opinion? Are you in therapy? Have they recommended it? It would be better for you to pursue regular therapy with a licensed professional to work through your issues as medicines by themselves are not resolving the issues. You can explore the issues including of psychosis and being spaced out when anxious in social situations. Hypnotherapy including desensitization, ART therapy, EMDR and CBT are several approaches that can help you resolve these issues that impair your social functioning.
Take care and remain safe.
Dr. Lata Sonpal
Take a look at this link for some help
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder.htm
or
https://thiswayup.org.au/how-do-you-feel/shy/
or
https://www.verywellmind.com/social-anxiety-disorder-tips-3024209
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder.htm
or
https://thiswayup.org.au/how-do-you-feel/shy/
or
https://www.verywellmind.com/social-anxiety-disorder-tips-3024209
