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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on March 19, 2002, at 17:09:03
I think I may have it, I'm too embarrassed at this point to even mention what I found myself doing to avoid contact with a person, but it would help immensely if someone could describe just what is meant by social phobia, the type of behavior a person with SP exhibits, etc. Thanks.
Posted by Mark H. on March 19, 2002, at 17:58:26
In reply to Could someone provide descrip. of Social Phobia, posted by Janelle on March 19, 2002, at 17:09:03
Hi Janelle,
Someone else will probably give you a more thorough and scientific answer, but for me (I'm bipolar II), "social phobia" was/is one of the symptoms of the disease. Here are a few of the ways it manifested for me:
On personality inventories like the Myers-Briggs or Kiersey tests, I used to be "extroverted." Now I am STRONGLY introverted.
I am afraid to pick up the phone and call people. I'll spend an hour writing an email or memo about something I could clear up in a 3 minute phone call (except when I simply force myself to use the phone).
If I see someone I know in a supermarket, I start worrying that my skin looks bad or my clothes aren't right. I'll not only change aisles to avoid them, but sometimes I've even left the store.
Sometimes I'm embarrassed and cannot think of what to say, even to people I've known for 20 years. If the other person isn't comfortable with silence, I try to think of an excuse to get away.
I feel like I don't "belong" anywhere, and I find parties especially depressing.
Does any of this resonate with you? I don't experience these symptoms all the time any more, but I still experience all of them at least once in awhile.
With kind regards,
Mark H.
Posted by Katie Rose on March 19, 2002, at 18:56:22
In reply to Re: Could someone provide descrip. of Social Phobia, posted by Mark H. on March 19, 2002, at 17:58:26
Hi Mark,
What medications help you with the social phobia? Have you ever used Propinolol (not sure of spelling) or the Clonidine patch? I take a low dose of Klonopin at night, and am currently using a half a patch per week, but this is not enough for me. More Klonopin makes me too tired during the day, and more Clonidine patch does the same ... makes me feel strange, because I'm pretty sure that it's lowering my blood pressure too much. Without meds I already have normal to low blood pressure. Anyway, I'm just curious as to what has helped you.
Thanks,
Katie Rose
Posted by Mark H. on March 19, 2002, at 19:34:38
In reply to Mark H, what meds help you with SP?, posted by Katie Rose on March 19, 2002, at 18:56:22
Hi Katie Rose,
I don't know much about medications for treatment of social phobia. Hopefully, others here will give you a more comprehensive answer.
Interestingly, though, I too take a beta-blocker (Pindolol) and a small amount of clonazepam at night, though for different reasons (?).
The beta-blocker helps counteract the symptoms of my body's over-production of adrenaline, while the Klonopin helps keep me from thrashing about in my sleep (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, they call it).
However, together with a stimulant to stay awake during the day, 150mg of Effexor, and a small amount of Cytomel, I did find effective relief from the atypical, refractive, bipolar depression I used to experience.
For me, anything that effectively works for depression also *helps* with my social phobias (even if it hasn't eliminated them).
I needed to work very closely with my doctor on finding the right level of beta-blocker as well. It turned out I needed to split the tablet in two and take half in the morning and half at night, or I would get heart palpitations.
I don't know if any of this information helps, but I wanted to share my experiences.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by Janelle on March 19, 2002, at 23:43:47
In reply to Re: Could someone provide descrip. of Social Phobia, posted by Mark H. on March 19, 2002, at 17:58:26
Hi Mark,
You gave me a very thorough answer and for that I thank you!
Some of what you mentioned did indeed resonate with me, although I've never taken a personality inventory (I shudder to think how I'd score!)
I'm not *afraid* per se, but instead feel overwhelmed or like I can't cope with it when it comes to picking up the phone and calling people.
What you described about avoiding having to see someone you know in a supermarket really hit close to home because what prompted me to post this message was that I freaked out about what I found myself doing during my daily walk outside - there I was, walking along my usual route when up ahead I saw someone from the power company working right where I'd have to pass by. I felt my body tighten and noticed that there was a street I could turn down and walk on to avoid having to pass the electric worker so that is what I did. The reasons I felt I had to avoid him was that I simply felt self conscious in general and also didn't want to possibly have to say hi to him. Of course, it would only have been saying hi and I would have kept on walking, but I could not deal with it. This has NEVER happened to me before and it really worries me that I'm developing SP.
Thanks again for your response.
Posted by Mark H. on March 20, 2002, at 10:33:59
In reply to MarkH - THANKS, more: » Mark H., posted by Janelle on March 19, 2002, at 23:43:47
Dear Janelle,
Thank you for sharing your experience with me. It's good to know I'm not the only one whose social phobias manifest in ways that are confusing (even to me). I know they're illogical when I'm experiencing them, but I have to make a concerted effort to fight them. Otherwise, during the "down" periods in my cycle, I just hide out.
If you find ways of coping with or improving on social phobias that work for you, please let me know.
With kind regards,
Mark H.
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