Social Anxiety and Recovery: ugh.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota FL
Posts: 281
Social Anxiety and Recovery: ugh.
I'm new to the site...I joined in 2010 and forgot all about it! Ive been sober a long time and have a number of mental health diagnosis including an anxiety disorder. I moved from NY to FL and lost all my wonderful friends, support, and home group. AA is so different here and people have a zero tolerance for discussing menatal health during your share. Dang- it says in How it Works- "there are those among us with grave emotional and mental disorders".
So, anyway, I go to the only Dual Diagnosis Recovery meeting here and I am looking on this site for friendship and mutual support to supplement my program. I go to regular AA and sometimes have to leave I get so anxious- I have even had a few panic attacks.
Can anyone else relate? I have an anti anxiety med but don't want to pop a pill for every situation in my life ugh.
So, anyway, I go to the only Dual Diagnosis Recovery meeting here and I am looking on this site for friendship and mutual support to supplement my program. I go to regular AA and sometimes have to leave I get so anxious- I have even had a few panic attacks.
Can anyone else relate? I have an anti anxiety med but don't want to pop a pill for every situation in my life ugh.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 6,262
Mar ... Once you get sober in New York I think it can be hard to adjust to meetings elsewhere. I say this as a recovering New Yorker who battles depression and is an agnostic. I was surprised at the intolerance I found at AA meetings elsewhere ... recovering alcoholics can be very strident and judgmental. I would think there would be other folks who moved from NY to FL. It would be great if you could connect with them, perhaps start your own meetings.
In the meantime, just don't drink TODAY. At least that never changes.
In the meantime, just don't drink TODAY. At least that never changes.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
I can relate to both the social anxiety and the not wanting to pop pills for everything.
My social anxiety used to be terrible, but I kept putting myself in situations that forced me to be social. Eventually I got used to it. I still don't care much for human interaction, but everybody needs a little of it sometimes to stay sane, I think.
The SSRIs also helped a great deal during the worst part of it. I don't care what people say, they are good meds and there is nothing wrong with taking them if you need them. Surely, they're better than drinking.
My social anxiety used to be terrible, but I kept putting myself in situations that forced me to be social. Eventually I got used to it. I still don't care much for human interaction, but everybody needs a little of it sometimes to stay sane, I think.
The SSRIs also helped a great deal during the worst part of it. I don't care what people say, they are good meds and there is nothing wrong with taking them if you need them. Surely, they're better than drinking.
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