Are you Living in shame?I mean do people know about your SA?

Kat · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:57 am Post subject:

My family and my fiancée know about my SA. Do they understand it? Well..I don’t think anyone can fully understand unless they experience the exact same symptoms and ways that you need to deal with it when it happens. I notice a lot of people think that you need to face situations to overcome this condition but considering what I have done in that aspect I don’t really think that is something that works for me. I really wish it did though but I think it has the opposite effect. I notice also when they say certain things to me like “when you get in anxious mode” it’s not meant to be ignorant but I am pretty much in that mode when I am around people but they just don’t notice it because I pretend not to be. I had an incident a couple of days ago where I couldn’t hide the fact that I was feeling anxious and usually I can by pretending that everything is ok that is something I try to do to draw less attention to myself because when I am anxious people usually ask “are you ok?” Which causes more anxiety and that is what happened a few days ago. I ended up breaking down and crying over the smallest thing cause basically as soon as I leave the house I am at breaking point and if someone draws too much attention to me or I feel like I made and ass of myself which happens a lot because my concentration is basically gone when I am out in public so if someone talks to me I will say some thing really goofy back and people will say don’t worry you’re just having a bad day but in the back of my mind I know it is not just that and feel like crap for the rest of the day and for the next time I have to go out . I am kind of glad in someway my family saw that I was anxious that day I broke down after someone had mentioned something about my clothing even though what they said wasn't really offensive and if I was feeling comfortable I wouldn't of reacted like I did but I am glad they were there to see it because by hiding it, it’s effective it draws less attention but by covering how you feel up people don’t realize how it effects you. I also think that people think you’re just being cute and don’t realize how much damage it does to a person.

SilentType · Expert User Joined: Jul 04, 2007 Posts: 618

Yeah, people know about my SA, but I don't know if I should have told anyone or not. People just don't get it unless they've experienced it personally or professionally. Now that people know, they try to accommodate what they think it's like to be me. Nobody really has a clue, and I end up being more agoraphobic because of it. I'm done complaining though, that's one thing I'm not gonna do about t this ailment out loud. Only when I'm ranting in forums like this Razz

.

Peace

Cool_Un_Cool · Newbie User Joined: Mar 20, 2008 Posts: 97

Well, my sisters and some of their friends reference my shyness.
I am kind of use to that now, though.
I try to hide it by acting like a typical Ceech & chong Guber.

dyingtolive · Newbie User Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 15

even if they knew they wouldnt understand... maybe unless... when u tell them u tell them not to comment until they listened to an educational CD that u give them along with ur coming out. will that work?

but if i come out.. it will be useless if it didnt come with being Completely honest with all My disorders, and history. Now thas just might start chaos.
is it worth it and when is the right time

Strong_Silent_One · Newbie User Joined: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 19

Hi to all.
I have told my closest family -except from my nefews - and i would advise everyone to do so. They should know. And they will trytheir best to help you on your troubles.... although certaintly they are not psichologist, so they'll probably not know how to approach the problem really.
As for friends, many of my recent friends know it, but i wouldn't advise you to do so, cause having your folks trying to help you is one thing, but having your close friends helping you makes you feel even worse, cause you feel like an affraid child who is not able to face things, and that is no good at all. It makes your self steem go to hell.

Strong_Silent_One · Newbie User Joined: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 19