work and social phobia

munchkin · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 9:52 am Post subject: work and social phobia

Does anyone know any work that doesn't require social contact? I find it very hard to get a job because Im afriad of going to jobinterviews. And Im also afraid of interacting with people. Why would they want to hire a social phobic?
How can you find a job when you are social phobic. Does any of you have any netbased work?
What kinda jobs do you have and how are you dealing with it when you have social phobia in the same time.

Guest · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: work and social phobia

Noise_Terrorist · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject:

Hi there.

I'm also looking for a job at the moment, and I've resigned myself to the fact that all jobs will require an amount of interaction with other people. In a way, this has made me more determined from overcoming my SP, so I don't get held back in life.

Just remember though. Social phobia is not all of what you are. Social phobia is only a small part of yourself. I'm sure you have many qualities that an employer would want for a job, many good qualities. Just try and think positivly, which is easier said than done, I know. Instead of thinking "I've got SP, they won't employ me", try finding your positive qualities, and use that to think of reasons why they would employ you.

As for interviews themselves, just try practising some breathing techniques, which you can probably find on the net, and just try and go into it with a positive frame of mind. I know that dealing with people on the job might be difficult, so maybe you could try and search for a job which reuiires minimum interaction?

Good luck.

aminQassim · Newbie User Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 5

i know how does it feels because i just lost my job for not being able to interact with employees. it's hard from normal person understand how do we feel i am also looking for a job that has not to deal with people i found out sites regarding "work from home jobs" but it seems all of them are trap to gain mony out of us. i am still looking ....

shockey · Newbie User Joined: Sep 11, 2008 Posts: 2

I have felt the same way before. Considering a job where I don't have to interact with people so much. I have a job where I'm a manager and am put on the spot allot. I have to chair meetings every two weeks and answer questions all the time. I even have to give presentations sometimes. I've been dealing with anxiety attacks for 2.5 years now and at times it has been very hard. I especially hate when someone comes into my office and says 'can I shut this door for a moment'.

Facing the anxiety may be more important than finding a more solitary job. One thing about anxiety is that if your mind is occupied by something else it can make the anxiety go away. I find that when I initiate conversations with people at work I generally am much more relaxed. Something about getting through those conversations without anxiety makes it go away.

As for solitary jobs, I was a computer operator once. It took no real skill and I would show up at 5:00pm when everyone else was leaving. I was there by myself each night. I still had to interact, but it was very little. So, late night shifts may find you a job where you don't have to interact so much. If phones don't bother you there are plenty of jobs where your interaction is on the phone most of the time.

Lexmark · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

I would always start jobs until SP became to much and I would tell noone and just leave haha
Just started a new job and everything is good so far I think its the medication I just started its making a real differance.

Pillow · Newbie User Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 6

If you want to overcome your anxiety then I highly recommend getting a job that requires lots of social interaction, I know it's hard and I know interviews/meeting new people is a major pain but I believe it will be best for you in the long run. At least that is what has worked for me, before I started working in a busy office my SAD was really bad, I couldn't look into peoples eyes for more than 2 seconds.

About a month into working it had gotten even worse but I didn't give up and made sure that I worked my ass off and kept focused. The anxiety slowly started to fade and eventually I was out of the cold, dark tunnel that seemed to be never ending. I now have very mild anxiety but it doesn't bother me that much because it has little/no impact on my life and I know how much I have improved.

This 'jump in the deep end' approach I took worked very well for me and I'm sure it could work for others if people gave it a try. Very Happy

Jellybeans · Newbie User Joined: Sep 02, 2008 Posts: 61

stock shelves! as much as i try to stay in the background, it never works.. and it's helping so much. the more people i converse with, the better i feel about life.

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