Anonymous
Well-known member
Hi, this is the first time I've ever mentioned my SA to anyone. Anyway here is my story, please give me some advice...
I'm 31, male, married, and have always been labelled as "shy". Luckily I've been blessed with good looks (not bragging, just being honest) which has really helped me be successful getting girlfriends, and jobs. I recently got a Masters degree, and somehow made it through giving a presentation in every class (12 of them). The wierd thing is, one of the presentations I was very calm and confident throughout, all of the others I was way too nervous, to the point that afterward I couldn't remember a single word I said. I really wanted to quit this program several times, but my wife talked me out of it. I basically made it through the program by telling myself that my life will be better after I get a masters, and I didn't want anyone to know I have an anxiety problem. I used to think that a higher degree in science would prove to my peers that I'm smart and that would give me confidence - no such luck.
My SA really became apparent in college about 10 years ago, this is when that sinking feeling set in when just talking to friends & family, before that it only happened sometimes when speaking in front of large groups, I was always reserved, but didn't have the heart pumping nervous feelings. Anyway, I got out of the public speaking class in college by taking a CLEP exam.
I now have a job I've always dreamed of having, I'm a scientist at a national lab. I've been here a year and still get extremely nervous at meetings. One thing that has started happening over the past year, that never occurred before is sweaty armpits. I sit through these meeting anticipating my turn to speak, and by the time the meeting is over my pits are dripping - it's disgusting and embaressing. It also happens when I get nervous just talking to someone, and the more I think about it the worse it gets! I really think my job performance is suffering because of my anxiety - I don't talk to people I should talk to, and don't bring anything up in meetings, even if I have a really good idea (even though this isn't often because I can't even think straight during meetings).
Anyway, sorry this is so long - I could go on forever with examples of situations where anxiety overwhelms me. I've done some other freaky sh*t due to anxiety that if I heard of someone else doing it I would think - what a freak (no offense to anyone, just a figure of speech).
I've thought about seeing a doctor, but I don't even know what kind of doctor to see (just any old psychiatrist?), and I'm really embaressed to admit to my wife that I have this problem.
Any help is appreciated. - Jimbo
I'm 31, male, married, and have always been labelled as "shy". Luckily I've been blessed with good looks (not bragging, just being honest) which has really helped me be successful getting girlfriends, and jobs. I recently got a Masters degree, and somehow made it through giving a presentation in every class (12 of them). The wierd thing is, one of the presentations I was very calm and confident throughout, all of the others I was way too nervous, to the point that afterward I couldn't remember a single word I said. I really wanted to quit this program several times, but my wife talked me out of it. I basically made it through the program by telling myself that my life will be better after I get a masters, and I didn't want anyone to know I have an anxiety problem. I used to think that a higher degree in science would prove to my peers that I'm smart and that would give me confidence - no such luck.
My SA really became apparent in college about 10 years ago, this is when that sinking feeling set in when just talking to friends & family, before that it only happened sometimes when speaking in front of large groups, I was always reserved, but didn't have the heart pumping nervous feelings. Anyway, I got out of the public speaking class in college by taking a CLEP exam.
I now have a job I've always dreamed of having, I'm a scientist at a national lab. I've been here a year and still get extremely nervous at meetings. One thing that has started happening over the past year, that never occurred before is sweaty armpits. I sit through these meeting anticipating my turn to speak, and by the time the meeting is over my pits are dripping - it's disgusting and embaressing. It also happens when I get nervous just talking to someone, and the more I think about it the worse it gets! I really think my job performance is suffering because of my anxiety - I don't talk to people I should talk to, and don't bring anything up in meetings, even if I have a really good idea (even though this isn't often because I can't even think straight during meetings).
Anyway, sorry this is so long - I could go on forever with examples of situations where anxiety overwhelms me. I've done some other freaky sh*t due to anxiety that if I heard of someone else doing it I would think - what a freak (no offense to anyone, just a figure of speech).
I've thought about seeing a doctor, but I don't even know what kind of doctor to see (just any old psychiatrist?), and I'm really embaressed to admit to my wife that I have this problem.
Any help is appreciated. - Jimbo