How much insight do you think you have into your condition?

Those of you who would classify your SA as a medical condition, how much insight do you think you have into it? Do you think you know why you have these problems or is it a mystery to you? Also do you know your triggers? Can you identify factors which may be holding you back right now and are you willing to change your situation if needs be? What do you think you need to do in order to get better? What's the underlying problem?

Lots of questions. Just thought it might be useful to ponder on some of them

And can someone please stick a 'u' in the title for me? :D

[Occultus]

I need to get out of this shithole away from these ersehole neighbours for starters before I can really pick myself up again.

Everytime I make progress "slap" the twits next door or over the back start shit again!

Ive tried everything but moving with the council is a waiting game, last resort is for me eventually to loss my rag and go psyco and knock 7 shades of shit outta them, that would teach them not to screw with the nutter!

Originally Posted by Occultus

Thank ye

[black_mamba]

Q: How much insight do you think you have into it?

I think I have the bare minimum insight that allows to me work on my current problems.

Q: Do you think you know why you have these problems or is it a mystery to you?

I know some of the reasons yes, but I'm not particularly interested in them. I suppose at one point it was beneficial for me to think about why I became so anxious, but then I moved on.

Q: Also do you know your triggers?

Yes, very well.

Q: Can you identify factors which may be holding you back right now and are you willing to change your situation if needs be?

Nothing is holding me back at the moment. I am making slow steady progress in confidence levels.

In the past my negative family situation held me back. So I moved away.

Q: What do you think you need to do in order to get better? What's the underlying problem?

Change my thought patterns. Concentrate on the neccessary positive thoughts and dull down the negative ones. Question my stupid irrational thoughts and constantly push myself. Don't hide away from the things I want but am scared of. Don't think too much, just do.

A while back I overcame a massive SA hurdle which was to do a presentation. After that I felt invinsible for a few days, but it was short lived. Just because I overcame [what I thought was] my biggest SA fear, that didn't mean I'd automatically become rid of SA forever (yeah, I know - duh!). So yes, consistency is important I think.

[Pal]

Originally Posted by The_Ubiquitous_Gecko

Those of you who would classify your SA as a medical condition, how much insight do you think you have into it? Do you think you know why you have these problems or is it a mystery to you? Also do you know your triggers? Can you identify factors which may be holding you back right now and are you willing to change your situation if needs be? What do you think you need to do in order to get better? What's the underlying problem?

Lots of questions. Just thought it might be useful to ponder on some of them

And can someone please stick a 'u' in the title for me? :D

Well i know that bullying played an enourmous amount in my SA, although i was always very shy as a child.

I've heard people say that SA may be a genetic thing but i'm not convinced, none of my family seems to have the same problem. I suspect it has more to do with upbringing and life experience.

Originally Posted by The_Ubiquitous_Gecko

Those of you who would classify your SA as a medical condition, how much insight do you think you have into it?

I think I have a fair bit of insight into my own mental state. I can delude myself in equal measure though. I can be quite persuasive in my unhelpful thinking.

Do you think you know why you have these problems or is it a mystery to you?

Yeah I think I know why. I'm hypersensitive and I had a difficult upbringing. Together those things led to me developing low self-esteem which began manifesting itself as anxiety when I hit puberty. After I began having panic attacks, I became avoidant which led to agoraphobia and isolation. Isolation led to depression.

Also do you know your triggers?

It's weird. For me, certain things tend to trigger panic or anxiety. Sensory arousal, sudden movement and noise can really unnerve me. Unexpected conversation. To be able to converse, I often need forewarning. I also have a lot of obsessive thoughts. If I'm already anxious and one of these thoughts arise, I become fixated on it to the extent that I start to believe that I will only feel better if I act on the obsession. I'm often fighting the urge to act on my thoughts.

But why I panic on some days and I'm alright on others I don't know. Even when the same triggers are there, some days I seem to be able to cope better. I think sometimes something simple like not being tired can make all the difference.

On a 'bad' day I often don't even bother trying to step foot outside.

Can you identify factors which may be holding you back right now and are you willing to change your situation if needs be?

I'm too avoidant. I have a lot of love and support in my life these days and I feel cushioned from the blows sometimes. I need to venture out on my own more and face my fears.

What do you think you need to do in order to get better?

Push myself more (but in a kind way) whilst still accepting my own limitations.

What's the underlying problem?

Low self-esteem. Fear of failure.

Originally Posted by black_mamba

Nothing is holding me back at the moment. I am making slow steady progress in confidence levels.

Good work

Don't think too much, just do.

I think that applies to all of us here. If I spent as much time doing as I do thinking, well er, I'd be in a much better place

Originally Posted by Pal

I've heard people say that SA may be a genetic thing but i'm not convinced, none of my family seems to have the same problem. I suspect it has more to do with upbringing and life experience.

I believe it's a combination. I think I inherited a sensitive trait but with a different upbringing I could be a much better adjusted person. I see that same sensitive trait in three other members of my family. My sisters both struggle with depression (as I have done in the past) and my father has anxiety problems like me. My dad cannot seem to control his own stress levels and I learned unhelpful strategies from him in that same respect.

[Pal]

Originally Posted by The_Ubiquitous_Gecko

I believe it's a combination. I think I inherited a sensitive trait but with a different upbringing I could be a much better adjusted person. I see that same sensitive trait in three other members of my family. My sisters both struggle with depression (as I have done in the past) and my father has anxiety problems like me. My dad cannot seem to control his own stress levels and I learned unhelpful strategies from him in that same respect.

Well my Great Aunt used to be painfully shy but none of my other relatives have ever been and to my knowledge there's never been a problem of socialising in my family with the exception of me.

[black_mamba]

Originally Posted by The_Ubiquitous_Gecko

I think that apples to all of us here. If I spent as much time doing as I do thinking, well er, I'd be in a much better place

It's hard because I suppose most people on here are natural thinkers rather than doers. It can change though, and I have seen a turnaround in myself as I prefer now just to get on with things (and keep insanely busy) rather than dwell too much in a pool of negativity. I just got so bored and tired of feeling crap all the time.

I think having a good support network (i.e. friends!) can make or break you in terms of progression too. Things won't always go to plan and having supportive understanding friends will help to soften the blow (as you mentioned) ... also you need to have the desire to change, otherwise it won't happen on its own.

[hardy]

I feel I've gone almost as far as I can go into self insight.

I am now currently concluding that further progress requires insight into other people rather than myself. Most SAers waste far too much time looking into their own "mistakes" and "failures". when all the time it might be our concept of others that is the real problem!
We are driven into negativity of how we FEAR others see us . These fears can be well wide of the reality.

[Concept]

Too much. I know myself inside out. It's not inspiring to have yourself sussed at 24.

[Occultus]

Originally Posted by Concept

Too much. I know myself inside out. It's not inspiring to have yourself sussed at 24.

Really?

Some people might go their whole lives without ever truly knowing themselves.

I would argue that you're lucky, very lucky, that you do.

[hardy]

I mean I THINK I've spent enough time navel gazing and think it would be better to look outwards. Of course like anyone else I could be totally deluded and not know myself at all!

[Innervision]

Originally Posted by The_Ubiquitous_Gecko

Those of you who would classify your SA as a medical condition, how much insight do you think you have into it? Do you think you know why you have these problems or is it a mystery to you? Also do you know your triggers? Can you identify factors which may be holding you back right now and are you willing to change your situation if needs be? What do you think you need to do in order to get better? What's the underlying problem?

Lots of questions. Just thought it might be useful to ponder on some of them

And can someone please stick a 'u' in the title for me? :D

I think I have a hell of a lot of insight when it comes to myself and my SA. All the mental health professionals I've seen in my adult life have said the same too.

I know why I'm the way I am, and I know what I have to do to change it. Although when I was younger I simply thought I was mad, and had no clue as to why.

Eventually I realised that the only thing holding me back was myself and my unwillingness to work through the pain and implement the things that I knew would actually help me. In all honesty, I sat back and waited for the miracle pill, the miracle answer and the easy way out ... but none of them ever came. They never do, but sometimes we spend years just hoping they will.

Sometimes we do actually know the answers, but are too afraid to face them and put them into practice.

For me, there is only so much insight one can have before that person needs to put it into practice. I was constantly being told that I had insight that some people live whole lives yet never reach, yet here I was doing nothing practical to put it into positive use.

I knew what I needed to do in order to get better. I had done enough thinking over the years to know myself inside out. Eventually it just came down to having the determination to use that insight to my advantage. A bit like Hardy said, there comes a time when we have to start looking outwards instead of inwards.



Concept,

I agree with Occultus. I do realise that such levels of insight can at times feel like a real curse, but to know yourself at 24 is remarkable. I counsel people who are younger than you and I find some of their insights to be mindblowing. Some people have learned more at your young age than many others who have lived three times as long. I find such people interesting and amazing. I bet you're a pretty interesting guy to have an in-depth conversation with.

[Pal]

I do think there's something quite useful in knowing and understanding ones weaknesses though. A person can't grow unless he/she knows their weaknesses and how best to combat them.

[Innervision]

Originally Posted by MasterCaster

Inner have you ever considered writing something for socialanxiety.com, an eBook or series of postings? Your comments are never off-par and I think its something alot of people here would benefit from greatly.

Hi MasterCaster,

To be honest, such things have not really crossed my mind. I have reasonable confidence in what I write when it comes to posting replies on a forum, but when it comes to anything more, well I don't have the same confidence. I suppose I believe that there are a hell of a lot of people far more qualified than me to write such stuff. Also, I have a lot of confidence in my own way of tackling SA, but I feel very uneasy about putting it forward as THE way. It's just A way, and one of many. I suppose I'm just content ploughing my own furrow on this really. If it came to actually writing something intended as pointers or actual advice then I feel a bit of a dick, if I'm honest. However, I am flattered that you feel I could write something useful, so cheers for that.

[Concept]

Originally Posted by Occultus

Really?

Some people might go their whole lives without ever truly knowing themselves.

I would argue that you're lucky, very lucky, that you do.

It's double-edged. I wouldn't know myself anywhere near as well as I did if I wasn't fairly empty inside to begin with. A lot of my difficulties are relatively simple - imposed by lack of activity and the occurrence of repetitive strands of thought which don't lead particularly anywhere. I dislike that I have a high threshold for doing things over and over and over and over and over and over and over again without any change to my mental condition. That's where I assume I know myself - through the lack of ability to be moved. Truth is I lack experience to come to that judgement, and it's through those kinds of realisations I end up tricking myself into believing I know who I am.

Originally Posted by Innervision

Concept,

I agree with Occultus. I do realise that such levels of insight can at times feel like a real curse, but to know yourself at 24 is remarkable. I counsel people who are younger than you and I find some of their insights to be mindblowing. Some people have learned more at your young age than many others who have lived three times as long. I find such people interesting and amazing. I bet you're a pretty interesting guy to have an in-depth conversation with.

True Inner. It could also be construed as the usual, typical claims of youthful bravado. You can comfort yourself through self-conditioning so you become what you believe.

That's one shortcut in getting to know yourself - you cancel out other parts which would otherwise have room to grow through overly familiar rhetoric.

You'll have to trust me when I say many of those fortunate enough to speak to me would probably agree I'm hardly silver tongued after my moles, knowledgeable experience and varieties of nasal hair have been spat across their eyes and ears. Hehe.

Forgive the self-indulgence. Seems I’ve got to level 777 on Live Journal/OD tonight. :P (no direct offense intended to anyone. Blog archetypes are lazy cliches to fall back).