A small success story

[Velcro-Touch]

Over the past 6 months I***8217;ve been working pretty hard on my social anxiety and the results have been pretty good.

It started when I joined meetup and found a social fitness group, I***8217;ve been going to that up to 3 times a week and eating out after.

Through that I***8217;ve made some friends and I***8217;ve began to socialise with them outside of the fitness class, cinema, playing football, even went rock climbing at the weekend.

I***8217;ve went from not having much of a social life and being scared to eat out to staying out with a group all day and doing multiple things.

Meeting different people every week, different ages, sexes, backgrounds, with different interests.

Everyone has friends and friends of friends if you just put yourself out there a little more you***8217;ll meet people and social opportunities come up, which I***8217;m taking more and more.

My social anxiety is worse around girls but that is getting better too I was never around girls socially in the past now I***8217;ll start chatting to them quite easily, even the really hot ones haha

Sometimes if I***8217;m out at the pub I***8217;ll try to sit next to women just for practice generally once I***8217;ve spend sometime with someone I***8217;m relaxed so it***8217;s not too bad

I want to start dating soon and I***8217;m nearly in a place where I feel like I***8217;m ready, my life is fuller, confidence and self esteem are better, I didn***8217;t feel like I had much to offer before.

Decent job, moved out, more active social life, in the best shape I***8217;ve ever been in, mental health has never been better, I now feel ***8216;worthy***8217; of having a relationship

Although I***8217;m much busier, worked 72 hours last week, worked out everyday and was out with friends four times I have energy because the anxiety is gone. Anxiety is exhausting.

I still avoid parties and drinking but I don***8217;t know if I avoid them because of anxiety or because I***8217;m not into parties.

I***8217;ve never been a drinker, I suppose I***8217;m scared to fully let my guard down and never liked going places which involve drinking

27 is a weird time to start drinking but I suppose I***8217;d like to be comfortable going out to bars and stuff maybe once a month and at least get tipsy, dating and not drinking will also be tough, I***8217;ll never be the guy who gets drunk every weekend but I***8217;d like to be a social drinker just so I fit in. It must be fun 95% of people my age love it

Also have a family holiday to Spain booked up haven***8217;t been abroad since 2009 due to anxiety, went to New York for 4 days and struggled, hardly ate or slept.

Still got a long way to go but I***8217;ve been doing better regularly doing stuff which used to make me ill without stressing. I no longer sweat the small stuff, willpower, exposure and saying yes to more stuff works, a little success story for the forum, there is hope.

[Aelwyn]

Well done, it sounds as though you're doing great without alcohol, maybe it would be worth trying not to go down that path? Because there's a danger with SA we can come to rely on it too much for confidence. You don't have to do exactly what other young people do anyway.

[Sphinx]

Sounds like a huge success to me, well done for putting yourself out there It's something I'm trying to do myself so this does give me hope.

[Consolida]

That sounds like a huge success story to me Velcro-Touch

It’s lovely to hear from people who have largely overcome their anxiety and are starting to live happier more fulfilling lives. Obviously, it’s far from easy and it takes a great deal of hard work and perseverance but it does prove that big improvements can be made and that SA doesn’t have to be a life sentence.
Well done

[kirbycrackle]

Wow that's an awesome amount of achievement Velcro. Really glad to hear you are getting what you want from life more

[Jane Doe]

Originally Posted by Muggins

That sounds like a huge success story to me Velcro-Touch

It’s lovely to hear from people who have largely overcome their anxiety and are starting to live happier more fulfilling lives. Obviously, it’s far from easy and it takes a great deal of hard work and perseverance but it does prove that big improvements can be made and that SA doesn’t have to be a life sentence.
Well done

Agreed.

Hope your successes continue

[choirgirl]

That's quite a success story! So social fitness eh? At least you'd get fit at the same time. That sounds like a good idea.