@Kaitie, that does sound a lot like SAD. :( <br /> <br /> @Thy, that is the same thing I dealt with in highschool/drop-out due to anxiety/etc. I know exactly what you mean by the "get over it!" and "you have to try!". It's so frustrating it's unbelievable. People will never understand how we feel about social situations until they've felt the feelings of a panic attack coming on. It just aint something you can say "it's normal!" to. Sadly, our parents will never realize that. :/<br /> <br /> @Inno, I know what you mean about the eye contact deal. I have trouble with it too; I feel as if I'm either gonna stare them down or avoid eye contact and look extremely sketchy so it makes talking to people I <b>have</b> to talk to (doctors, veterinarian, etc) very difficult and full of stress.<br /> <br /> <i>"I'm actually in a similar situation with trying to call up someone to get professional help, I get jittery and overall so nervous I feel sick to my stomach."</i><br /> It was actually Xylax who pushed me to go out and talk to my doctor about free psychologists. If he didn't encourage me I never would have known there were any crisis centers or free psychs around. Perhaps you can do that? My talk with the doctor was only about a minute long. I went in, asked them if they had any resources on free psychologists and she gave me an address, phone number and the name of the place on a piece of paper.

I've also had no real diagnoses, but I believe I have a certain form of personality disorder. I believe it's something to do with avoidance more than anything, but I am nervous with certain people. New people or forced confrontation will make me writhe on the inside like you wouldn't believe despite looking calm on the outside.<br /> <br /> I use to be extremely anxious, although mine developed because I was insecure about myself and I generally disliked a lot of people because all they did was picked of me throughout school. I was a pretty well known loner in school, you bugged me you'd be riding your mom's car home because I would cause so much trouble with being picked on.<br /> <br /> I still have my problems with people complimenting me, what I'm doing and other things unless I want to be recognized. I don't feel an flood of happiness when someone goes 'OMG I LOVE THOSE SHOES' unless they really want to nerd it up and talk about converse or PF Fliers. My step-mother is always complimenting whatever she sees, and then expects an answer back. Sometimes I just want to run away from the situation but I keep telling myself that's rude to do, so I begrudgingly say thanks without much effort. It's noticeable, but whatever.<br /> <br /> I use to have an extreme problem with eye contact, I've seemed to have gotten over this with time because I developed such a dominant personality(eventually, because I was just so angry at people). But once someone gets too close, makes me nervous, touches me... I will tend to try to avoid them, get away from the situation and forget about it, even if this means acting out in violence.<br /> <br /> Talking on the phone as well as in front of people is very difficult, I avoid as many phone conversations as I can. Especially if they want to talk about my feelings or if I just generally don't feel comfortable talking to them. I'm actually in a similar situation with trying to call up someone to get professional help, I get jittery and overall so nervous I feel sick to my stomach. Usually once it gets to that point I disregard the whole issue and go work on something that makes me feel comfortable.<br /> <br /> The people at the college, all the staff I usually interacted with, were nagging me last semester to call this person and I just couldn't deal with it. I was at my breaking point until I used every ounce of my remaining wit to avoid having anything to do with them.<br /> <br /> I tend to come off very mean, unsociable and unfeeling when I first meet people face to face because I feel like I need to evaluate them before I let them in on my life even just a little. I have a problem knowing the correct reactions for certain people and I lack deep feeling emotions like most people, I'm very reserved and closed off unless I feel the person I'm meeting is an okay person that isn't going to cause me stress or do rather horrible things to anyone around me.<br /> <br /> The people I have no problems around are most family members(to the point I don't mind talking to them with eye contact and giving hugs) and most of my friends(I have a very, very select group), a few teachers I'm fine with talking about problems with because I know they won't judge me.<br /> <br /> Speaking of getting jobs.<br /> No one will hire me, because I have such a hard time dealing with people in general. I don't mind having people asking questions, I don't mind people needing things, but I have a problem if people are going to get nasty because I react in a nasty way very quickly.<br /> <br /> It doesn't matter how long I keep trying, I can't exactly learn everything a normal person does, I can imitate certain things pretty well now but once things start getting more and more complicated I can't deal with it and I find a way out of it.

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I haven't been diagnosed, but I have this to an extreme degree. The only way I talk to anyone is through the internet, I won't even pick up the phone when/if it rings. It started some time in middle school, and its just gotten worse over time. I 'dropped out' of highschool, and this was a large factor in that, and while I'd love to get a job and support myself, this is one of the largest things preventing me from doing so.<br /> <br /> My mom is one of those people who say 'you have to go face your fears!'. But, this isn't exactly an irrational fear. Its a fear developed from repeated and regular unpleasant experiences. If you stick your finger in a light socket, you will get shocked. It will happen every time. You will eventually fear putting your finger in light sockets, and you'll avoid it at all costs. sticking your finger in light sockets even more will not alleviate your fear, because your still getting shocked.<br /> <br /> 'facing my fears' (going out and talking to people) is not going to fix the problem, because I still don't have a clue how to act 'like a normal person'.<br /> I'm afraid I can't get professional help, though, because I'm poor, jobless, and not covered by any kind of medical insurance. :/

I haven't been diagnosed with anything but when I saw a therapist when I was younger she recognized my anxiety and gave me things to read but I never read them :/.<br /> <br /> I have a hard time talking to people too. I feel like they'll think I'm obnoxious or stupid or some other negative things. I also have a very hard time in crowded situations and it is really draining on me. It makes me very stressed and I have to get away for awhile. <br /> <br /> I noticed I'm better as I get to know someone but off the bat its very tough. I get nervous over just complimenting someone. A lot of times I'd see something I liked, perhaps shoes or a hair color and I'd want to say something but I never could. <br /> <br /> Some days are better than others in terms of confidence and level of stress. I feel like a lot of eyes are on me when I know that they aren't possibly. <br /> <br /> I can understand some of what you mean Clay =(