Saturday, July 5, 2008

Your online source for social anxiety stories, news, and whatever else we feel like putting on here.

Relaxation Visualization

submitted by Embers

Imagine you have a lemon. How yellow is it? How ripe? Are the dimples deep or is it more smooth? Whats the temperature? Has it been in the fridge or has it been on the counter? How round is it, is it more oval? Now imagine cutting into that lemon. What sound does the knife make when it slices through? Can you hear the juice squirt out? Can you see it? Where does it go? Can you feel it? What color is it? Now pick up one half of the sliced lemon and put it to your nose, what does it smell like? Squeeze a little into the palm of your hand and taste the juice...is your mouth watering yet?

Michael Liebowitz
Michael Liebowitz is a prominent researcher on social anxiety.
Take the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Test

Bon's Story

By Bon

July 10, 2007, 05:37 PM

I always thought that if I found the right medication, I could keep my SA in check. I was always looking for the perfect medication to make my life easier.

In 2003, I went to work for a large organization. It was different from any environment I had ever experienced. I could do my job, but when it came to dealing with my co-workers, we had little in common. I started going for walks during my lunch hour. Then I would hear, "What's wrong with her? Too good to sit with us?" That didn't help. I just didn't know what to say to those people who had been on the job for years.

I was already on an AD. I would sit in the parking lot before my shift and literally have to make myself go in. I would sit there, looking for reasons to quit. I would be in tears and would drive around the block 10 times before getting the courage to pull into the parking lot. The only things that kept me going were my living arrangements and seeing a picture of my daughter, knowing she depended on me.

I had my Paxil dosage increased and within three days, most of my anxiety was in check. I no longer had the wet hands and no longer cried. However, I was still scared to death. I would still sit in my vehicle. I didn't want to be there. I still had to deal with my co-workers and didn't know what to say to them. While their snide remarks no longer bothered me, I just wasn't comfortable in that environment. I was still stressed out and on edge, but in a different manner. It started to manifest itself in me eating more sugar -- anything to calm the storm that was brewing inside me. Finally I ended up leaving that position for another that paid less. It was worth it, though, but then I had to deal with my depression.

The lesson from this is: there are no magic formulas. There are meds and things that can make our lives livable and workable, but for someone like me, it takes more. I'm learning that for me, I need to change my thought processes -- a total revamping of what I believe about myself and the world.

Having meds that work for me, therapy, CBT, being honest with how I am feeling, and knowing what I'm feeling are making all the difference in the world.

SAS Magazine

The SAS Magazine replaced the SAS Newsletter. All SAS members are welcome to submit any non-controversial, original material, whether it's poetry, personal stories, photos, drawings, writings, or videos. Check back often as the magazine evolves!

Send your submissions to: reyopo@gmail.com

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Albert Bandura
Albert Bandura (born December 4, 1925 in Mundare, Canada) is a psychologist famous for his work on social learning theory and, more recently, social cognitive theory and self efficacy. He is generally acknowledged as America's greatest living psychologist.