Anxiety and Stress Forum - Social phobia / anxiety & self-doubt

Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Social phobia / anxiety & self-doubt

Learn how doctors clinically diagnose one of twelve kinds of anxiety disorders...and which doctors you should see for an anxiety diagnosis....

Q: Social phobia / anxiety & self-doubt

asked by: DoctorQuestion on July 8th, 2007

I don't know whats wrong with me, last summer like a year ago it was like something inside me just shut off or shut down and now I have an intense fear of saying dumb or flat out disturbing things around people. sometimes I'm just intensley quiet as a result of this fear and its destroyed, somewhat, my social life at work and outside. I'm not my normal self. I know I'm prone to obsessions, fearful obsessions, my first was panic attacks which I got over, then insomnia which I have on and off battles with, then a leave of absence for fear of cancer and schizophrenia...the fear of schizophrenia has transformed into this awful sense of self uncertainty. there are times where I feel alien and out to lunch around others, I feel I can't really consolidate friendships let alone attract the opposite sex. it feels like endgame for me, the bout with my anxiety that would finally ruin me for good. Do I spend the rest of my life like this or is there help?

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on August 8th, 2007

Anxiety and Stress Answer A3111

According to the symptoms you describe of a “fear of saying dumb or flat out disturbing things around people”, you could be experiencing social phobia. Social phobia or anxiety is a kind of neurotic disorder when a persont becomes anxious whenever s/he is in contact with other persons. This type of anxiety disorder is generally treated with medication (SSRI) and psychotherapy. You can consult a mental health doctor for an expert opinion.

DISCLAIMER: "Ask a Doctor" questions are answered by certified physicians and other medical professionals who volunteer their time on eHealth Forum. For more information about experts participating in the "Ask a Doctor" Network, please visit our medical experts page. You may also visit our Anxiety and Stress , for moderated patient to patient support and information.

The information provided on eHealth Forum is designed to improve, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician. Personal consultation(s) with a qualified medical professional is the proper means for diagnosing any medical condition.

This question has been answered by the doctor. This topic is now open for public discussion, however no comments below this point will be answered by a doctor.

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc