college update again (social disibilities)

snuffles_macgoo miss_megan at bigpond.com
Thu Jul 25 03:08:31 UTC 2002


Saitana wrote> 
> <Social disabilities?>
> 
> I have borderline agoraphobia and an extreme fear of rejection and 
judgement(caused by years of being isolated from others my age) so 
talking to stranger is hard.  I can't call up stores and the sort, I 
can't talk to salesclerks without prepping myself for ten minutes, I 
have difficulties going to unfamiliar places such as different 
stores, classes (It took me an hour to get ready for my first 
phlebotomy class, trying to talk myself out of it), and that sort.  
When I do force myself to do things that are hard for me I usually 
get horribly sick as most people do with phobias and/or have a panic 
attack.  I'm getting better at it (I actually walked into a store 
with the purpose of asking a question of the sales staff and did it, 
not backing out as I usually do) but it's still very hard for me to 
do things and function as a normal person would in the situation.  
When confronted with embarrassment for example I usually flee instead 
of laughing it off as another would.   
> 
<cut>

Hi Everyone, long time, long lurk, I did a social phobia treatment 
course (ha! torture!) of which the worst excersise was standing up on 
public tranport and providing an unasked for tour guide commentary to 
the other, unsuspecting, passengers.

<shudders> good luck with the computer thing. If that doesn't fly for 
you you might like to think about phone complaints work. They(the 
ppl) are at a distance, they need something from you so mostly aren't 
too aweful and every now and again you get to do something nice for 
someone.

storm







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