Re: Social Anxiety Support Group (where-I-live downtown)

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

I was thinking about this issue at the gym today.  It's surprising how
irrational it really is, because, if you think about the consequences of
talking to people, on average, the consequences aren't that bad.  It many
ways, it's really an issue of how one thinks about the self and one's
image of the self, and how one thinks about other people's perception of
that.

It's all scary, I know.  When you think of all possible outcomes of other
perceptions of your actions, it's like a game of chess and the
combinatorials grows out of control.  Ultimately, it really is an issue of
unknown outcomes.  Staying alone and sticking to what you're doing
minimizes unknown social and economic and whatever else possible outcomes.

You may be right that an intensive immersion may be the best therapy.
But, I feel that I don't want to make that commitment right now.  I think
this is partially because, although my social awkwardness severely limits
advancements at my work, I have found some advantages to my social
anxiety.

I wish you the best of luck, and feel free to email me any time.

 > From: http://www.gmail.com/~engler
 > Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:08:33 -0700
 >
 > The problem I see with that is S.A. (for me at least) is an extremely 
 > difficult problem to overcome, for which I need to employ extremely 
 > intensive work to do so. I've tried a lot of things that involved a lot 
 > less commitment and they've all so far proved to me a waste of time.
 > 
 > I kind of think of it like an addiction, such as alcoholism. If you stop 
 > drinking once a week, but otherwise continue with your normal habits, 
 > you'll never be free of it. Same thing with S.A., if you go out and talk 
 > to people one day, and then stay at home for a week allowing your S.A. 
 > thoughts to control you, you're still stuck.
 > 
 > Anyway, that's my experience. Yours may be different.
 > 
 > Tim