Being a College Student with Social Anxiety Disorder

State Forums
1

<p>For me, freshman year of college just simply hasn't been easy. It has been almost three months, and I have found it very difficult to make friendships with people on campus. I have issues with self-esteem and need to overcome my social anxiety. I am not hopeless- I have friends on campus that I get along with well in class and when I see them in the dining hall or around campus, but it doesn't go much further than that. I have been complimented by so many, saying I am attractive, smart, and a really nice guy. Unfortunately, I just cannot believe any compliments that anyone gives me. I honestly dislike myself much of the time. I wake up every morning hating myself, feeling I am boring, or simply lesser than my surroundings. My roommates are heavy into drug use, as are many other guys on my floor. I don't do drugs, so it has been very hard to connect with people I live with. I want to get involved in clubs, but I simply don't know what I am passionate about. I have depression and anxiety- this causes me to think constantly about how I lack friends and social skills, while also making me feel anxious when put in these situations, so I tend to avoid social situations. Pretty counterproductive, huh? I just want to feel at home on campus. I feel like I am always being judged, like I can't move without somebody judging me in some sort of way.</p>

<p>Weekends are the worst. I should be able to work hard all week and look forward to a nice relaxing weekend on (or off) campus with friends. However, this is not the case. Because I don't have any close friends on campus, weekends feel way too long. I try to sleep, but I have anxiety attacks about how so many people are having such a good time around me and I am a complete loser. I feel like I am constantly under a microscope and I just want that group of ride or die friends that I can always count on for a good time. Why is this so very hard for me? </p>

<p>Despite my social anxiety and depression I am trying not to give up. The problem is within me. Im not going to be like other depressed and socially detached people that say it is the school, or the people in it, because it isn't. I would be having these problems regardless of where I went to school. I refuse to run away from these problems. So, PLEASE, if you have any advice, or any input at all for what I should do to achieve a level of comfort and happiness in college, I would love to hear it.</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

<p>-Yours truly,</p>

<pre><code> -LivingInAShell
</code></pre>

2

<p>You need treatment and a treatment plan. No one can give advice that will change your life because all we can say is that no one else is fixating on you and you won’t believe it. You need to do things you don’t want to do. Take meds, go to therapy, get strenuous exercise or minimum take a brisk walk 30 min walk everyday, care a little less, do something for other people, volunteer more often, take risks, change your internal self talk, try cognitive therapy… Sounds like you are better off not making close friends with the drug using people. Some people are better kept at arm’s distance or remote acquaintances, next year you don’t need to know them at all. Not everyone is having a good time all the time. Normal people have insecurity, down times they just don’t blow it out of perspective. Alone time is something that I enjoy a lot, I am very social but I know how to entertain myself very well. Have something you enjoy doing that is self contained too.</p>

<p>You can also read these forums and see people like you posting over and over every year and it is always the same story. Try reading some old replies if you really think it will help. Good luck. If meds you tried don’t work, try new ones. It is tedious but is the best answer for the time being for many people, for some it is completely life changing improvement.</p>

<p>EDIT: oops just realized this is not in the College Life forum, do any search in there. Also there are probably better internet forums for sharing with other people who have this issue. </p>