To ask what job you do if you have social anxiety?

[hexagonal]

Also if you don't have a degree (dropped out because of the anxiety).

Everything I've done before involved working around people and I'm not sure if I can handle that anymore, I had a bit of a breakdown last year because of it.

I'd love to do something like proofreading but not sure about freelance work, also don't think I would get any since I don't have experience or a degree.

So, if you have social anxiety, or even if you just hate people, what do you do?

[MomsNetCurtains]

Have you tried acupuncture? It's working for me after 11 yrs with d&a. That and citalopram.

I work in sales/marketing, but have considered becoming a remedial/sports masseuse so that I can work from home 50% and work in a clinic the other 50%.

I also write.

Going to bed now (Aus) but will check thread tomorrow.

[hexagonal]

I haven't looked into acupuncture before, from what I know about it it's pretty expensive and there's not much evidence for it. I was on citalopram for over a year and it didn't do much for me, I've just changed to mirtazapine and so far I just feel tired and irritable.

[glamstretchmarks]

I have social anxiety and depression and have been getting CBT for a year. It is fantastic and I have improved so so much I can't tell you... I have gone from being nearly housebound to having a good social life and actually tackling things I struggle with (unimaginable only a year ago!!!)

I am doing my degree with the Open uni so I don't see anyone else. I struggle to deal with pressure too so they two times it has all gotten too much I have dropped the courses and then picked them up again the following year.

I have just got a job in admin and am thrilled. (this totally outs me if anyone on here knows me in RL too)

[hexagonal]

I would love to get an admin job too, glamstretchmarks. I've been applying to loads but getting no replies at all.

I'm hoping to start CBT soon as well. Just really want this part of my life to be over :(

[Potteresque97]

Keep trying with the admin jobs, I've heard at my firm it's normal to get 400 applicants for a position in admin so don't let it get you down, temping is a good way into admin jobs for some people too.

[MomsNetCurtains]

Please, please hex have a go at acupuncture. It cost me around £40 per go....but, and it's a HUGE but it was and is fabulous.

Don't go with the doctor spin that it is not proven - that is a lot of crap. They say that as they don't get any money from it. GPs only get money from the drug companies - nothing really wrong with that as they also work, but they fail to acknowledge the Chinese methods. I am FAR from arty farty, but please do give it a go. I was so sceptical you have no idea. But do please try it.

PM me if you want some advice - I have tried everything over 11 years, I'm good for advice and I would be more than happy to talk to you, really!

I wish you the very best. xxxx

[LarvalFormOfOddSock]

Momsnetcurtains, I'm really glad that you've found something that's helped with your anxiety. However, I really have to disagree with your assertion that doctors who say it's not proven are spouting crap.

There is no robust evidence that it works for anxiety. A systematic review of the studies done so far reveals this www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17641561.

Even the British Acupuncture Council concede that's there's no compelling research for its treatment of anxiety (apart from pre-operative anxiety).

And plenty of GPs DO make money from acupuncture indirectly. So "alternative medicine" is hardly free from capitalism and money grabbers. Our GP's wife is an acupuncturist and, guess what? He inadvertently recommends acupuncture for pretty much anything non-life threatening.

It's fine to give it a go if you have the money to spend but please don't distort the facts.

[LesserOfTwoWeevils]

I have crippling social anxiety that makes it hard for me to go out/call/spend time with my (very few) friends and family. I'm horribly lonely and have no social life.
But I run a department of over 50 people. Very successfully.
I used to be freelance, worked from home and found it very depressing and stressful because I saw so few people.
It's possible for social anxiety to affect you in some areas of your life and not others. Socially I feel completely incompetent and overwhelmed by fright. But in my work life I have loads of experience, I've done well in spite of my social anxiety and I know I'm good at what I do.
Some of the people I work with don't understand me and think I'm unapproachable; others have realised that I'm fine if they approach me and don't wait for me to make the first move.
And they don't need to like me (although of course it's nicer if they do). They respect me as a professional,and that's all that's necessary in the work environment.
If this sounds weird, I find it very weird too. But it shows that SA doesn't have to be an insurmountable obstacle in every part of your life.