Social anxiety and constant worrying about what others think.

[LittleMissGerardLouiseButler]

I have had anxiety and OCD for years, and an paranoid about people not liking me, and I struggle with friendships and worry about falling out with people.

I am on a Facebook chat group with some others from school but they seem to be ignoring my replies to the chat, and one of them who I also speak to separately didn't reply to my last message.

I know it's probably my imagination but I find it exhausting and an worried noone likes me anymore.

I have low self esteem too.

Is anyone else like this? I hate feeling anti social but I can't help it and want to break the cycle.

Yes. I thought I was better but events this week have shown me that I'm not.

At least I can recognise that I am being illogical which helps. Now I just need to deal with the mad thoughts.

In the past it has helped to throw myself into other things, distract, distract distract until sanity reasserts a little and I care about it a bit less. It needs some space and time to become a bit less urgent and all-consuming.

I'm on MN trying to distract but it isn't working as well tonight, combination of factors.

Hi again op. I am not following you around btw! You sound lovely to me if that helps. Personally I fdont like Facebook, but that could well be my age. I am probably old enough to be your mother. My kids go on Facebook, but I do say to them to not be on there too much.

Hi OP. I don't have practical advice I'm afraid but can say I completely understand and feel the same. I have Social Anxiety which links in with my depression and things have been so bad that in the summer I cancelled an appointment with a counsellor as I'm frightened of what they may have thought of me.

so yep, it is completely illogical but hard to break out of the cycle like you say - I can be fine for a while but then for example this week someone has deleted me off fb (sad i know) but it's left me paranoid once I realised.

at least we know we're not the only ones to feel that way, which is some comfort. Maybe we need an SA coping strategies support thread?

Hello again favorite :o

I wouldn't wish it on anyone but its good to know I'm not alone, thanks for the replies.

I have since been chatting to the person I was having an individual chat with, so I know all is fine.

It's so hard to break the paranoia cycle though when it's all you've ever known!

Look up Jules Evans who wrote a book on using philosophy inspired CBT techniques to help him with acute social anxiety. I'm reading it at the moment.