I have had this extreme anxiety in some social situations for about 3 years. It started when I drank a particularly strong cup of coffee and had this sort of head twitch.
Since then it comes and goes but I have started having really bad panic attacks in some social situations, especially with eye contact and when the focus is on me. I sort of feel like there is a build up of energy/a pulse running through me and that my head is going to explode in a massive twitch. I often feel a bit out of faint/dizzy. It happens with friends/family and comes and goes, sometimes seeming to disappear almost completely only to come back with a resurgence. It is so embarrassing as I end up avoiding situations as I am scared I am going to look like a twitching weirdo and there have been a few times where I have had to leave assemblies/parents meeting because I was having a panic attack and had to make excuses.
It is really affecting my life as I would like to be social but the fear of having a panic attack/nervous reaction brings on the panic attack. I can be talking normally and then the little evil thought will cross my mind - will I start twitching and I feel a well-up of pressure/nervousness.
I have tried soooooooooo many things. Benzos like valium do not do anything except make me feel sleepy/drunk but do nothing to stop the physical elements such as twitches, racing heartbeat etc. The same with propanalol. These things work for most people but do not work for me at all. The propanalol has zero effect! Even alcohol doesn't seem to do much. I have also tried CBT and many anti-depressants which did nothing except make me put on weight and lose my libido.
So what can I do. I realise it is a self-fulfilling prophecy and there is most likely nothing physically wrong with me except my mind stuck on a negative, self-fulfilling loop. How do I stop this though. I can see it all logically but all the positive affirmations and slow breathing never help in the "moment" of the panic attack.
Should I try hypnosis, acupuncture etc. I just don't know how to change my thoughts and feel calm when I have this current running through my body, even at night when I have nothing to feel anxious about.
Any advice/experience would be appreciated and sorry for the tome!