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[hands_cupped]

This was asked before, but it was quite some time ago. And plus, a lot of people misread the question. So I'm asking again, because I would love to know...

To those of you who do NOT have social anxiety, what does it feel like when you walk into a room full of people you don't really know? And what kind of thoughts do you have?

Comments

[maramaria]

I do have social anxiety, but the meds I've been taking for about a month and a half now have completely erased it. So now when I enter a room full of people, I don't feel anythings special at all. Just people like me going about their business, like me. If we happen to make contacts that feels ok just because we're two human beings in a situation that requires communication, so we do it, and nobody judges! Compared with my crippling fear from earlier, it feels absolutely amazing to realize that the others are people like me, have stuff to do just like me, and pay as little attention to me as I to them. It's really difficult to describe the feeling, because there is no particular feeling. It's just right, the way a non-triggering situation is right (I guess neutral is a better word).

[cindyanne1]

This 100%! Everybody is just people doing stuff. No one really pays very much attention to each other at all. Even if they glance up at you, it's a reaction to seeing a new movement, and usually nothing more than that.

[starcharmer]

This is how it was for me post-medication, too. To be able to do something like walk through WalMart without breaking down and hiding in the bathroom...awesome.

And I used to be very anti-meds.

[blackthorn45]

Do you mind if I ask what meds you are on?

[maramaria]

I'm on Venlafaxine (aka Effexor) for depression. I had all sorts of anxieties before that too (not officially diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder, but I also never seeked to be evaluated), but the depression really pushed them to a point where I couldn't function at all in a social situation