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[janex]

if you're a girl, pleeeease answer if you're comfortable with this, it's anonymous & for my psychology of women homework.

If you have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, please tell me about your experience with the disorder. Also, feel free to comment on how this could be related to your socialization as a woman, society's stereotypes of women

Comments

[stepherknee]

i've been diagnosed with mild social anxiety and panic disorder. i don't experience it as much anymore, but i used to have frequent panic attacks that would have no obvious trigger, i would just get this feeling that would overtake any sort of reason, i would shake, sweat, my throat/chest would get tight, sometimes i would throw up, and i would always feel like i was dying. the social anxiety would happen for something as simple as stopping the car to use a public restroom. i once drove 45 minutes out of my way just so i didnt have to go to an unfamiliar place. for me it is always unfamiliar places that trigger anxiety, that and calling people i don't know on the phone. i still struggle with phone calls. i get all worked up and anxious and have to rehearse what i'm going to say.

as far as socialization as a woman, it hasn't really interfered with meeting people or making friends, nor has it interfered with my professional life. i have learned to overcome a lot of it by just facing the things that make me most anxious. some people offer to do the things i dont want to do, but most of the time i say no and make myself do them.

i guess i fit the stereotype of a "weak" woman to the outside world, who might think that these issues are an excuse or a crutch, but i have never used them that way. i haven't even told anyone that i've been diagnosed with these things, i think you are one of very few people that know. i think it makes me stronger that i am able to overcome them, but i can see how people could consider this a weakness.

hope that this helps :)

[janex]

it did & thank you for responding :)