I am the parent of a 19 year old son who has social phobia.
The comments about the illness on this website have helped me to understand just how serious the condition is. He has had some CBT treatment but has relapsed and although he started a diploma course at college, will not be able to attend as he cannot face the small group sessions.
I have not contacted any of the support groups listed on your web page but will give it a go as the strain on family life is sometimes quite intense.
Thanks for running this site.
This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience
hi i am a 25 year old single mother of 1 and am also a sufferer of social phobia and am findin it realy hard 2 deal with daily life i also suffer from panick disorder wich adds 2 my anxietys i did attend cbt and started 2 get better but now have relapsed and feel worse all i want is 2 live a normal happy life but it jut feels like thats never goin 2 happen but i am hopin that going back 2 cbt will again will help me get back on my feet 4 good
Hi I have just read your note about your 19 year old son with social phobic disorder I also have a son of 20 who has social phobic disorder since he was a young child. My son has had CBT which did work very well and we have a very good supportive GP which is also a great help.
I know how difficult and also heart renching for the parent because you so desperately want to help them but feel powerless. I do make a lot of time for my son I encourage but never false him into situations. He reads a lot of selp help books and he is about to start university. This is his second try, first time he wasnt quite ready. my son takes fluxoitine which helps his depression and keeps his anxiety levels under control.
He did have a slight relaspe after the CBT but he was fortunate the therapist agreed to see him again and talk to him on the phone. This helped him a great deal and put him back on track. There is light at the end of the tunnel but I had to fight to get him the help he needed. CBT THERAPISTS are very few and far between and they tend to only give 6 to 12 week courses I fought to keep my son on their books. I do know how you feel as a parent. sometimes it just helps to know you are not alone. Show this to your son, there is help just keep trying he can turn things round.
Im 50 and suffer with social phobia, im ok if i have lots of alcohol but that isnt the answer and being on meds i can not do it anymore, i dont go out, untill my children come home, if i was to go out id go with my dog but have panic attacks, i get them even before i leave the house, i was told its because i lack confidance, but im not sure what it is and why i have it, ive had it from being 16 but only recently been diagnnozed with it, i also suffer from stress disorder and post trauma , im under the mental health team now , im awaiting an appointment to see the therapist who is going to try and solve it for me, and i know in my head already, what ever she does , it wont work, im ok at home, in my own comfort zone, i just realy want to be left alone . im fed up of seeing people on appointments and fed up of haveing to feel paniky when i go out,