Well I am your typical social retard, I'll be 20 soon in half a year, have no friends at all, never had a girlfriend, no hobbies, no skills afraid of social situations, never go out ect.
Since I'll be finished with school soon, my parent want me to move out in a few months and I am really afraid of this. I talked with them about my fears and they said that a change of my environment could help me. But I don't think I can live on my own, I can't even go to a store and buy some food. But I am probably better off than a lot of the people here, I never skip school and my grades are not exactly good but not too bad either considering that all I do at school is silently sit around and daydream. There are even quite some people who come to my for help on math or physics and often say that I could help them, even though I think that they're just beeing nice.
So should I go to or therapist or can I just solve my problems by seeking confrontation with social situations, which way has the higher potential of embarrassing myself?
depends. i like to confront myself with social situations. if i talk to a terapist i feel like i'm too vulnerable. trying it out with strangers is best.
I ask myself the same questions.
I'll be 21 in a few months... sigh
Well, I guess if nothing else happens I'll end up seeing some therapist and taking some prescription, but I'd like some miraculous solution to come around and save me before then.
22 here, and with the same problem. I've been through the whole "change of environment" thing since I started attending Uni while renting an apartment by myself, but I haven't changed much at all.
Of course I was already used to doing stuff like shopping, so I'm probably not as bad...
My grades are in the B+ range since I also daydream in class and only do homework when necessary.
I was somehow in the same situation and I'd say that the change of environment is like learning how to swim by pushing you into the water: you either drown or learn.
If I was you I'd start now by practising going to the store. I remember that feeling like everybody has their eyes on me and being too concerned about other people but eventually I started to stop giving a damn about it.
Good luck.
>>1 I was in a similar situation and managed to conquer my anxiety. Begin by taking walks at night (4am-ish) on back roads where no one will see you. Once you can do that, try going into a 24-hour gas station at night. No one will be there except the Cashier. You don't even have to talk to the cashier or look at them. Just go in, buy some candy, and walk out. It helps if you have an mp3 player with you. Do this several times, until you feel comfortable. Then, try walking around during the day. Get comfortable, go into a grocery store during the day. Get comfortable. Then, talk to someone! Ask an old lady if she needs help with her groceries, mention how cold the weather is to a cashier - anything casual like that. It only took me about six months to overcome five years worth of anxiety. You can do it! There's really no reason to seek professional help. You just have to actually make an effort to cure yourself. Have you tried meditation? It can be very relaxing, and help you a lot.
You can be afraid at home or you can be afraid on your own.
The longer you stay at home and the more you avoid social situations, the more your social skills will decline.
As for your question:
Considering therapy or counselling is supposed to be confidential, the potential for embarrassment is minimal.