How do you deal with social anxiety disorder?

How can I deal with my social anxiety (/agorophobia.... pretty much) disorder?

• I would prefer not to rely on pills (haven't and won't). I am starting college at a pretty large city college with a ton of students. To make it even worse, I have to take a mandatory class on public speaking in which I will regularly stand in front of the class. I can hardly stand walking around in places that there are people at. The first two years of high school were spent hiding in bathrooms and measuring breaths with my head down on the desk. The second two years were at home. How the hell can I deal with it? How can I help myself make it better?

• Answer:

  I have anxiety, too (though not nearly as bad as you). Sometimes people just need to get on an anti-depressant temporarily, like 6 months or so, to help them learn to interract in a social environment, after which they can come off them and handle themselves without the drugs. Have you suffered any trauma or childhood bullying that may have caused this? If so, I suggest possibly seeking a therapy group where you and others with your condition will work together with councilers to help you out. It's not easy, but you can overcome it. I'm not agorophobic, but I've dealt with similar situations (though to a lesser extent). I've learned to hide it pretty well, and for a long time I actually used to overcompensate (and abuse certain drugs) and it ended up getting me into more trouble. Just remember that most people you'll come across in public probably don't even notice you since they, too, are busy doing their own things. But if it's as serious as you say, you should seek therapy and be a little open-minded about a temporary drug treatment. They can and do help (I took Zoloft for about 4 months and it helped me out a lot in the end) Good luck.