Do any of you suffer from anxieties? I do and it’s not fun at all, especially for someone who wants to grow their blog.
Now there are good points and bad points, the good point is, I can hide behind my little computer and be as outgoing and forthright as I can, without actually having to look at someone in the face. I actually feel comfortable with this and it allows me to “open up” more than I could in person.
The bad: When you get an awesome offer from a local Morning Show to tape a segment about your blog and you are too paralyzed by fear to do it 🙁 This just happened to me, and for someone who suffers from panic/anxiety attacks, it has set me off on a whirlwind of sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat and a knotted stomach at the mere thought.
This also makes me feel weak and disappointed in myself that I cannot over come these irrational thoughts to further my blog.
This isn’t a new thing with me, for as long as I can remember I have always had the fear of speaking in public, or even dealing with people I don’t know. I was the quiet shy girl in class that never said a peep and kept to herself. The thought of having to read a report in front of the class was excruciating.
Now here I am with a blog, for the most part, a job that I don’t really have to deal with people “in person” – then a fabulous opportunity like this comes along and I feel like I’m back in school and have to get up in front of the class again.
Do you have these issues? Am I alone in being scared to be on camera, or meet people in real life? I’d love to know that there are others out there going through this – maybe we can be of some support to one another..
Dianna Ranere
Hi Di,
Wow, I find it so hard to picture like you have decribed yourself BUT I do believe you. I’m pretty friendly but I understand about not wanting to talk in front of people I don’t know. It is definitely easier to open up to someone when it’s just a computer screen. There is another woman I follow on Twitter and she is Sue O’Lear AKA @MrsFatAss She writes a blog and she is an amazing writer. She says she suffers from the same types of anxieties. She’s a riot, she makes me laugh AND she just became a certified Zumba instructor and taught her first class two days ago! Check her out and maybe you can find a common thread that can be helpful to both of you. I don’t know either of you in person but I think you are both talented, intelligent and funny and hopefully you value my opinion in this subject. Good Luck and let me know if you guys make friends.
**Hugs**
Gina
I also suffer from anxiety. I also suffer from depression from many years, since I was a teen. The anxiety started about 3 years ago. I’ve never been good at public speaking, but there are other things that bother me more. Telephone calls, I get sick when I have to make them. I have panic attacks at random, different things set them off. Sometimes even when I drive.
Sitting here behind the computer is comforting, although my husband doesn’t really understand. I have also become afraid to do things alone, thus a lot of things, outside work especially don’t get done. It comes across as lazy to some people, but they don’t understand the physical feeling that overcomes you when you try to do these things. It is easier to do things and go places when someone is with me.
I have recently started taking an antidepressant again that also helps with the anxiety. I was having horrible mood swings. Flying off the handle over nothng and crying over every little thing. It was horrible. Mixed with the panic attacks, I was a mess. I finally broke down and went to the doctors and got the medicine. It really does wonders. My kids, ages 13 and 14, have really seen a difference. I’m much easier to live with now!
You are not alone, there are many people out there with the same problem. For me talking about it and being on medication is what works, or helps alot anyway. I hope you feel better, just remember that you are not alone.