Do You Have Social Phobia?

[meatballs]

I have accute social phobia/phone phobia which means I can't make telephone calls. I either need to drink 4-5+ beers or get some xanax to make a phone call. Otherwise I am terrified. It's a pretty nasty disability which has screwed up my life.

Anyways, I'm trying to get some xanax/benzos to make a phone call to my bank. I'd rather not drink beer because of the hangover. Is this a valid excuse to get some benzos here?

[Bung]

You may want to tink twice before dropping benzo's/xanax everytime you need to make a call. They are quite addictive and you only need to read the other thread running here where a guy is struggling to get off them. You may need professional help but I am not sure you would get that here.

An alternative is to just live with it and don't call. Use email, voice texting and get an answering machine. Something important you could surley get a mate to help? Also, you could just do your business by going to the places in person. I would google you're condition and see how others deal with it.

Seriously, I wouldn't use Xanax every time you need to call, you will soon be on them every day and have a bigger problem than not being able to make phone calls.

[jvs]

Send them an E-mail instead?

[Sheryl]

posts referring to illegal activity deleted.

You may succeed in getting a small # pills from a doctor but should look for better means of dealing wit this long term.

There are nonaddictive drugs that are useful (see a pyschiatrist specializing in anxiety disoreders) and also a short term psychological treatment may be very helpful. (see mental health reosource list)

[mrtoad]

Certainly a Psychological intervention would be the most appropriate for Social Anxiety. Which part of Thailand are you in?

[Benjie]

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would be the way forward, basically forcing yourself (in small ways at first) to do the things that make you anxious, over time your anxiety level will drop and you can start to feel normal again, other forms of psychotherapy may help as may anti-depressants in the short term. The newer ones are certainly better than taking Xanax or similar, Social Anxiety/Depression etc... are very common there will be specialists at just about any hospital, choose the setting and Dr/Therapist that you feel most comfortable with.

What's the worst thing that could happen on a phone call, being over here the language barrier should shield you from embaressment as the person you will be talking to will be self concious of their English Language skills.

[poanoi]

Seroxat will help you

[meatballs]

You may want to tink twice before dropping benzo's/xanax everytime you need to make a call. They are quite addictive and you only need to read the other thread running here where a guy is struggling to get off them. You may need professional help but I am not sure you would get that here.

An alternative is to just live with it and don't call. Use email, voice texting and get an answering machine. Something important you could surley get a mate to help? Also, you could just do your business by going to the places in person. I would google you're condition and see how others deal with it.

Seriously, I wouldn't use Xanax every time you need to call, you will soon be on them every day and have a bigger problem than not being able to make phone calls.

Well, they require me on the phone and I can't do it by e-mail. I can try to enlist another person but that is pretty complicated.

Also, counseling and that crap has never worked for me. Only booze and benzos. I have rarely used benzos. Guess I will use the booze for this one since it's just once.

Never been good around people but that's why I work on the internet for a living. Thank goodness for it or I'd be pretty screwed up.

[mrtoad]

Seroxat will help you

Not on it's own it wont.

[Mario2008]

It is often the combination of medication and cognitive behavior theraphy that works best. OP doesn't seem to be open for theraphy, which is a key element in having success with the theraphy or not. He should try it, and at least start with something like xeroxat. Maybe he will open up to theraphy along the way.

But xeroxat that has been mentioned can be a dangerous medication and should only be used under close supervision. Starting and ending xeroxat can trigger suicide.