Hi,

In this section I'll post any links to anxiety-related websites I find that could be useful to members and maybe anyone visiting them could post their reviews.

Here's two websites that offer free CBT -

http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

So far I've done two modules here and I'm new to CBT and have found it very interesting and helpful so far and will definitely continue and try more CBT after this. I like the WUTIWUF idea (What You Think is What You Feel!)

http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/

Will try this one next!

Jenny

Hi, I've been given permission by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to post a link to this useful document designed by the Newcastle Upon Tyne Trust called Shyness and Social Anxiety - A self-help guide

This booklet aims to help you recognise whether you have a problems with shyness or social anxiety and to help you understand what is it, what can cause it, and what can help keep it going.
It also looks at ways you can help yourself to overcome your shyness or social anxiety.

The booklet (in pdf form) can be found at http://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/services-and-information/information/services-and-information-information-shyness-and-social-anxiety/

This seems a useful site - http://www.choiceandmedication.org.uk/

It gives information about mental health conditions, including SA, the treatments and medicines used and the possible side-effects. It can help you make informed decisions about medication.
You can search by condition or by medication.

I am very interested in the relationship between diet and mood and here's a good link to a 'Mind Meal' recipe which contains foods that are best for your mood and also explains why they are good and what is best to include and avoid in your diet.

http://www.mind.org.uk/foodandmood/Recipes/mindmeal.htm

'Mind Meal' dessert is really nice, I'd recommend it!

Thanks for the info shared here about the Links which are more useful and informative about the diet and health. Here is the link on Hypnosis which helped me to cure various health and mind related problems.

Here's another SA forum I've just found out about that may interest some of you -

http://www.socialphobiaplanet.com/forum.php

Jenny

Jenny,

thanks for info on that other forum. I've just had a quick look on there and one of the threads is 'what would you be without anxiety'. I haven't delved in there yet so I don't know what people have discussed, but that question alone got me thinking. I can remember loads of situations where I've thought to myself "If only I didn't have anxiety I could do this or that easily". I've spent so long trapped in my little box looking inwards at myself and my own shortcomings, I don't even know what I'd be. I'm 37 now, I've got the feeling time's running out for me. If I don't 'fix' myself now (or soon), maybe I never will.

I just want to say to you Jenny, thanks for your website. Sorry to everyone, I've been a member for months but never introduced myself (never felt quite ready).

Maybe healing myself will open up my eyes to who I really am.....

Anyway, back to my original point, thanks for that link, it really got me thinking....

Hi, I'm so glad the link was helpful and got you thinking - it's always good to assess things and hopefully then start making changes. It sounds like you are ready to and your age doesn't matter as I'm 38 and have finally realised what has to be done and it's not worth wasting time wishing I'd done it earlier, am glad to have got there at last and maybe I had to be the age I am for things to finally click and to realise where I've gone wrong in the past and what needs to be done. It's a gradual process to get over anxieties and they'll be setbacks! everyone's different but for me it was a combination of things, starting of course with actually being ready and in the right frame of mind to start improving. Then it was about having a few friends who understood and doing some confidence courses (I find one-day ones are best, I felt more relaxed knowing I didn't have to see the people there again so had less worry about what they thought of me) And thats the other thing that has been a huge help, changing my mind-set (self-help books are good for this eg. Susan Jeffers 'Dare to Connect' or 'Feel the Fear and do it Anyway') I've realised that it doesn't matter what people think of me! I have to be in control of my own self-esteem rather then be relying on what others think of me. Believe in yourself, be good to yourself, don't worry about shortcomings, everybody on the planet has them! everyone makes mistakes and you'll find that most people just want to be liked, however they may come across. And people who tend to put others down usually have their own problems and a low opinion of themselves. It's good to make sure you spend time with people who don't put you down, who accept you as you are and you can be yourself with as we have to be ourselves and never pretend to be something we aren't. I now refuse to label myself as someone with anxiety, who can't do certain things, I'm just getting by like everyone else and I can do whatever I want if I try hard enough and want it enough. I used to find excuses NOT to go out, now I find excuses to go out! even just for a walk round the block.

It's all very challenging and hard! but worth it. Another helpful thing has been to try and focus more on other people not myself, to be less judgemental etc - it's been especially hard to stop thinking of myself when having a conversation with someone eg how am I coming across, am I saying the right things etc and instead to just relax and actually listen to what the other person is saying! But this makes you a better person and the more you put out more postive, confident and caring vibes the more you attract people to yourself, and the right sort of people too. But being more insular and negative and unconfidence we are more likely to attract noone or the wrong sort of people, people who will take advantage of us and drag us down more.

I know I go on abit but I do feel passionately about this and I know that if I can finally understand what has to be done and to turn my life around, after years of feeling everything was hopeless, that I was hopeless and what was the point, I'll never change etc etc..then anyone can! Noone should ever give up hope - life is tough and it's not always nice out there! but it's possible to make life good and to enjoy it, and to think in terms of what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do. You'll be surprised at what you can do!

Thank you Jenny, you've really helped me! If I can find half the strength you have, I know I'll be fine (in the end). You're right, I'm ready to start working on myself now. I'm not particularly articulate and all I can say is, your words have touched me. Thank you.

Ed

Hi Ed, glad to have helped. Keep in touch here, it'll be good to know how you're doing. There hasn't been any group meetings for a while but I'll let you know if anything is arranged.
Take care

Jenny