Website:
LindascounselE-mail:
Lindascounsel@yahoo.comGender:
FemaleLocation:
North CarolinaMember Since:
March 14, 2005Answers:
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March 6, 2012Visitors:
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Hi! I'm Linda. I would love to try to help you with advice about love and life. I can also try to help with Health: Mental issues in particular. However, you can ask me anything. I believe in the value of honesty and I will do my best to be ethical, fair and genuine. xoxoxoxo
advice
Before almost all things where i have to stand in front of people or just be with a lotta people (dances, parties, answering questions @ school, giving presentations at school...) i feel like im breathing harder than normal and sometimes i get a really upset stomach. i feel my face getting all hot, and even after the moment where everyone looks at me passes i still have to look down for fear someone is still looking at me. sometimes i feel that i would rather die than stand in front of everyone...is that normal? do i have like, social anxiety disorder or panic attacks??
Dear Social,
It definitely sounds as if you are having panic attacks. A lot of people suffer from these. They are very uncomfortable at the least and terrifying at most. When you start to breathe harder, you are probably hyperventilating which is why the blood is rushing to your face. When you are in situations that seem to exacerbate the panic, it helps to concentrate on your breathing. Try to breathe slowly and deeply as if a doctor was checking your lungs and he asks you to breathe in and out. Also, it helps to be very prepared if giving a presentation because the more confident you are in your information, the more confident you will appear. If you are at a dance or a party, try to be with a friend who is outgoing and not shy. (You will eventually learn to pick up tips from this person...) You will most likely outgrow this when you are out of school but if not, I would suggest a good counselor to build confidence. Group therapy is a great thing also because in time you will get comfortable with a group and expressing yourself and opinions. Good luck sweetie!
(Rating: 5) thank you ♥