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Jan 20 2008, 4:22 pm / Frustrated

Social Anxiety/Social Phobia is partly the result of your environment(at least for me it was in my case). I grew up in a neighborhood with very few kids around (besides my brother & I).In fact most of the time there were no other kids around.After fifth grade,starting middle school was when my social phobia became full blown-the friends I had in the fifth grade had ditched me.Nobody tried to help me,they just made me see a speech therapist which was a waste of time cause they thought I had a speech impediment,when in reality I was anxious in many social situations therefore I sometimes slurred my words.I've heard of people who move to a foreign country who can't speak the language and say they have culture shock.For me I think I would do better to move to a new culture.The town I grew up in is not friendly (especially to people who are different).I feel inivisible here.I can't believe I'm still in this icky town.I plan to move out later this yearSurprised Another thing abt schools/environment.When I was in school there was only one private school in town-my mom checked it out and it was no good so I was stuck in the public school systemCry. A relative mine in another state may have a touch of social anxiety himself(I haven't spoken with him in years)but I heard he had to leave public school because things were so bad for him.His first month in private school he spoke with no one/or practically no one.Things got better for him (at least to some degree(as I said I haven't spoken with him in years).I've spoken with three or four out of towners who tell me it's hard to make friends in this town(and these are people who are very socialYell.I think this disorder must be partly genetic,but I do believe environment plays a major role,too. Anyone else agree? or disagree? I'm willing to hear both sides.

 

 



My Comments

From: obsidianfire
Jan 20 2008, 9:27 pm

I agree with you on this because I grew up in similar circumstances! 

I come from a small town on an Indian Reservation.  I am half native american but don't look it.  Thus, I was something of an anomolly in my school (the only white kid in school!).  This didn't bother me when I was little as children have few prejudices.  However, I grew up with few other kids on my street.  So I was always by myself.  And my brother is 7 years older so I never really did much with him growing up.  I did have kids I would play with in grade school on up to 5th grade, but I never went to anyone else's house.

When I got to 6th grade (I had to go to another town located off reservation for this) I finally made a friend, and we hung out up thru high school.  When I look back on this friendship it wasn't what I now know to be a true friend.  I hung out with him and his friends because that's what I first latched onto.  I could've hung around better people!  But this was hard because I live in one town and school was 15 miles away.  My life experience was (and is) lacking so I tended to not do the after school activities and social gatherings because I just couldn't relate to others...both because I'm shy and also because I hadn't been given the chance to develop my social skills.

Because of my lacking skills I was always the kid in class who never talked in high school.  I was always afraid to speak or ask questions and my grades and social life suffered for it.  There was no one where I lived I felt comfortable hanging out with.  And proximity is a HUGE factor when it comes down to who you choose to hang out with:  the closer social contacts are the more likely you are going to hang out with them!

In college, I lived in a cooperative house which forced me to interact with others by doing house chores, going to meetings etc.  I flourished in this environment for the few years I was there.  Now I'm back to this crappy little town...feeling trapped.  I at least know I can make friends but this time will be harder.



 obsidianfire


From: angelfayce56
Jan 20 2008, 8:16 pm

IN MY OPINION IT IS A FEW DIFFRENT FACTORS COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE THE DISORDER...ENVIRONMENT, UPBRINGING, GENETICS, EXPERIENCES, BELIEFS,....SOME PPL MAY HAVE ONE OR MORE FACTOR IT JUST DEPENDS... ITS GOOD THAT YOU ARE PINPOINTING ONE OF  THE FACTORS THAT YOU CAN CHANGE AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT ....



 angelfayce56