So I feel that I’m suffering from social anxiety/social phobia. I’ve definitely suffered from it for years but it’s really taking an impact on my life lately because I’m a young adult trying to figure out my future. I’ve always been naturally shy but this has stalled my life immensely.

For instance I find it hard to get or keep a job since I’m not comfortable in social environments. I blush immensely for the stupidest things. Even talking to close family members or even simply talking through a simple text message is hard for me to do. I do have other symptoms such as: avoiding social situations, I think I’m being judged (though I’m not paranoid), I do, at times, sweat in social situations, and there’s a few others.

So my question is, what are my options? Medication? I’ve tried hypnosis because it was recommended but it didn’t do anything at all. Who should I talk to about this, other than my parents? How do I know this is really what I have? I’m hoping to cure it so I can go to college and get a job.

I don’t have anything like agoraphobia since I can leave my house. And I’m not to the extreme that I can’t talk to people, it’s just bad enough that it’s affecting my everyday life.

i was in this situation several years ago, but then i was in a situation where i need to continue my study where it was impossible to avoid social contact. i hate it though, but as it was impossible for me to run away, I tried to cope with that. i found out that it is very important to have something we really proud of. The key is to be proud of yourself. i am proud of being the youngest (and doing so well of course) in class (where it was hardly impossible for a girl of my age to be in that class). I’d suggest you to find your potential, be very good at it, be confident with what and who you are and let us see how this plan goes