YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I'm new, 28, female, and diagnosed with social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and major depression, but I've struggled with social anxiety for all of my life. Been seeing a psychiatrist and/or therapist on and off since since my second year in college. Mostly I worry and I isolate. I am an Olympic Gold medalist worrier and negative self talker. I'm working on that lately, and it's a little alarming to realize just how mean I am to myself in light of how nice I am to everyone else. I would never talk to others the way I talk to myself.

I have a BA in Spanish, and a desire to go back to school for something I've yet to figure out/make up my mind on. I enjoy languages, history, learning about different cultures, reading, writing, playing dress up (cosplay), going to conventions, and other nerdy pursuits.

Anxiety and depression and a certain amount of self-loathing are my "hobbies" as well! Welcome... And don't be so hard on yourself. Or just tell me how to not be so hard on myself

Cheers,
Fredbo

Welcome! Your username made me laugh out loud.

The concept of not saying things to yourself that you wouldn't say about someone else really struck a chord with me when I first heard it. I guess it's similar to "you are your own worst critic," but that just didn't ring as well with me. I guess we can all struggle with this together, haha.

Welcome! Welcome!