MEET ME ON MYSPACE

I have a Myspace account in which I plan to use as a resource to help others with anxiety disorders. Please visit and be my friend!!! I will also put up a youtube account soon and start adding my photos and videos of me!! Love you all!!

www.myspace.com/diaryofashyblackwoman


bloglet

EMAILS FROM READERS!

HI, I discovered your blog and wanted to write to encourage you to stay strong and you can do this. I as a child struggled with shyness and in all honestly struggle with it in some aspects now. I have now realized that I am "situationally"(I know that's not a word) shy. In essence, if I am insecure, I tend to be more reserved. My mother is also shy and I know that it had a lot to with me being shy as a child. Now I am happy to say that I speak at professional conferences. I have always been a musician and have always performed . .so in essence, I think that helped me break a shyness barrier.

I feel I was helped when I became comfortable with who I am. Once I did this, I felt more relaxed and secure. Once I had this security, I felt more free to express myself. Now, I think some would say I am outgoing and maybe talk a bit too much. I think some would be surprised to know I do suffer from panic and anxiety disorder and see a therapist weekly to cope with this.

I changed my perception about new situations and new places, I took responsibility for my comfort in them. I did whatever was necessary for my comfort . . .if I wanted to talk to someone, I spoke first, if I needed to change seating or whatever, I did it. Again, once this comfort is reached, I tended to open up.

If who you are is a reserved, quiet person . . .I say this is fine . .this is who you are. Just make sure you stick up for yourself. I read in your blog about you not being able to interrupt your training to call your boyfriend to tell him you were going to be late . . .I understand this and in some instances I have not said what I should have said, or made a call I should have . .and I know this was due to shyness. But I realized a lot of time, it was just that I did not know what to say or approach a situation. It seemed to me that everyone else always knew the perfect thing to say.

Look forward to hearing from you . .

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Hi, I've been reading your blogs, and it's a pleasure to hear your story. I am so sorry that you are leaving school/thinking of leaving school. I know personally that that is one of the hardest decisions to make! Can you share about what has happened?

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I discovered your blog today. Thank you for sharing your story. It helps to know I'm not alone. I have no one in my family to discuss these issues with who truly understands. They say things like, "Oh just relax." If I knew how to do that on my own, wouldn't I? I have been to 3 different therapists in the past 2 years and I honestly believe they made me feel worse. Especially one white man that I went to. Big mistake. Oh well, you live and you learn. My mother & sister don't know about my "sessions". They say if I just pray enough and truly give my life to Jesus I won't feel the way I do. Mercy.

Because of my shyness (social phobia) I:
Dropped out of college
Married a man I am not in love with - at all
Did not have a wedding ceremony (I could't stand the thought of saying vows in front of all those people)........

(i will leave out the rest of this email to protect the reader's identity but THIS READER AND I HAVE SO MANY SIMILARITIES)

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more to come,

until then...