Problems With My Nerves When Having to Deal With People, Which Makes Me Look Weird. Alternatives to Meds?

Question by Dreamer: Problems with my nerves when having to deal with people, which makes me look weird. Alternatives to meds?
I tried about every SSRI under the sun, and I hated them all! I tried valium and nearly became addicted (although it did help out a great deal). It’s like someone flips a light switch inside of me that takes the calm, rational me and turns me into a very uncharismatic, nervous, unsure person who becomes somewhat paranoid and fearful of making a wrong decision.

I even tried going to a “therapist” who was a licensed psychologist, but I had a very bad experience with that. Very bad. I swore I’d never go to another one.

I’m 33, male, single, white, and a full-time college student with a 3.902 GPA (I’m in my senior year). I remember when this used to happen in my teen years, and back then it was far worse, especially in my early twenties, when I used to drink like a fish in order to try to ignore and get away from my unhappiness in life. My liver doesn’t like booze too much anymore nowadays, though, so I seldom get drunk anymore (maybe 5 or 6 times in a year, tops).

Best answer:

Answer by Tim J
You sound like my accountant actually…. :) Meaning, it sounds like you just need to get a profession where you do not have to deal with people… :)

Answer by bitteroldshrew
It sounds like you suffer from low self-esteem. You lack confidence in yourself when it comes to others because you care about how they see you. You have to ask yourself “Why?”, “Why does it matter what this person thinks?”. It helps me personally, when I am feeling nervous, to think to myself “I am a unique and different person. I make mistakes just like everybody else–and so what? I’m just as good as you.” I don’t necessarily repeat it like a mantra or anything… I just let it run through my head because it is a truth, and the fact of the matter is you are your own harshest critic. Other people don’t think you are anywhere near as incompetant as you see yourself. Change your thinking–change your life. :)