I'm happy to hear of the positive changes in all of your lives. And good on you for sticking with it. That is the key, and that is the heart of the matter.
It still never ceases to amaze me how professionally certified people can be so wrong. Well, on the one hand, that's called being human. We are all wrong sometimes. But the hubris to not even be open to the possibility, another way of looking at something, not being willing to consider information out of their box - that seems not the way we should hope to be to be "learning" individuals. And the fact that these are health professionals whose advice and prescriptions affect real human lives - for me that is malpractice.
I would not assume that each professional fully understand each disorder, but at least be open to learning and listening. I try to make that point to our callers and emails - that you might find this resistance yourself when you first start seeking therapists or groups. Trust what you now know about social anxiety, and try not to get thrown off course if someone else is telling you to doubt yourself.
I also had one leading expert tell me that after I was successfully giving presentations, I'd be cured of social anxiety. That just shows how little that person knows about the real nature of social anxiety. But if I had believed that person and paid that money and followed his instructions, if I had not known at that time that he was wrong - I would have gone away feeling even more like a loser who truly must never be able to get over social anxiety, just because some "expert" knows what they're talking about.
Sorry also for the rant - it's just that it also bothers me that so many people experience this, and so much more time is wasted, and that many of those people could finally accept defeat when that is not necessary.
Anxiousattorney, you are an inspiration.
