I've been suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder for as long as I can remember. My life had been severly restricted by my condition.

Many people have laughed at the problems I've had, but just knowing that I am making progress is more than enough to outshine any ridicule. I finally brought myself to enter treatment last year, and for the last couple of months, I have been reaching goals that I before thought were unattainable. Just yesterday, I asked a lovely girl who was sitting next to me in the computer lab (playing Super Bomberman on an emulator, no less) to go out to dinner with me this weekend. She accepted the invitation.

I beg anyone who experiences even a few of the signs of social anxiety disorder to seek a professional opinion from a licensed physchiatrist or other medical professional, and if necessary, enter treatment. You will find that it makes a world of difference, when you can freely return a friendly smile from someone across the room, and find the courage to walk over and start a conversation.