Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

How many of you experience this?

Shut up if you think it is rare....... it is common!

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

I hate going to parties where I will only know one or two people...scares the crap out of me.

I also find it hard to move to a new place and make friends in the first week (like some ESL'ers out there) and it takes me a while until I feel comfortable.

Not that I'm anti-social...just takes me a while to warm up to people.

The evil penguin · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject:

I make society anxious.....

ashke516 · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: on the beach

Freezer Burn · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Location: Busan

I'm the same, I don't like standing around talking sh-it unless I have to.
At parties I usually stand around talking to the one or two people I know in a corner somewhere.
Im not a freak I can be social, I just get really uncomfortable meeting new people.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

People are usually afraid of me 'til they get to know me. Then they're terrified.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

AdamH · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:52 am Post subject:

Seeing some of the kids I have to teach brings me out in hives.

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

I don't have social anxiety. I have social disinterest.

Badmojo · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:34 am Post subject:

kermo · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

I wouldn't say I have anxiety in the strictest sense, especially not in Korea. Outside of Seoul, foreigners tend to be so happy to see one another that they are sure to be quite friendly. Not always harmless, but definitely friendly.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I have to admit I have SA pretty bad. Usually I can talk and make jokes and seem cool, but my general inner state tends to seethe with the "existential hums." (Kurt Vonnegut get props for that term) Being in Korea has not helped the matter: it has made it a bit worse actually. But when you make a friend here, I find the friendship to be a big deal, perhaps more needed and more real than a lot of those superficial ones you might have had back in yr home country.

The language/culture barrier in Korea and other places in Asia is immense and that leads to deepening feelings of isolation and anxiety. So sometimes I have trouble going into restaurants or going shopping. Sometimes I have trouble leaving my room!

But daily I face it and deal with as best as I know how.

It is a strange thing this is rarely discussed. It is not exactly shyness. It is different and can be more crippling. It is called SA for a reason. And it has been estimated to be very common and generally unacknowledged and untreated. Few psych professionals are really aware of it and its implications. Thus there are millions who have unhappy lives.

death from above · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Location: in your head

i'm afraid of commenting Wink

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

with all the commercials Zoloft is running these days, i think people are becoming more aware of Social Anxiety

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Zoloft? Really?

Actually I knew that. Damn if I have not ingested at least 100,000 mg of that stuff. It never helped that much, but kept me from drowning.

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Depression is a curious bird. She flies when she should sit. But lets the keeper know herself. The wonderful thing is that 10% unmentioned part, where you know quite well who you are. And that takes a bit since most minds are way too fleety. The darkness is heavy and real. And in some ways rather beautiful. Still I am a strong believer in pharmaceuticals. Tom Cruise can die tomorrow!