Hi, I'm Kayla, I live with several problems...

[MorbidChild]

Hi, I'm Kayla, I live in Michigan and have lived there all my life. I'm only thirteen years old but I do suffer from General Anxiety Disorder which is leading me into depression and possibly even Agoraphobia.
My disorder keeps me from socializing the way normal kids do. I get very nervous in front of people, I hate presentations. My palms sweat, my face gets red, and I even shake. I've been taken to see a therapist, who helps me, but seeing her makes me feel like I'm not like the other kids. I try not to let it get to me, but it's difficult to believe that a simple imbalance of seratonin could make me feel this miserable.
It's not like I was ever deprived of anything, or hurt in a major way, and I've not yet suffered a huge loss. I don't know why I'm sad, self-conscious, or why I lack confidence, but still there are nights when I find myself curled up in a ball under my covers crying, trying to figure out whats wrong with me. I want to be happy again. I've almost forgotten what it feels like.

[glenn miller]

i understand how u feel. i am in a way the same. i have a hrd time speaking in from of people. and presetations real hard for me to. 1 i had i almost through up. i have been shy my whole life. i am 20. i live in minnesota.

[shyvegan]

You sound a lot like me when I was a kid. (My palms sweat, my face gets red, and I even shake). And I was depressed most of the time. Also I didn't feel like I fit in anywhere. Things do get better.

[CaryGrant]

Hello mobid one.

Like you, I didn't really have any major trauma when I was a child, yet I wound up painfully shy and had a horrible, horrible high school. My parents divorcing is the only bad event.

Since then (I'm 42), I've discovered that there are some people who are very sensitive, probably due to genetics. This sensitivity can contribute to feeling things much more deeply than most people.

You are different from many kids, but - and this is a big but (ha ha) - 50% of teenagers and adults are shy. (Only 20% of kids are shy.)

Regardless of how the shyness came about, the point is what to do with it now. Shyness can be overcome, and you are not different from everyone because you are shy, just 50% of your peers.

[EdgedInBlue]

Hi Kayla. Ive been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder as well so I understand your position here.
First off, don't be ashamed of going to a therapist. A lot of people do (I'm 16 and I see tons of people I went to school with in the waiting room!)
Also, I find that what helps best is having a goal in life and having mapped out your plan to reach it. Know that it is necessary to be able to function in the outside world and you can either postpone your recovery or start with very definite steps now.
There isn't much else I can say, except for it's easier said than done and go slow. You do too much at once, it becomes overwhelming.