Do I Have Social Anxiety?

Ok, there are a lot of details, so I'll do my best to condense it as much as possible.

Ever since last year (around the Spring of 2007) I've had uncontrollable anxiety attacks. I'd get them mostly in restaurants, before going on rides at amusement parks and in the classroom. The restaurant and classroom settings were where I got it worse. I'd get this choking sensation in my throat (to steal an analogy from "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King: my throat felt like the size of a straw). It was hard to breathe or swallow. My palms would get sweaty, I would quiver etc. At times it got so overwhelming that I puked. Last fall I had ordered some anxiety medicine called "Seredyn." At first, it made me feel great, but lately its effectiveness has significantly decreased. I feel like it's getting worse. I seem to be getting attacks in more and more situations. It's becoming too much to handle for me.

In about a couple of weeks I'm suppose to go with my brother to an event out in Buffalo and I'm already dreading it. It seems almost inevitable that an attack will come on, even if I block it out. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't know why I'm getting them in more situations now, but I feel confined by it. Thanks for reading.

subaqueous,

The three places that you mentioned here are restaurants, amusement-parks, and the classroom - Each of these involves being surrounded by people, usually many. So, do you think that you perhaps have Social Phobia? I think that you should read up on things such as Avoidant Personality Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Social Phobia itself. 'Generalised' anxiety won't explain much for you. There's a reason as to why you're anxious, and you will have to find out what it is. Read about what I have mentioned, and then get back to me.

Take care,
Kevin

Try to ask yourself why you are getting these symptoms. For example in the restaurant I start to shake because I'm afraid that people around me are judging and looking at me. This would be an example of someone with social anxiety.