any more immediate solutions?

im not sure if this is more a topic for avoidant personality disroder than social phobia (or even something else) and before anyone says, im not trying to diagnose myself - ive finally plucked up courage to decide to tell my mental health team about my social problems so will leave the diagnosing to them, but i dont see them for another 3 weeks and could really do with some advice before then.

House parties is one situation i hate. i cant deal wit them. last house party i was at i bailed out of - i spent the first few minutes downstairs but out of the way of where everyone was so sitting by myself, before locking myself in my room for the rest of the evening(was actaully in my own house - i rent with friends and it was their party before u think i voluntarily put myself in through that kinda torture). i dont really know what it is about it that i cant cope wit. i guess partly its becasue im rubbish at holding conversations (espec wit people i rarely know) so i ca never go up to people so just sit down in a corner on my own. but then i get upset and embarassed that im looking like a loser away from eveyone else. then my mind starts racing and i start really hating myself and getting more and more nervous because i know i cant sit in the corner all night. Usually i'll walk out the room for a bit to calm down with t intention of going back in and joining in but i feel so much safer in the place where i go to (alone out of sight so nobody can see) that i end up not wanting to leave that safe place ive created so i stay there longer. but the longer i stay there the harder it becomes to rejoing the party. and then ill get upset that nobody has noticed ive gone so give myself more reasons to stay away - because nobody wants me there.
oh and also, i start sweating loads when im around others (for a while i thought id got past this but now the problems back again) and its really gross and embarassing).

trouble is i have to attend one soon (getting out of it is not an option) and im dreading it already but was hoping somebody here might have a few useful tips on how to survive a feared situation.
thanks

The most immediately effective solution is almost certainly a
chemical one. Many people use alcohol, but a benzodiazepine such
as clonazepam (Klonopin) is a better option. Stimulants are also
fast-acting, as well as more effective than antidepressants in some
cases. Beta-blockers and anticholinergics can be useful to control
rapid heartbeat, tremor, excessive sweating and other physiological
symptoms of anxiety.

In addition to what sum1 said I'll give you my opinion. Klonopin helped me survive my brother's wedding. I imagine I would've gone insane without. However, it did NOT help me be sociable. All it did was make being a part of the wedding not so scary. It seems to me that you would like more than to just not be afraid, but to be actively engaged in the party. If I am correct in my assessment then I must recommend stimulants. With stims I am able to not only overcome my fear, but also not just able to talk to others, I actually WANT and DO talk to others.

Broshious wrote:It seems to me that you would like more than to just not be afraid, but to be actively engaged in the party. If I am correct in my assessment then I must recommend stimulants.

Yes ur right.

thanks to both of u for ur suggestions. although like i said the partys before i have the chance to see my doctor so i cant try anything on presecription yet.

im already on antidepressants (venlafaxine/effexor) - im not sure if they're helping with social anxiety stuff since i've not really been out the house since ive been on them (...hmmm...i guess thats a no then, they're not helping, thinking about it oh crap...)

as for alcohol, to be honest i try and avoid it (not supposed to drink on my meds). but since everyone else will be drinking and it gets SERIOUSLY annoying being the only sober person around drunk people might end up having to resort to alcohol. just was trying to avoid it thats all.

Broshious wrote:In addition to what sum1 said I'll give you my opinion. Klonopin helped me survive my brother's wedding. I imagine I would've gone insane without. However, it did NOT help me be sociable. (...) With stims I am able to not only overcome my fear, but also not just able to talk to others, I actually WANT and DO talk to others.

These things affect anyone so differently. This week someone "lend" me a 0.5 mg of Klonopin and it actually made more social and outgoing. Not the life of a party but at least how a normal person would be. It actually has been a revelation on the cause of my obsessive and avoidant behavior, so no need to say I gave my doctor a call the day after...

On the other side, I feel like having a heart attack when my coffee is too strong and a can of Pepsi actually speeds me(not in the good way). I would totally eat my own hands on stimulants so I stay away from these.