Ok so I've been going to CBT therapy for a year for an agoraphobia/social anxiety type problem. Obviously a lot of it relates to tremendously low self-esteem and no confidence and all that. Basically the main thing my doc tells me is that I have to "remove fear" from my mind/outlook on life so that I can actually talk to people normally and properly and say things I want to. But for months now that has been proving almost impossible. Sure maybe occasionally I "overcome" it and talk to someone or ask them out to coffee or something, but it's a tremendous act of will. And I think it's just not who I am. Of course I want to get rid of fear; it's a terrible problem in my life that stops me from reaching the same level of social/self happiness that healthy/normal people have. But it's an element of my personality/self as well, is it not?
Isn't it just my limitation? The same way a star athlete might have his limitations? Maybe he CAN score so many points in a quarter or hit a certain number of homers in a game, but only through some Extraordinary Unusual exertion, and NOT CONSISTENTLY, which means he'll never ever be as good as the guy a few places ahead of him in the standings. Well that might be my case. Maybe I'm just one of those people with a below average, fearful outlook on life that can't fundamentally be changed (just like people can't change the fact that they may be more/less happy/suave/extroverted/introverted/stupid/smart/fat/skinny than others). And maybe that's why I'll always really just be the way I am. If it means I'll be miserable in life, then those are just the cards I've been dealt. Has anyone else ever thought about this? Even people not going to therapy or anything?
Isn't it just my limitation? The same way a star athlete might have his limitations? Maybe he CAN score so many points in a quarter or hit a certain number of homers in a game, but only through some Extraordinary Unusual exertion, and NOT CONSISTENTLY, which means he'll never ever be as good as the guy a few places ahead of him in the standings. Well that might be my case. Maybe I'm just one of those people with a below average, fearful outlook on life that can't fundamentally be changed (just like people can't change the fact that they may be more/less happy/suave/extroverted/introverted/stupid/smart/fat/skinny than others). And maybe that's why I'll always really just be the way I am. If it means I'll be miserable in life, then those are just the cards I've been dealt. Has anyone else ever thought about this? Even people not going to therapy or anything?