Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 12/17/2011

Question
Hello, I'm a 15 year old girl and I do NOT have social anxiety disorder (I think) but I do have issues in social situations.
I've had a panic attack twice while doing a speech for school. They weren't severe (my breathing was abnormal, but I could still breathe). I had a lot of symptoms though, which made me extremely uncomfortable (eg, tiredness, out of body feeling, trembling, dizziness, sweating, etc).
I have problems talking with people in general. The only people I can talk to comfortably are people I know very well, like my two friends I hang out with and my family. If I'm talking to anyone else, I usually start getting symptoms of anxiety, including hot flashes, sweating, shaking, dry lips etc. And even after talking to the person, I have those symptoms for at least 15 mins after.
I'm always anticipating the worst about things, and always assume someone is judging me. So example, if I'm walking at the shops, and someone looks at me for a few seconds, I immediately 'read their mind' and 'know' what they were thinking about me.
I do not think I have any disorder, as I feel it isn't very severe as some other people, but I do think that if I don't do anything about it then it will get worse and ruin my life. I plan on going to uni and becoming a doctor, and I do not want my timid, shy self to get in the way. I want to be outgoing, confident and able to converse with a stranger without getting scared.
I am hoping you have some advice for me to help me out. I did once try to say 'hi' to people more often but I just ended up embarrassing myself and I'm really hoping not to do that again, because I HATE getting embarrassed. It's the worst thing ever.
I also want to note the possible cause of my anxiety, because I once was an outgoing, confident person, fearing almost nothing. As I entered grade seven, the start of highschool, everything changed, and I got bullied and sexually assaulted a few times which really killed my confidence. I always feared these bullies would be waiting for me, around every corner, ready to throw mean comments at me or something.
Sorry if that was long. I just need someone to help me because it seems newer fears and phobias are starting to eat at me and ruin my life. I want to be able to live my life without feeling so scared and embarrassed.
Any advice would be great.

Answer
Hello Nicole,

Your anxiety may be due to hypoglycemia. See:

What is at: Hypoglycemia
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/2011/what-is-hypoglycemia/

If you have to give a speech take some glycerine, before you have to give a speech. Glycerine will relax you if you have hypoglycemia. But glycerine is not a "cure" it is a management technique. The cure is going on a hypoglycemic diet at:

The Hypoglycemic Diet  at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/2011/the-hypoglycemic-diet/


_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman