I'm finally treating my Social Anxiety Disorder!

Anyone Out There

I've been suffering from SAD, OCD, and once in a while, depression, for many years now. Since I haven't been to a doctor in roughly 10 of them, I never really got a huge push to do much about it. The problems inhibited me from trying to help myself, so I was pretty much stuck. Actually, it was only this past year or so that I finally self-diagnosed myself with SAD, as well as other things, and landing a small part time job (my first) which requires social behavior has finally forced me to do something.

As a teen I was against taking meds for psychological issues. I think I was in that phase of life where you simply deny that anything can be wrong with you, you want to beat everything without help from chemicals, be stronger than that, etc.. But another reason I didn't want to take medication was, well, some of the side effects I've heard from friends who had taken them before made me uncomfortable.

I was wondering if any of my watchers or passer-bys had any experience with Paxil (the drug I was prescribed today) or knew someone who was on it or a similar medication. My main concern I suppose is losing emotion, feeling apathetic and not caring about the things I used to. Not being able to cry over a dead friend, or gain enjoyment out of the things I loved. That's the stuff that matters to me. Not anything else I've read so far even compares. I just don't want to be a robot.

Anyway, I know experiences differ from patient to patient, but I am curious.

Thanks, and wish me luck!