Well im 20 years old and i have social anxiety disorder. So its not just girls im scared of.

Can learning all this PUA stuff work for me? I was thinking about doing the daily tasks from Niall Strauss's 'The rules of the Game'. But im struggling on the first task as my anxiety stretches far beyond just approaching.

Anyone any advice?

Disorders are (*usually*) just a excuse, "I'm ADHD" might in highschool be known as "I don't wanna do anything, but still pass.. Disorder" Follow the 3 second rule of approaching (initiate contact at most 3 seconds after you see someone, if you dont you'll get AA) and you'll either get over it by seeing "oh i just approached this girl and she's flirty" or find out this is not for you (if you give up to easily or let yourself down).

If only my Anxiety Disoder was an excuse. It defo is real, thats why i want to turn to Pick Up. Im hoping that approaching girls can help me get rid of it. Ive tried the 3 second rule, but i am honestly so nervous about approaching that i talk myself out of it before ive even entered a club or bar or whatever.

Your problem isn't with women, it's with yourself.
You've actually gone far enough to not even let yourself get a drink because of your anxiety (incase you don't get what I mean, you said you can't even go into clubs or bars). Try this, can you go into a grocery store? your kitchen? hopefully yes lol, anyways why is the club different? more music? grocery stores have music, and i suggest you play music in your kitchen (its calming). More women? The same amount of women (and even more than that!) that go to the club go to the grocery store, heck your cashier might be at the club, so it's not like you can't talk or visually see women. I suggest you find a wingman, someone to be there personally and tell you what I said over and over again. The club is a grocery store, you buy food and drink, there are people there, and music is playing, and unless your afraid of that you should be good. (until you get over actually going in clubs, don't bother with women it'll make you more nervous)

Its not that i dont go to clubs, just the idea of approaching girls at clubs scares the shit out of me. Approaching girls anywhere scares the shit out of me.

have you actually been to a professional and been properly diagnosed as having a disorder or are you just describing yourself that way because that is what you feel is going on?

If you have not been to a doctor about this and had it thoroughly examined by a legitimate professional then that needs to be your first step.

Social disorders are real and they can be treated and delt with.

If you haven't had it thoroughly evaluated by an appropriate professional then that is what you need to do.

No i havent yet. I know i have an anxiety disorder tho because its not just social interactions im scared of, im scared like all the time. I sometimes cant sleep cause im constantly worrying about stupid shit like whether i have cancer or something. I was hoping that turning to PUA might turn my life around.

Until a professional actually gives you a diagnosis then consider this a case of inner game issues. This also doesn't sound like Social Anxiety per se, it just sounds like general anxiety issues. It's what happens when males aren't allowed to males anymore. None of us on here are qualified to psychoanalyze you, HOWEVER, if you want to get over the fears, the only way to do it is just to jump in. Just like cold water.

In the meantime, see a professional, I have a feeling there might be some underlying issues most likely stemming from early childhood, and, perhaps even OCD (low grade). It happens dude. And, there ain't a damn thing wrong with it. We all have problems, OTHERWISE we would not have started into PUA to begin with. Have faith in yourself! I've known guys who pick up the game successfully and they have low grade Autism, PTSD (from the war in Iraq, now thats anxiety side note: he was really into BDSM as a result) and even Aspergers.

Also- don't question interactions. As in, don't be frightened. People are people. I think out of all the pickups I've done, the worst that's ever happened to me was....waking up in a strange city with someone else's pants on....or, a pregnancy scare... or I think I may have had a drink thrown at me. People are just like you. Scared, lonely, worried, everything. And the sooner you realize it, the better off you'll be.

The first step should be acclimating you to approaching strangers. First however, don't jack off....ever again. You'll need the testosterone. Trust me, youll know what I am talking about after two days. Second, no more video games until you find a woman. No more IM or online chat. Hell, try to stay away from texting until you are used to being around people all the time. This will get you used to it (this is only the beginning.)

1st week approach Five woman and ask them for the time. Approach five guys and do the same. PER DAY

2nd week, Approach five women per day, ask for the time and then comment on something they're wearing (not exactly part of the game, but this is going to be a total rebuild say something like "I like that shirt" ) Also approach 1 homeless person a day and ask THEM for a quarter. Don't take it if they offer, but ask. If they offer, give them a dollar. Per day.

Third, read the game, reread it. Study the greats like DD, MM, everything. Then, approach five women, open, get to C.

Fourth, go through all the steps and do not stop until you number or fuck close.

Good luck.

No PUA will not turn your life around but a thorough evaluation and SPAM by an appropriate licensed professional might. Once you get properly treated so you are at least a somewhat normal functioning being, then you may be able to apply PUA techniques towards some success.

I'm thrilled that there have been so many mature responses here on this subject. It makes me happy and hopeful for the community's long-term survival. I'm someone who has been diagnosed in the past, professionally (no WebMD here), as being severely depressed and a social phobic.

At my lowest point, I was filled with suicidal thoughts and was so crippled by fear in public that I couldn't eat in restaurants or urinate in public bathrooms. It took a solid year and a half of medication and professional behavioral therapy to knock me out of that bullshit.

How likely is it that any pickup guru, seminar, book, CD set, or number of cold approaches would have fixed the underlying personal issues behind my problems? Not very. I sought real medical help for real medical problems. Only after emerging from the fog I was in, was I in a position to take the principles of this community and begin applying them to my social interactions in a healthy way.

So, in complete agreement with prior posters, I'm telling you that the first step is to see a professional if you think you may have a legitimate psychological issue to be worked through.

_________________
"I'm currently treating two sets of Siamese twins with split personalities. I'm getting paid by eight people." - Leonard Zelig

Nice dude. You've come a long way. We all started as something else. I like seeing stories like this and proving you don't trade one dysfunction for another in the community. It is possible to be well rounded, social, active and still a PUA. Bravo sir.

Its just the thing is ive been reading the Linden method, which was specifically designed to deal with anxiety, it says that seeing a professional isnt always the best idea as they will give you medication which isnt always the best idea.
I think your idea about jumping into the deep end is really what i need. To get rid of anxiety you basically have to keep yourself occupied 24/7 until it subsides. No better way of doing that than approaching a shit load of people.
Just even simple approaches like asking someone for the time can scare me.

I would not be so quick to dismiss at least going to a counselor and may be even a pharmacological approach, you are going to have to essentially rewire your neural pathways. But in the end the choice it yours. Try it cold turkey, if it works, great, if not, you have other options. But this will be one of the hardest things you ever live through and will not happen over night. The greatest enemies a man faces are the ones in his own head.