How can i stop having anxiety attacks?

I have suffered from social anxiety for about 2 years now and im only 16 and it controls my whole life.
I cannot go out on my own, I can't even walk down the street without having an anxiety attack. Im constantly thinking that people are judging me and...

talking behind my back, when there proberly not its all in my head.
Its even worse if im sitting around a table : for example if im in the pub with my boyfriend and his mates that I don't know - I start shaking, my heart thuds, my palms are sweaty and sometimes I can't even have eye contact with people. If they talk directly to me I have to act really shy. Im not like this around the people I know. It only happens around new people.
I never did my GCSE's at school because last time I did an exam I had an attack.
So my brain tells me not to do certain things because it triggers it off, so I just aviod things like that at all times. But the more I stay in and finally have the courage to go out it gets worse.
My family and friends think im making it up, they call me lazy a liar - because I havnt got a job because of this.
Its got so bad that because I've left school im not even in college so my parents don't get any money for me. Im basically spongeing off them, and I don't blame them for being angry but I've been too the doctors on many occasions but nothing seems to help.
Its like my brain tells me not to do something like go out with friends but my body wants me to do it. Before I used to be the life and soul of the party but now I just shut my self in my room where I can act 'Normal' and be 'myself'.
Its like when I meet new people I try and make the effort to talk to them, because I think hang on a minute there actually not that bad. But my brain tells me - no stay in your going to have another attack.
At the moment I am on some sort of medication - Beta Blockers , but im not sure whether these work at the moment seeing as I only got them from a pharmacy yesterday! I was wondering has anyone else had anxiety and been on beta blockers? and where they affective?

Antianxiety drugs work pretty well when it comes to helping relieve anxiety, but they need to be used in combination with therapy... And btw, I'm glad you're noticing a pattern. Like all phobias, the more you avoid the more you reinforce the beliefs... so the more you stay in the worse the problem will get... You need to work with a therapist on a plan... things can get worse (as you are already seeing they've been getting worse...) and you need to get help now.
I know this is probably not going to help (it took me 2 years to believe this) but, not everyone's looking at you... I mean people are so selfabsorbed that they're only really thinking about themselves... and if a couple of people are, who cares? if they judge you, well they're not very nice people and really who wants to get to know people like that? who cares about the opinions of people like that? you've got a boyfriend, so obviously you've got some social skills, you've got friends, so these things say you've got some social skills, you're obviously not bad looking, you've got personality, so now to believe these things, and get out there... that's what a therapist is for...

Your MD wouldn't be able to do much to help you with this problem, because it's psychological.

You need to see a psychologist - I know, that costs money, but the chances of you dealing with this on your own are slim.

Maybe you can talk to your boyfriend about it, and the two of you can come up with a plan so that when these attacks happen, he can do something to help (take you away from the source, talk you through it, etc.).

The key is that you need someone to help you with this.

girl I totally get what you mean..
I had a huge problem with that.
like huge!!! I understand what your saying.
ichibanarky is right as well..
you need like about 2 weeks till your medz kick in..
thats what the doctors would tell me
you also need to go to some therapy.
that helped me a lot...like no one can imagine..
but you should try to be positive all you can.
I know its hard..but you need all the help you can
get or thats in your reach.
I get what you mean..but for now avoid all those little things
and dont let your mind control you if its like that..
be stronger than I know you can do it because I could.
I had to take other medz..I would have them so much
I couldnt even sleep! lol..but yea..need anyone to talk to
or need more advice funmail me sweetie..
im more than available to listen and to talk to.

~anabelle

You probably need a psychiatrist, that way he / she can prescribe anti-anxiety drugs that can help a lot; as well as the needed therapy.

Good Luck!!

hey I have anxiety but not as bad. and mines kinda different but just dont think about them and even though its REALLY hard not to you just got to think whats right for urself and dont let your brain control u (even though techinacally it does)... but metaphorically dont let it control u. be independant and if you dont like meeting new people just try not to meet as many

Thankyou for all your replys,
its great knowing that there are other people out there like me and im not alone with it (:

XxXxX