How Distressing is Social Phobia?
I remember a friend in college who would blush, sweat, and tremble when required by a teacher to speak in class. A few weeks before the presentation, he'd be anxious, agitated, and couldn't sleep. Because I was still a student then, I didn't have any clue what he was going through. But I knew that something was terribly wrong.
A few years ago while in the airport, I noticed a man who'd wait for everyone to leave the washroom before he'd use the urinal. He wasn't comfortable that someone would see him urinate.
In retrospect, I can say (now that I'm a psychiatrist) that those two individuals might have suffered from Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). I just hope that they are doing well now but the symptoms that they manifested at the time were consistent with this devastating illness.
How bad is Social Phobia or SAD?
Social Phobia or SAD is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by extreme fear, anxiety, or distress when exposed to a social gathering or when doing something before a group of people.
Public speaking is the most common situation that exposes the individual's social fears. An individual suffering from this disorder develops significant anxiety symptoms such as sweating, fast heart beat, tremulousness, and restlessness when making a presentation or giving a minor talk. Even small corporate or committee meetings can cause grave distress.
Urinating in public washrooms, eating in fast food restaurants, writing in front of people or signing documents in a bank can also trigger feelings of fear and discomfort. Individuals with this illness are preoccupied with being embarrassed or criticized by others. Some patients feel that people are so focused on them and are only waiting for blunders to happen.
So Social Phobia can be devastating to a lot of patients and their families. Because of their difficulties in a social milieu, some of them have eventually lost their jobs, friends, and spouses. It is an illness that has wrought havoc to many. It is therefore vital that Social Phobia should be recognized and treated without delay.
Is there any treatment for this illness?
Fortunately, some newer antidepressants such as paroxetine and venlafaxine are known to work and have caused significant relief to a lot of individuals. However, these medications don't work right away. They need to be taken daily for a few weeks to see any benefit. Moreover, the medications' maximum effect may occur within 6-8 weeks or longer. To maintain stability after feeling "normal," patients may have to take the medication for several months to a few years.
In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral intervention also works well. By restructuring the person's cognition, patients eventually learn to face social situations without fear and uncertainty. Dr. Michael G. Rayel - author (First Aid to Mental Illness-Finalist, Reader's Preference Choice Award 2002) psychiatrist, and inventor of Oikos Game: A Personal Development and Emotional Skills Game. For more information, please visit www.oikosgame.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Yoga controversy gaining attentionWatertownDailyTimes.com, United States - 7 hours agoBy LORI SHULL MASSENA — Debate over the high school's suspended classroom yoga program is putting the town on the map. The story has gained attention across ... |
What yoga can do for youInquirer.net, Philippines - 23 hours agoAnd where there are millions of people whose lives have been transformed, or at the very least, improved by the practice of yoga, then you know that ... |
Yoga Clinic for RunnersKBCI CBS 2, ID - 50 minutes agoBy Tara Mussulman Topic: Come find out how cross training with yoga can enhance your running and keep you running for life. Bio: Shannon Wells-Femenia, CMT, ... |
• Yoga can build a better runnerThe Post-Standard - Syracuse.com, NY - 5 hours agoIf you have still not signed on to the benefits of yoga as a runner, here are some reminders as to why you should jump on the wagon. ... |
Marcia Cross favours yogaTotally Fitness Health and Fitness news, UK - 4 hours agoDesperate Housewives star Marica Cross revealed that she is regularly practices yoga to keep her trim figure. The actress who plays Bree in the show said ... |
Yoga in class ties some in knotsChicago Tribune, United States - Oct 6, 2008Parents and religious leaders in upstate New York are up in arms over a public school district offering yoga instruction to students, claiming it violates ... |
Yoga for Golfers classes offeredChattanooga Times Free Press, TN - 12 hours agoSome golfers today are turning to yoga for both an edge in their game and for some relief from soreness the next day. ClearSpring Yoga on North Market ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Drug Companies are Naughty and 5 Remedies to Cure the Symptoms
With the hum of the election campaign and the debate of "big business," versus human interest, I decided to do a bit of muckraking into the art and science of the recent removal of Merck's Vioxx. My motivation of course; to look for clues as to the role drug companies play in our health and wellness (or lack thereof).
Dr. Will Horsley, M.D.
Dr. Horsley is Cornea fellowship trained and Lasik board certified by the American Board of Eye Surgeons, (http://www.
Medical Billing Software Takes the Stage
Medical Billing SoftwareThe practice is running smoothly, with patients coming in and out with smiles on their faces because of the great service your practice is providing. At the end of the day, you review the office secretary's billing records and realize you are behind, again.
Are You Suffering From Addiction?
Many researchers believe that addiction is a behavior that can be controlled to some extent and also a brain disease. And since some testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside the brain, there could be one type of control model for addiction health-related issues.
Zyprexa Side Effects are Deadly: Effects Include NMS
Zyprexa is a prescription drug that treats schizophrenia, acute mania and bipolar disorder. It is a psychotropic drug that treats the psychotic disorders of the mind but unlike other drugs for psychotic disorders, Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic.
The Cox-2 Prescription Painkillers Are Back?
This past week, the FDA held a meeting in order to decide what should be done about Merck's Vioxx and Pfizer's Bextra and Celebrex. The Food and Drug Administration originally intended to ban these pain medications.
Generic Drug: Its Pros and Cons
A generic drug can be defined as an identical, or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in its dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price.
Oral Chelation - Is It Better Than Intravenous Chelation?
Intravenous Chelation was the most common practice until a few years back; however, with the introduction of oral chelation it became the preferred choice of most patients and doctors. There were a number of contributing factors to this shift of choice, the prime aspect being the cost factor.
Latest Medical Spa Equipment Showcased at New York Medical Spa Expo
This year, the New York Medical Spa Expo confirmed the Medical Spa industry is continuing to grow. "Not only did thousands of Spa and Medical Spa owners visit this year's show, but we also saw the release of some new and noteworthy equipment perfect for the medical spa environment" says Jeff Russell, the CEO of MedSpa Financing.
Bextra and Vioxx -- Tips for Arthritis Relief Without Them
The recent withdrawal of Vioxx and Bextra from the marketplace, due to concerns over unwanted side effects, has many arthritis sufferers concerned. These drugs, which belong to a powerful class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, are quite effective at fighting the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine, over 2000 years old, is an ancient form of medicine. Consisting of acupuncture, moxibustion (moxibustion - using material made up of "moxa-wool," in a form of a cone or stick; moxibustion is used to treat and prevent disease by applying heat to pints or certain locations of the human body), herbal medicine, acupressure, cupping, therapeutic exercise and nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine is notated by its principle of internal balance and harmony, or "chi," (life force) regulation through energy channels.
The Highway to Health - Bumped Heads
I recently had a reader send me this comment:"As a full-time dad I have to deal with just about every minor illness my two children pickup, everything from a bump on the head to chicken pox. I found the Highway to Health ebook very useful and it's one of the first things I reach for when something goes wrong!"Mr John Bradbury
United KingdomIt got me thinking - although the Highway to Health does cover headaches, perhaps going into a little more detail about 'bumps on the head' would be useful.
5 Risks to Avoid When Purchasing Discount Medicines Online
With the increasing price of prescription medications, many consumers are finding it more difficult to afford the price of prescriptions. Due to this, a large number of such consumers are looking for alternate ways to find affordable medications.
Taking The Sting Out Of Bug Bites
(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left alone, the irritation will subside within 48 hours.However, for some people, particularly children, scratching bites may lead to a highly contagious bacterial skin infection called impetigo.
How To Save Money On Prescription Medications
If you are a regular user of prescription medications, you know that these drugs can be costly to purchase. Cutting back on drugs can be dangerous to your health, but if you are on a fixed income your choices can seem limited.
Exposing the Miracle Cure
It was Saturday morning and while I was making breakfast, letting the cats outside, and watering my half-dead plants, I had the TV on. Saturday morning TV is usually composed of nothing but infomercials and today was no different.
At Last! Good News For Gout Sufferers!
Gout, an arthritis affliction with its roots in antiquity, has not always been easy to treat. The traditional medicines employed for gout have been non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), colchicines, probenicid (Benemid), and allopurinol (Zyloprim).
To Buy Pain Meds Online, a Dangerous Move
Many people want to buy pain meds online simply because it is cheaper for them. Recently, thousands of online pharmacies have popped up offering for people to buy pain meds online without a prescription.
Cholesterol Prescription Medications Can Kill You
While there are numerous options for people to lower cholesterol naturally, thousands and thousands of people are taking prescription medication to lower cholesterol - risking some very dangerous side effects.These side effects can include:? An increase in cancer risk
? Elevated liver enzymes (causing liver damage)
? Yellow skin / yellow eyes
? Rhabdomyolysis (degenerative muscle tissue condition)
? Impaired kidney function
? Muscle weakness and pain
? Dizziness
? Gas
? Headache
? Heartburn or indigestion
? Nausea or vomitingCrestor, a prescription medication to lower cholesterol, has been linked to the death of a patient who developed a suspected case of severe muscle wasting.
Drug Interactions: Five Common Dangerous Interactions You Should Know About
Prescription drugs can save your life. But interactions between prescription drugs and other drugs or with illnesses or conditions you have can lead to significant consequences.
|
