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Social Phobia |
Written by Sigrid Macdonald
Wednesday, 29 June 2005
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Social Phobia Published in the Anxiety Disorder Association of Ontario Newsletter, 1999 Many of us know the feeling of paralysis that strikes when we attempt to speak in front of a large group: our hands shake, our stomachs feel queasy and we fear that we will not be able to deliver our speech. For those with social phobia, performance anxiety is an everyday occurrence. Social phobia is a common disorder affecting approximately 7% of the population, according to the Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Association in Phoenix, Arizona. It is characterized by an excessive fear of embarrassing oneself or performing inadequately. In order to qualify as a phobia, this fear must interfere with work and social life and cause "significant distress". There are two types of social phobias: the specific or discrete phobia which includes a panicky reaction to situations such as public speaking, eating in restaurants or going out on dates and the generalized social phobia which involves a fear of almost all social interactions. The former may permit people to have fairly normal social lives but may disrupt jobs (e.g. stage fright is a specific phobia that is common among actors.) The latter can be quite debilitating and may prevent people from holding down a job at all or finishing school. Isolation and loneliness are the inevitable consequences of generalized social phobia. Social Phobia is thought by some theorists to have a genetic origin; others believe that it results from an overprotective or extremely critical upbringing. Like Panic Disorder, treatments include psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation and situational exposure. Social skills training may also be offered in conjunction with medications such as a Benzodiazepine or MAO inhibitor like Nardil or Meclobomide. Beta-blockers like Inderal have been especially effective for performance anxiety and are frequently used by musicians or actors with stage fright. The Tricyclic antidepressants do not seem to be helpful with social phobia and use of the SSRIs has not been well studied. One roadblock to obtaining relief is that people with stage fright. The Tricyclic antidepressants do not seem to be helpful with social phobia and use of the SSRIs has not been well studied. One roadblock to obtaining relief is that people with social phobia rarely seek treatment due to their embarrassment of the condition. They usually seek treatment for something else such as depression or substance abuse, and will then discuss their social phobias. People with panic disorder alone are much more likely to go for treatment than those with social phobia. However, social phobia often overlaps with panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, and may lead to agoraphobia. According to the Harvard Mental Health Letter, one study found that 49% of people with social phobia also had panic and agoraphobia. How can we tell the difference between social phobia and regular panic disorder? With panic alone, a person generally fears the panic attack itself and avoids situations that may provoke an attack These situations may or may not he social (i.e. an agoraphobic driver may avoid driving over bridges or through tunnels.) The person with social phobia panics in response to the real or imagined reaction of other people's criticism or disapproval. If you would like to read more about social phobias, check out the Anxiety Panic Internet Resource web site at http://www.algy.com/anxiety/ or the Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Association at http://www.social phobia.org/. You may also wish to read the following books: "Social phobia: From shyness to stage fright" by John R. Marshall and "Anxiety and its disorders" by David H. Barlow. _______________________________________________________________ VI. "Menopause and anxiety" Published in the Anxiety Disorder Association of Ontario Newsletter, 1999 Menopause can be a time of great relief to many women, a time when they are finally able to dispense with contraception and lose the fear of unwanted pregnancy. We leave behind the irritation of PMS and the need for feminine protection. But menopause and the years that precede it, can play havoc with some women's hormonal systems causing anxiety, panic attacks, depression, muscular aches, pains and fatigue. Most women cease menstruating at approximately age 50, however, hormone deficiencies can occur for 4 to 5 years before the menarche (last period) itself. There is also a great variability among women, such that some females experience penmenopausal symptoms in their 30s or early 40s and are not aware that these are related to hormones until the more well known symptoms of menopause arrive, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and menstrual irregularities. Some women sail through the "change" years without any difficulties. Others may experience panic, anxiety or agoraphobia for the first time. These women may be misdiagnosed as having panic that is purely psychological or biochemical and put on antidepressants which will not help to correct an underlying estrogen deficiency. A simple blood test can be performed which will measure your estrogen level, progesterone and FSH (follicular stimulating hormone). There are several different schools of thought about how to treat perimenopausal-related anxiety. Dr. John Lee, author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-menopause, " believes that pre-menopause is characterized by too much estrogen and too little progesterone. Dr. Lee is a great promoter of natural progesterone cream to alleviate anxiety and other symptoms caused by hormonal fluctuations. You can read more about Dr. Lee and the best types of progesterone cream to purchase on the website http:/www.heaith-science.com./ Unlike Dr. Lee, Dr. Sandra Cabot, an Australian gynecologist, advocates the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She has written an excellent and comprehensive guide to the menopausal years entitled "Smart Medicine for Menopause." Cabot discusses the wide variation of HRTs available as well as the controversy surrounding their safety. For those who choose the natural route for hormonal anxiety and insomnia, she advises herbs such as passion flower, valerian root, skullcap and high potency B vitamins. Diet is also important in the pre-menopausal years; reducing one's consumption of sugar, caffeine, refined carbohydrates and animal protein can ameliorate certain symptoms along with a good exercise program. It may also help to boost your intake of foods such as soybeans, whole wheat and seeds like flaxseeds, sesame seeds or sunflower seeds which are rich sources of natural plant estrogen. Eating more fish, soy and dairy products will help ensure proper calcium intake although soy must be taken in small quantities since it may adversely affect the thyroid gland. If you think that your anxiety may be related to hormonal imbalance, talk to your family doctor or holistic health practitioner about treatment options._ Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Sigrid Macdonald is a freelance writer who resides in Ottawa, Ontario. She has written two books. Her first book, Getting Hip: Recovery from a Total Hip Replacement serves as a patient's guide to help minimize pain and discomfort following hip surgery. More information is available at www.sigridsrecovery.blogspot.com.
Macdonald's second book is a novel called D'Amour Road. It is about two women who are about to turn 40. One of them goes missing and the other launches a massive search to find her best friend along with the police, her colorful women's collective, and a younger man whom she finds particularly captivating. You can read more about D'Amour Road at www.damourroad.blogspot.com.
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