Social Phobia ,also known as Social Anxiety. (Phobia)

Member Name: maidmarion

Product:	Phobia
Date:	17/12/03 (270 review reads)
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This is in the wrong section a mistake easily made as it heads a list of PHobias:)


Of all the the Phobias I that exist think *Social phobia* is the worst and most crippling ,and life destroying ,and also the most misunderstood in the UK.
I am talking in general terms about it being misunderstood,because there are Forums on the internet that are there to help ,but like many mental and emotional illnesses it is not understood.
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When we were teenagers ,we experienced shyness ,sometimes running to panic ,until we grew up and out of these feelings .
people with S.A. Social anxiety ,as this condition is generally known,have these panicky feelings in socail settings all the time .
Take the case of one of my near relatives <they managed to go to high school taking all the prizes in their last year ,because of very high exam marks.They then went to North London
Polytechnic,and obtained an honours degree in applied economics.Then after graduation,this phobia was getting worse with a vengeance.
When you are at College you tend to be in a protected structured environment,when you graduate that is suddenly taken away,and life takes on a different structure. Thats when Social phobia can be at its worst .You have moved away from your friends and so these phobic feelings can take on a new force.
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In some ways *Males* find this harder to deal with ,because* their *social setting is less protected than females ,who are more social and dont get isolated so easily .
Everyone expects men to be strong and confident ;with this phobia they cant be ,and the idea of girlfriends and marriage are an impossibility for some.
So depression sets in ,and as there doesnt seem to be much therapy for this condition ,they just sink down into a pit of de


spair.

There are quite a high number of sufferers of this condition ,in the U.S.there appear to be more Doctors that understand this condition ,i will be adding more soon.....

Here is a very useful link for sufferers :http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-12/ac e-wac120703.php
this is on yahoos database,it links up to the U.S. and 3 phone numbers.

Another tip :Pulsatilla 6c or 30c is a remedy ,that might help ,taken once a week .
to be cont ,does anyone want to share experiences ,and offer help,in a group situation?

Different ideas for helping social phobia /anxiety :Argent nit 30 take when having the worst symptoms
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If you feel very lacking in confidence Silicea 6x one dose in a day ....only take while the symptoms last this is advice for all remedies.
It goes without saying eat an adequate diet Fish rice and chicken are good ,if you are vegetarian Organic rice and bread all vegetables ,cut down on potatoes .Nuts are good and sesame and sunflower seeds.Can be ground in grinder and made into sweet mixed with sugar or made into savoury burgers with some veg and sauteed .
Adelle was right when she said we are what we eat and digest,this also affects our mental health we have to try different foods to see what suits us the best ,a food mix like I have suggested gives balance.
Take in good thoughts into our minds too ,we are what we think :I personally find reading the Bible is a great comfort The Psalms and the book of Isaiah are very comforting when we are down.Psalm 139 shows how God knows us all individually and cares about us ,this Psalm makes particularly good reading in The Jerusalem Bible .
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some useful links http://socialanxiety.factsforhealth.org/
their e mail: Email: info@factsforhealth.org

Ma
dison
Inst
itute of Medicine, Inc.
7617 Mineral Point Road, Suite 300
Madison, WI 53717
Phone 608-827-2470

Fax 608-827-2479


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to be cont.....update:
a link to site discussing their Sons progress:http://www.angelfire.com/biz/socialphobia /

I have just read that cognitive therapy can yield good results.
This site also explains that the brain needs to be assisted to form new thought patterns.

Everyone will be different though ,one type of therapy will suit some and vice versa ,I think,I agree with the idea of new thought patterns,again we are what we think.

Another helpful link examining what this disorder actually is ,and how it can be helped.
http://www.anxietynetwork.com/sphome.html

it contains ::

"Overcoming Social Anxiety:
Step by Step"

I think that it depends on what causes it for the individual, that determines which it is .
Also there are different degrees of this slight, to severe,my relative hasnt lived a normal life yet due to their symptoms ,but as you can see from these links there is light at the end of the tunnel.

sample statement by a sufferer :These are statements that helped me make progress against my social phobia...It doesn't matter what other people think about me.:

*don't need anyone else's approval of anything I say or do.

There will almost always be people out there who don't like me.

This is totally normal.

I don't need to be everyone's friend, or try to please other people so they will like me.

I just need to be myself -- and if people don't like me for it, tough luck!

It’s O.K. I don't care. They really aren't worth knowing any*



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*I no longer want to feel ashamed about how I have reacted to situations in the past.


I've h
ad some very painful experiences in my life, some as a result of social phobia and some not.

The memories of these experiences no longer have the power to hurt me as they once did.

I can benefit from these experiences, because now I can look back at them like old photographs.

I will use them to learn and grow. I have become a better and stronger person because of these experiences*...............
more to come:

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Social Phobia is characterized by an intense fear of situations, usually social or performance situations, where embarrassment may occur. Individuals with the disorder are acutely aware of the physical signs of their anxiety and fear that others will notice, judge them, and think poorly of them. This fear often results in extreme anxiety in anticipation of an activity, a Panic Attack when faced with an activity, or in the avoidance of an activity altogether. Adults usually recognize that their fears are unfounded or excessive, but suffer them nonetheless.

The worst part of this is I believe fear of interactions with the opposite sex ,fear of initiating conversations with same ,and other people .
So another problem that arises is sufferers self medicating with alchohol,this eventually becomes tragic if not treated ending with liver failure,or suicide.

In the UK there is not enough treatment available as far as I know ,I am going to gather more facts about this public consciousness needs to be awakened about this.

Years ago there was more community ,that would have solved much of this problem,but this kind of Community is no longer existing in many places.Public forums on the internet have helped a bit ,but there is nothing like real contact.

With all our communication ,we are still lacking ,for many thousands of people that suffer this phobia ,the trouble is its invisible to those not affected by it ,but the pe
rson who is feels these symptoms feels they can be seen.They cant unless there is severe stress.

Thereapy lies in cognition ie percieving things in a different way ,as the above quote shows.(sample quote above)
Another link ,with lote of ideas:
http://www.adaa.org/AnxietyDisorderInfor/Socia lPhobia.cfm
Find on Yahoos database

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