| Growing up I'd never heard of Social Phobia or Social | | | | inappropriate to their condition. Psychiatrists commonly |
| Anxiety. I was described as quiet, shy or reserved. | | | | misdiagnose people suffering with Social Anxiety with |
| Although the labels don't sound like anything too | | | | other disorders such as manic-depressive disorder, |
| dreadful, I think most people would have been | | | | panic disorder, clinical depression, schizophrenia and |
| surprised to learn that I lived in my own private hell. | | | | personality disorder. |
| Going to school everyday was a nightmare and to this | | | | Symptoms of Social Anxiety: |
| day I still find it hard to explain the agony I went | | | | The fear of being judged or criticized by others. |
| through. I became an expert at blending in - taking | | | | Embarrasses easily. |
| extra care never to draw any attention to myself. The | | | | Difficulty making eye contact. |
| mere thought of a teacher calling on me to answer a | | | | Difficulty meeting new people. |
| question could make me physically sick. Unfortunately I | | | | Fear of public speaking. |
| couldn't always avoid it and on occasion I would hear | | | | Fear of being the center of attention. |
| my name called from the front of the classroom. With | | | | Other symptoms may include: intense fear or anxiety, |
| burning cheeks and a tremble in my voice I would | | | | dry mouth, heart racing, blushing, trembling, excessive |
| mutter my answer wishing somehow that I could | | | | sweating, muscle twitching and difficulty swallowing. |
| disappear into thin air. I hated myself. I was a freak. I | | | | Is it Shyness? |
| felt as though everyone was staring at me and | | | | Normal shyness is a slight nervousness that occurs |
| secretly laughing. Why couldn't I just be like everyone | | | | when facing new situations. For example, your first |
| else? From the moment I arrived at school in the | | | | day at a new school or at a new job, you may feel |
| morning until I was back in the safety of my home, I | | | | awkward and uncomfortable but it wouldn't stop you |
| feared ridicule. Through my high school years anxiety | | | | from going. The socially anxious person will avoid any |
| took it's toll and I was plagued with stomachaches and | | | | social situation to the point of disrupting their |
| digestive problems. I never talked to anyone about | | | | professional and personal life. This self-defeating cycle |
| how I was feeling inside. I guess I thought they would | | | | of avoidance and fear leads to low self-esteem and |
| think I was crazy and for all I knew, maybe they would | | | | depression, further reducing their quality of life. |
| be right. | | | | The socially anxious live in painful isolation, imprisoned |
| Does this sound like someone you know? | | | | by their anxiety and fears. Communicating only with |
| Social Anxiety is the third largest mental health care | | | | those they are closest to and feel most comfortable |
| problem in the world today affecting approximately 7% | | | | with they often despair of ever leading full and |
| of the population. One of the least understood anxiety | | | | enriching lives. Sometimes it is difficult for loved ones to |
| disorders, Social Phobia affects people from all over | | | | understand the depth of the pain that they live with |
| the world. Unlike specific phobias this traumatic disorder | | | | every day. If left untreated, Social Phobia can lead to |
| leaves the person nervous and uncomfortable in | | | | other related issues such as Panic Disorder and |
| almost all social situations. | | | | Agoraphobia. It is not unusual that many will |
| Socially anxious people are often misdiagnosed and | | | | self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. |
| subsequently prescribed medication that is | | | | |