Disorders Related to Social Anxiety
One of the problems with social anxiety is that it rarely makes an appearance by itself. Along with being fearful in social situations, people with this disorder usually have other conditions as well. Four out of every five people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder are also diagnosed with another disorder as well, such as:
Depression
Addiction (alcohol, substance abuse etc)
Eatings disorders (bulimia, anorexia)
Personality disorders
Other forms of anxiety disorders (panic attacks, phobias, OCD)
It’s important to discuss all symptoms when getting advice from a doctor, so that he or she can develop the right course of treatment that includes these other disorders as well.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse (particularly alcoholism) is a very common problem that goes along with social anxiety, as people try to use drugs or alcohol to mask their fear and nervousness symptoms. Its estimated that nearly a quarter (25%) of alcoholics also have an underlying social anxiety problem. It’s also been shown that alcoholics with social anxiety who don’t get treatment for both problems are more likely to go back to drinking.
Depression and Other Anxieties
When looking at people with major depression, it’s been found that up to 57% of them have some other form of anxiety disorder, with social anxiety being the most common.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (commonly just called OCD) is usually found with other disorders, including various levels of social anxiety. Certain personality disorders, in particular Avoidant Personality Disorder may just be another variant of social anxiety, since the symptoms of avoiding other people are basically the same.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
One other type of disorder that frequently develops along with the social anxiety is body dysmorphic disorder. It’s must less common than the others in the general population, but is found in approximately 12% of people with social anxiety disorders. Someone with BDD becomes obsessed with how they look, and view themselves with numerous physical defects. These”defects” are usually very minor, or may be completely imagined. Being self-conscious about your appearance naturally goes hand in hand with social anxiety disorder.
Please remember: If you feel you need help in working on your social anxiety problem, especially if your symptoms are interfering with your life, don’t wait to seek help from a qualified professional. The earlier social anxiety disorder is identified and treated the better.
Disorders Related to Social Anxiety
July 7th, 2011 at 4:22 am
You’ve got great insights about social phobia treatment, keep up the good work!
September 11th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
The 20 Second Countdown
Why everywhere you look are top psychologists and doctors still teaching outdated methods for treating general anxiety and panic attacks?
It seems every time I do a search online there is yet another anxiety “expert” rehashing the same old ideas. Brown Paper bags, think happy thoughts, do your breathing etc. I am sure you have come across them a million times before already.
How are people supposed to solve their anxiety issue if they are continuously exposed to these techniques and methods that only teach people to cope with anxiety. Just coping is not good enough. Real solutions are needed.
This is a very good exercise for people who want something practical to focus their attention on when they feel the pressure of a panic attack building.
Its very simple and easy to remember. Here goes…
The 20 Second Countdown
When you feel the sensations of a panic attack building do the following.
Tell the panic that it has 20 seconds to initiate the full panic attack. 20 seconds and no more. After the 20 seconds are complete it must stop making empty threats.
You are allowing 20 seconds for it to fully manifest but not a second more.
Whatever the bodily sensation is that you fear, it must happen within that 20 second time frame.
-If you heart is going to explode then it has 20 seconds to do so.
-If you are going to lose control, then your mind has 20 seconds to do so.
-If you are going to faint – 20 seconds! But absolutely no more time than that.
You get the picture.
By setting a specific time frame you establish boundaries of control. You turn it into a game where you call fear’s bluff. If it were a poker game, you are asking anxiety to show its hand.
This works because it establishes a sense of control within your mind and body.
You think to yourself “I am not prepared to spend my time worrying about this. I’ve had enough. I am going to be generous and give it 20 seconds but after 20 seconds and nothing has happened then the opportunity has officially passed and I am going to go back to what I was doing.”
Then start counting -but nice and slowly, don’t rattle it off as fast as you can. Really tease it out like you did when you were a child and you never wanted to reach zero. Teasing it out is the key because it allows you to feel generous and that you are giving anxiety every chance possible.
Deep down you know there is really nothing to fear.
To really help tease it out, break the last few numbers into fractions.
5…………………………..
4…………………………..
3……………………………
2…and three quarters…
2…and half………………
2…………………………..
1…and three quarters… (last chance anxiety)
1…and half……………… (I really cant wait any longer)
1…………………………..
0.
Sorry too late we’ve reached the end.
By not rushing through the countdown you will feel your confidence soar because you are demonstrating real control and authority over your anxious thoughts and bodily sensations. You are saying “look, I am really trying to give you all the time I can to unleash X,Y, and Z, I am being very generous here with this countdown.
Count your way to freedom. Count your way to confidence.