Diagnosing Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a debilitating disorder, also known as social phobia that is characterized by excessive and unreasonable fears of social situations. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience intense nervousness and are extremely self-conscious in social settings. They fear that others are watching them closely and will judge and criticize. As a result, they are afraid of making mistakes and fear being embarrassed or humiliated in front of others. Individuals with social anxiety disorder usually lack social skills and don’t have much experience in social settings, and tend to avoid these types of situations.

Symptoms

People suffering from social anxiety disorder sometimes feel as if something is “wrong” with them, but often don’t realize that they are plagued by an actual illness. According to WebMD.com, symptoms of this disorder include:

·         Intense anxiety in social situations

·         Avoidance of social situations

·         Physical symptoms of anxiety, including confusion, pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach, and diarrhea

For children suffering with this disorder, their symptoms may include crying, clinging to a parent, or throwing a tantrum.

Social Anxiety Disorder is Quite Common

An estimated 19.2 million American are thought to have Social Anxiety Disorder, making it the third most common mental disorder in the U.S. after depression and alcohol dependence. While being more common in women than men, it can appear at any time, from childhood into adulthood. Although it is not known exactly what causes this disorder, research suggests the possibility that there are biological, psychological, and environmental factors that are responsible:

·         Biological: Social anxiety disorder may be related to abnormal functioning of brain circuits that regulate emotion and the "fight or flight" response center in the brain.  Genetic factors may also contribute, because social anxiety may be somewhat more likely to occur when it is also present in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child).

·         Psychological: The development of social anxiety disorder may stem from embarrassing or humiliating social experiences in the past, such as being bullied or neglected by peers.

·         Environmental: People with social anxiety disorder may develop their fear from observing the behavior of others or seeing what happened to someone else as the result of their behavior (such as being laughed at or made fun of). Further, children who are sheltered or overprotected by their parents may not learn good social skills as part of their normal development.

How is Social Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?

If it is determined that there are symptoms of social anxiety disorder present, the physician will generally conduct an evaluation by asking questions about your medical history and, although there are no tests to verify the presence of social anxiety disorder, a physical exam is usually conducted to rule out other possible illnesses. If there is no sign of a physical illness, you will probably be referred to a mental health professional that is trained in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.

Social anxiety disorder is a debilitating disorder, also known as social phobia that is characterized by excessive and unreasonable fears of social situations. It is very prevalent in the U.S. and while there is not a specific test to determine if a person has this disorder, generally an evaluation and a physical exam will rule out other illnesses. A referral is then usually given to a mental health professional that is trained in diagnosing and treating social anxiety disorder

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY

Living with Autism: The Inspiring Success of Three Notable People with Autism

Millions of people are living with autism, in one form or another. Living with autism can be a challenge; autistic people often seem eccentric in their interests and behaviors, and have difficulty understanding and connecting with other people. However, living with autism doesn’t prevent someone from attaining fulfillment and success. Many autistic people have achieved great things and made notable contributions to society and culture.

Three famous people who are autistic include Dan Akroyd, best known for his role in the hit movie Ghostbusters; Daryl Hannah, an actress who had a starring role in the movie Wall Street; and Temple Grandin, a noted scientist, author, and activist.

Dan Akroyd: Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome 

Dan Akroyd grew up in Ottawa, Canada. He first gained fame as a writer and actor on the variety show Saturday Night Live, for which he received an Emmy award in 1977. He later went on to act in the hit movies Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.

In addition to having Tourette’s syndrome, Dan Akroyd has revealed in interviews that he was diagnosed during childhood with high-functioning Autism. He may actually have Asperger’s syndrome, but the diagnosis did not come into use until Akroyd was an adult. Despite these conditions, however, Akroyd has become a very successful and spiritually fulfilled individual.

Daryl Hannah: Also Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome 

Actress Daryl Hannah’s acting career took off with her role in the classic science fiction movie Blade Runner. She went on to play roles in many other movies, including the critically acclaimed Wall Street. Hannah reports having shown classic signs of autism as a child, including compulsively rocking back and forth. She says that she is uncomfortable in social situations, and can’t stand being in the spotlight. Despite having autism and difficulty with social situations, however, Daryl Hannah became a very successful actress. Nowadays, having essentially retired from acting, she devotes much of her time to environmental activism.

Temple Grandin: Autistic Author and Activist

Temple Grandin is a doctor of animal science, and a professor at Colorado State University. In addition to her college professorship and her role as a consultant on animal behavior to the livestock industry, Grandin is a noted autism activist.

At the age of two, Grandin was diagnosed with autism. She did not speak until the age of four, but she went on to become very high-functioning. She has written and spoken extensively about living with autism, and is a noted activist for the rights of autistic persons. She has spoken of her terror in social situations, and also her hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli. At the age of 18 she designed a device called a “hugbox”, which applies gentle pressure.

Temple Grandin was listed in 2010 in Time Magazine’s “Time 100” as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Many people living with autism lead rich, fulfilling, and successful lives. Two notable Hollywood actors, Dan Akroyd and Daryl Hannah, have revealed autism diagnoses in interviews, and have talked about what it is like to live with this disorder. Even more well-known is Temple Grandin, a world-famous author, autism rights activist, animal rights activist, and scientist. These inspiring people demonstrate that living with autism doesn’t prevent someone from attaining happiness and success in their lives.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR AUTISM