Infographic: Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety Disorder

Really great article from Healthline about the effects of anxiety on the body. Check out the images below, and make sure to click here to read the full article.

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Who Should Take a Social Anxiety Disorder Test?

Is There a Social Anxiety Disorder Test?

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To those that don't live with social anxiety disorder, it's impossible to explain how this disorder affects those that suffer from it. It's not well understood by the world at large – to say nothing of the medical world – but it can significantly reduce a person's quality of life by causing anxiety and fear in social situations, and causing individuals to sometimes avoid social contact altogether.

If you have been described as "painfully shy" or you have been known to actively avoid social engagements because of fear or anxiety, you may have this malady. Luckily, there is a quick and simple social anxiety disorder test you can take to find out whether you present with the most common symptoms.

Please note that onlya doctor can make a diagnosis. If you believe you may have social anxietydisorder, talk to your doctor or another health care professional.

Each of the questions on this social anxiety disorder test are "yes" or "no." At the end of the test, tally your scores for your results.

1.       You feel shy or awkward about talking on your cell phone in public. This sometimes presents as a creeping fear that other people are listening to what you say and judging you.

2.       You have difficulty getting up the motivation to go to normal social functions. Of course, many people are naturally introverted and avoid loud parties and big crowds because they simply don't like them. However, if the idea of attending social functions, such as small celebrations for family and friends, or celebratory events at work or church, fills you with dread, you may be experiencing social anxiety.

3.       You have difficulty accepting criticism, even if it's constructive. Are you highly sensitive to evaluations of your professional performance, suggestions for how you can improve at work or in other endeavors, or constructive criticism from friends and family? Do you avoid competitions or other activities where you feel you could be judged? Do you subject yourself to intense self-criticism or experience depression and guilt over perceived failures?

4.       You hate being the center of attention. This is one of the most common symptoms of social anxiety disorder – the thought of being at the center of it all. If you are uncomfortable with a large group of people focusing on you, even when giving a presentation at work or at your own birthday party, you may be experiencing social anxiety.

5.       You feel painfully self-conscious. If you are constantly aware of what you are doing, how you are acting and how others perceive you, you may have social anxiety. A little self-consciousness is normal, but if you feel it every day, or at least in social situations, mark this question as a "yes."

That's the end of this social anxiety disorder test! If you answered, "yes" to:

0-1 questions: You probably experience a normal level of anxiety that all people feel from time to time, or it is slightly higher than the general population.

2-3 questions: You are more self-conscious or anxious about social situations than the general population. If you feel that your social anxiety affects your life in an inordinately negative manner, talk to a doctor.

4-5 questions: Your social anxiety is probably negatively affecting the quality of your life in a big way. Speak with your doctor about a professional social anxiety disorder test.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY

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