How To Identify The Symptoms Of Panic Attacks And Panic Disorders

Panic and anxiety attacks are problems that affect a large number of people. They can be somewhat scary but for most people they are relatively mild and don’t occur all that often. A panic attack may happen a few times, but it is usually not a chronic problem.

Panic disorders, on the other hand, can be much more severe. People who suffer from these disorders live in constant fear and anxiety, for ongoing periods of time.

The symptoms of isolated panic attacks and chronic disorder are much the same. A disorder is more difficult to deal with because part of what makes it worse is the constant worrying about when the next attack will come. This makes the attack that much more severe, and the viscious cycle continues to get worse.

Panic disorder needs to be treated as quickly as possible. If it isn’t treated properly, it will continue to escalate and can lead to a condition called agoraphobia, where the sufferer remains housebound because of their fear of having an attack while in public situations.

These panic disorders affect a wide age group. They can show up in the teenage years right through adulthood. Major stresses or changes in a person’s life can sometimes trigger them. The effects of panic can range from mild to very serious, in some cases causing social withdrawal and the earlier mentioned agoraphobia.

Symptoms of both panic attacks and panic disorders include the following:

- Chest pains
- Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
- Elevated heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and other stomach problems
- Shaking or trembling
- Difficulty breathing
- Tingling sensation in your extremeties

Panic disorders also often include the following symptoms:

- Lingering worry
- Fear of the next panic attack
- Depression
- Social withdrawal

While the symptoms of panic attacks and disorders are similar, the effect they can have on a person’s life is vastly different. In either case, however, it is best to discuss the problem with your doctor. They will be able to give you a more thorough diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan.

George Ferguson
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/how-to-identify-the-symptoms-of-panic-attacks-and-panic-disorders-91094.html

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October 6, 2009

Suffering From Anxiety Problems? You Are Not Alone

Many people around the world suffer from anxiety disorders of many different types. In the US it is estimated that around 20% of the total adult population suffers from some form of anxiety disorder, which is considered to be a form of mental illness.

There are a number of different types of anxiety disorders and it is often difficult to tell one from another. The different types can include general anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, panic attacks, post traumatic disorders, social anxieties and a wide range of specific phobias.

It is more common for women to be affected by some forms of anxiety than it is for men to be affected.

There can be a wide range of causes for any of these, and other, anxiety disorders. These can be chemical in nature, often from some form of chemical or hormonal imbalance in the brain. There can be environmental factors and others, such as stress, unresolved conflicts and various learned behaviors.

Anxiety attacks can manifest themselves in a variety of ways. For example a sufferer can experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness. They can suffer insomnia, tension in various parts of the body and extreme irritation.

Anxiety is extremely widespread, and if serious can impact greatly on the quality of life of the anxiety sufferer. But it can usually be treated, often with very good results.

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There are a wide range of options for people who suffer from one or more of the various forms of anxiety and related disorders. It is common for medication to be used, and this can include antidepressants and other anti anxiety medicines, which can be very effective.

These medicines can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment as well. There are various therapists and counselors, including behavior therapists, who treat undesirable behaviors. They can use cognitive therapies, involving changing negative thought patterns as well as relaxation therapies often involving breathing control, massage and sometimes aromatherapy.

Some anxiety attack sufferers can be helped with a range of natural remedies. It is surprising how effective it can be just ensuring that the sufferer adheres to a well balanced nourishing diet to maintain good blood sugar levels and nourish the body. Exercise is also very important. There are also a range of dietary and vitamin supplements that can be used such as vitamin B.

Anxiety disorders or attacks can be very frightening for the person who experiences them, expecially if they are unexpected. But they need not be disabling for most people, as they can often be successfully treated.

Peter Crump
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/suffering-from-anxiety-problems-you-are-not-alone-56233.html

October 6, 2009

How To Find Effective Anxiety Disorder Treatments

Anxiety disorders are suffered by more than forty million Americans. Examples of these disorders are panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders. Many of these disorders are debilitating to the sufferers, interfering with both their personal and professional lives. Thankfully, there are many anxiety treatments out there.

If you think that you suffer from an anxiety disorder, the first person you should see is your family doctor. Tests are necessary to make sure that there isn’t another medical condition responsible for the symptoms. Once it’s determined that the symptoms are the result of an anxiety disorder, the next step is to seek out a mental health professional.

Anxiety treatment can include medications. While medications are not enough to cure anxiety disorders, they can help the sufferer deal with the symptoms. Antidepressants alter the chemistry of the brain. Most begin to work on some indicators of anxiety disorder immediately; however, it can take up to six weeks for the full effects to be felt.

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are also antidepressants. They help brain cells communicate with each other by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is involved in the regulation of learning, sleep, and moods. They have been shown to be very effective in anxiety treatment. Beta-blockers, usually used to treat heart conditions, can also be prescribed for anxiety treatment. They can help prevent the physical conditions which accompany most anxiety disorders.

Medications are used to help control the signs of anxiety disorders while the patient receives psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps anxiety disorder sufferers change the way they think and how they react to anxiety-inducing situations. For example, a person with OCD who is anxious about germs and ritualistically washes his or her hands many times a day is taught to wait for longer periods of time in between such activities.

Those with other phobias or disorders learn how to face their fears through this anxiety treatment. The CBT therapist accompanies the anxiety disorder patient through role-playing to actual encounters. CBT therapists also teach relaxation techniques such as deep breathing.

CBT only works when the anxiety disorder sufferer is ready to undertake the challenge of facing his or her fears. It must be specific to their individual anxiety disorder. This anxiety treatment usually lasts about three months. It may incorporate group therapy.

Anxiety treatment is often more effective when it includes support groups. These groups may include resources from the internet or your local member of the clergy. These should not be a replacement for a certified therapist.

Exercise can be a great addition to anxiety treatments. It boosts the brain’s natural creation of serotonin. Meditation has also been found to enhance anxiety treatments, as it helps calm the physical symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Finally, family is a very important factor in anxiety treatment. Families should never trivialize the disorder of the sufferer. They can offer support but need to be careful not to enable the anxiety disorder patient.

Sammy Kay
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-find-effective-anxiety-disorder-treatments-103346.html

October 6, 2009

Causes Of Sleep Disorders

Causes of sleep disorders are varied and range from serious neurological problems to simple nightmares. Sleep disorder means any difference in the normal sleep pattern that can be sleeplessness, oversleep or intermittent sleep behaviors. Persistent sleep disorder is considered to be a problem since it affects the daily living pattern and can lead to severe impairments in body and mind. Sleep disorders can be categorized into dysomnias, parasomnias and others, based on the symptoms of the sleep disorder. Some of the common sleep disorders include insomnia, bruxism, sleep apnea, night walking, and snoring. The causes behind sleep disorders are very signifigant since the treatments for the sleep disorders are focused on the cure of underlying cause.

In general, the causes for sleep disorders can be categorized into internal, external and due to disturbance in the normal circadian pattern. Most often, sleep disorders are manifested as an associated disease of any organ disease and also a major factor for internal causes of sleep disorder. It is common that most of the diseases manifest with a disturbance in the normal sleep pattern. However, serious sleep disorders can be caused because of medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer, fibrositis syndrome, back problems, and neck problems. Any impairment in the brain such as central apnea and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are also potential cause for sleep disorders. Breathing problems are also major causative in cases such as obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

If body diseases can attribute sleep problems as an associated disease, the main feature of psychological problems is sleep disorder. Most of the mental problems such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar syndrome, paranoia and schizophrenia can cause sleep disorders. Chronic mental patients usually exhibit severe sleep disorders and it is evaluated as an important diagnostic characteristic. The specific problems such as tooth grinding and sleep enuresis are also caused because of certain mental disorders.

In the case of endocrinal changes, sleep disorders are evident symptom such as in cases of thyroid problems, in which patient are with insomnia or over sleep. The sleep problems associated with menopause and pregnancy related ones are very common. The alteration in the circadian rhythm is a major causative for many sleep disorders. Shift workers usually experience sleep disorders due to their altered sleep pattern and jet lag is a reason for sleep disorder among plane travelers.

Life style factors such as alcoholism and intake of alkaloids such as caffeine can also contribute to the cause of sleep disorders. The environmental factors include light, noise, and change of bedding. The intake of certain drugs Lotronex and Tramadol are also proven to cause sleep disorders. The consumption of any particular substance may also attribute sleep disorders in some patients. Anyway, the causative factor will differ from one patient to the other.

Sleep disorders are most often a symptom of any other serious disorder. Hence immediate consultation of an expert physician is essential to find the exact cause behind sleep disorder.

Jason Rickard
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/causes-of-sleep-disorders-54546.html

October 6, 2009

Some Things About the Pervasive Development Disorders

The pervasive development disorders are a group of conditions, containing: autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified.

Children with autism have problems in communicating and relating to other people, they have problems with the imagination and with the understanding of reality. In many cases, there can appear some degree of mental retardation.

The children with Asperger’s syndrome have average or above average intelligence, they develop normally in the areas of language and cognition, but they have problems with social interaction and communication, a narrow range of interests and often have difficulty concentrating and poor coordination.

The children with Rett’s syndrome have the symptoms mentioned before, but the also suffer the loss of many motor or movement skills. This condition affects usually girls, because it is linked to a defect on the X chromosome.

Childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare condition and children affected by it begin their development normally, but between the age of 2-10 many of the developed skills will be lost. Those affected by this illness may lose control of other functions, including bowel and bladder control.

Pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified refers to children that are too social to be considered autistic, but they still have some difficulty interacting with others, communicating and playing.

Children with pervasive development disorders can develop a lot of symptoms and the severity of them depends from case to case. Some general symptoms include difficulty with social interaction, understanding the reality, with verbal communication, problems using and understanding language, repetitive body movements or patterns of behavior. There can also be mentioned difficulty sleeping, aggressive behavior, and nervousness.

The cause of these illnesses is not known yet, but researchers are working on it. However, there were studies that suggested that these illnesses are caused by a problem with the nervous system, and there are studies in progress that are examining the structure and function of the brain in people with autism, to find out clues that will lead to a better understanding of these illnesses.

It is known that in 10.000 births, there appear 5-15 cases of children affected by these pervasive development disorders. The most affected are the boys, excepting the situation of Rett’s syndrome, which affects mostly girls.

In order to diagnose autism, if the symptoms are present, the doctor will perform a complete medical history and physical examination. Then, he will do some tests, like X-rays and blood tests, to see if there are symptoms that can show a physical disorder. If there isn’t found a physical disorder, the child is sent to a specialist in childhood development disorders which is trained to diagnose and treat the pervasive development disorders. The doctor analyzes the child’s level of development, speech and behavior, and often can ask the parents of the child, or other adults that are familiar with him about the symptoms that they found.

Because children affected by these disorders can have a large range of symptoms, the treatment must be adjusted to fulfill every child’s needs.

Treatment can include medications in order to treat specific symptoms, like anxiety, hyperactivity and behavior that may result in injury, there are also necessary therapies that increase the child’s functional abilities, and strategies for supporting positive behavior.

The result seen in people with pervasive development disorders varies depending on the type and severity of the condition, on the age when the treatment started and on the availability of supportive resources for the child.

There are being made researches in order to find out more about these conditions, to discover what is happening in the brain and to find better ways for diagnosing and treating these disorders, or even prevention and cure.

For more information about autism causes please review http://www.autism-info-center.com/signs-of-autism.htm or even http://www.autism-info-center.com/autism-symptoms.htm

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-things-about-the-pervasive-development-disorders-118022.html

October 6, 2009

Treating an Anxiety Disorder

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

“Anxiety disorder” is a term that covers many different types of nervous conditions that cause anxiousness, feelings of fear or other unwanted, counterproductive or irrational feelings. These feelings of anxiety can be due to a particular phobia, to a particular event or happening earlier in life, or may be due to pathological (medical) uneasiness. There may be no warning of the onset of your anxiety disorders. They can be sudden, or develop gradually over many years and such events are likely to cause profound disturbance of the sufferer’s normal daily routine. In the 21st Century, the occurrence of anxiety disorders is assuming alarming proportions. They afflict more than forty million American adults. Many adolescents, and even children, also develop these disorders. Most patients are seriously affected, with the disorder(s) affecting them for several months, or even years. You may suffer frequent bouts of fear, concern, or apprehension of some worrying event.

Why Do People Get Anxiety Disorders?

Many factors may contribute to the occurrence of anxiety disorders. There is not just one cause for all anxiety disorders. They may occur as the result of a combination of many different factors.

Those factors may include:

Childhood events: Disturbing and traumatic events in childhood, such as child abuse, loss of parents, separation from family, accident or illness, can leave a lasting effect on the mind. Even having been bullied, embarrassed, or made fun of at school can produce lasting anxieties that manifest into a serious anxiety disorder later in life.

Genetic: Parents with anxiety disorder can pass it on to, or cause their children to be more likely to suffer from this type of condition, because of genetic factors or the environment that they provide in the family home.

Stress and Trauma: Stressful, traumatic events can contribute to anxiety disorders. Domestic violence, rape (or other forms of sexual molestation), physical assault, death of a family member or loss due to natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, leaves a person feeling helpless. This feeling of powerlessness leads to fear and resultant anxiousness.

Substance abuse: Alcoholism and drug addiction may contribute to anxiety disorders in some people. And, not surprisingly, most alcoholics and drug addicts had some sort of disorder before they became addicted. The addictive substance was a coping mechanism for a time against the anxious, out of control feelings.

Medical ailments: Certain disorders, like eating or sleeping disorders, depression and other nervous ailments, may contribute to more anxiety disorders, and possible medical problems. These disorders do not allow the body to function normally. Without proper sleep or nutrition, anyone is likely to become very anxious.

Personality: Whether a person is born with low self-esteem or develops it in later life, they are likely to become anxious.

Social and Economic Issues: Believe it or not, the rich are not immune to anxiety, peer pressure and stress. Life is stressful at all levels of human society. Being poor gives you may put more pressure on you – just to survive and try to improve your situation for yourself and your family.

Brain abnormalities: Medications prescribed to alleviate symptoms of some ailments can sometimes affect the chemical balance in the brain and cause an anxiety disorder. Allergic reactions to certain medicines might also lead to an anxiety disorder.

Treatments

There are innumerable therapies and treatments available for anxiety disorders. Certain drugs may help to provide some relief or even the possibility of a complete cure in some cases. Some patients have had good results when the advice of their personal medical doctor was combined with various cognitive therapies (forms of psychotherapy that are based on the belief that the way we think may have a positive or negative effect on they way we feel and deal with our life experiences.) You can become a stronger and more effective person by developing an optimistic attitude and learning to accept the tragedies of life. Additional knowledge can be gathered from many different sources, like the Internet, books, magazines and journals. Increasing your knowledge about your condition can be a very important factor in keeping most anxiety disorders at bay.

To get all the complete answers you need please go to:

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Linda Jap
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/treating-an-anxiety-disorder-108470.html

October 6, 2009

Treatments For Anxiety And Related Disorders

The treatments for anxiety and associated disorders are nearly as varied as the range of people who can be helped by them. For this article we will acknowledge there exists many cases in which one or more prescription medications may be deemed necessary by the overseeing doctor to control anxiety and other mental disorders, often to achieve enough of a stabilizing of the moods and emotions to begin other more interactive therapies. Do not, if you are under a doctor’s care, adjust your medication in any way on your own. Increasing, or abruptly stopping prescription medication is very dangerous, and not to be attempted without medical guidance.

Leaving the prescription drugs for a medical doctor to explain, let’s examine the many whole health approaches available to enhance your healing, and enable your body, mind and emotions to recuperate from the tension they have been surviving under.

Journaling is not a new idea, but certainly one worthy of mention in this discussion. The discipline itself, of taking even one moment every day to capture a thought is in itself a form of therapy, especially to an individual who has not felt able to accomplish anything for perhaps quite some time. Be it one word, one line or a page, write something down each day to describe that day’s emotions. It may take about 3 weeks to become really comfortable doing this, but you will begin to see more detailed writing, and a better outlook as time passes.

Seeing a professional counselor could be a vital step in the recovery process. This is not a medical doctor, but a therapist. Someone who will listen to your concerns and place no judgment on you. Someone who recognizes the difficulty you have had, and how badly you want to reclaim your life.

Group therapy is also a terrific option, and may be used in combination with private counseling, or in some cases in place of it. There will be a moderator with the group, and they are typically `first name anonymous’, so everyone can feel comfortable expressing themselves. If more than one problem is presenting itself, such as alcohol abuse along with chronic anxiety, there may need to be more than one type of meeting attended regularly to achieve the best results.

Exercise, especially that which gets you out of the house, is an excellent way to help your recovery along. Walk with a friend, or bring a walkman with upbeat music, or tapes that are applicable to your recovery.

As you regain an adequate level of trust and safety in your life, it may be a great time to give some energy to helping those in need. Yes, you, who have been so helpless and hopeless, may now be ready to assist someone else in their need. Read books to children in the hospital or give an afternoon to assembling food boxes at an outreach.

Ask your local animal shelter what you can do for them. A quick search on the computer, or a phone call to an organization that interests you will produce many opportunities for you to choose from. This `service therapy’ encompasses so many beneficial aspects: You will be getting out of the house, meeting new people, and relearning your personal value. It is so gratifying, and will cause quantum leaps in your recovery.

Take up, or revisit a hobby, something you really enjoy, and again, if it is outside, all the better. Kite flying can be a very inexpensive way to have some fun, get some exercise, and quite literally spend some time `looking up’!

Make your home your sanctuary, bring in color, music, candles, and light. If watching the news triggers anxiety, leave it off for this healing season in your life. Eat well, and get the rest you need. Be kind to yourself, it took a long time to become as anxious and possibly depressed as you were, and now it will take some time to fully recover, but it will happen, and with all that you have learned through your healing process, you can look forward to never again feeling that depth of terror and sadness again.

M. Jedediah
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/treatments-for-anxiety-and-related-disorders-139877.html

October 6, 2009

Anxiety in the Form of Personality Disorders

Of the variety of anxiety forms in existence personality disorders are one of the most mysterious, difficult to explain and treat. Very severe anxiety is what can sometimes lead doctors to subsequently diagnose people with personality disorders.

These diagnosis are controversial due to at present there being no real agreement on what it is that is causing the problem or how to treat it. The range of known personality disorders is:

Anxious Personality Disorder
Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Dependant Personality Disorder
Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder

To be diagnosed as having one of the above disorders you have to display at least three of their particular symptoms. The symptoms of the first two disorders can be seen below:

Anxious (Avoidant) Personality Disorder:

Pervasive and persistent emotions of insecurity, shyness, tension and apprehension mean that your freedom becomes somewhat restricted.
You believe you are undeserving, unlikable, inept socially, and not that important compared with other people. These feelings often mean the affected individual avoids relationships unless certain that they are liked by the other person.
Abnormally large concerns over being criticized or rejected whilst at work or in a social situation lead to you avoiding any activities where you have to inter-relate with other people.

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder

There are two variations; ‘impulsive type’ and ‘borderline type’, both have the following characteristics:

Strong inability to think and plan ahead in combination with no real self control and the occasional sudden outburst of extreme anger. This anger can its self lead to other intense behaviors such as violence, particularly if these acts are challenged or stopped by people in the vicinity.
A pronounced leaning towards impulsive actions without the consideration of possible consequences, e.g. substance abuse or unprotected sex.

Impulsive type emotional instability manifests its self with a low level of being able to control impulses. Violence and threatening behavior are frequent, and more often than not are a direct response to other criticizing the person affected.

Borderline type emotional instability can be characterized by strong doubts of personal aims, image and sexual preferences, leading to upset and distress. Debilitating feelings of emptiness can promote suicide, or at the very least self harming. You get involved in emotionally taught, constrained relationships which frequently have crises, but which you try to remain in so as to avoid being abandoned.

As yet the diagnosis of this mental condition is controversial since its causes and treatments are not fully agreed upon. Certain sufferers benefit from being emotionally open enough to discuss past difficult and upsetting experiences. Through airing their problems they become able to better identify the risky situations and so learn how to then deal with them. Professional carers can be of considerable benefit during these reflective and problem solving times.

Alex Rider
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/anxiety-in-the-form-of-personality-disorders-85520.html

October 6, 2009

Anxiety Disorders - Knowing The Disease And How To Treat It

An estimated 15% of the population live in highly restricted ways due to their suffering of constant anxiety that severely affects their lives. Obsessive thoughts, extreme shyness, phobias, panic attacks, and even compulsive behaviors, are some of what these people experience on a daily basis. Their lives have become disrupted by the feeling of constant anxiety that dominates them.

Sadly, there are some who have become confined to their homes, unable to visit the market, drive or even work. Anxiety is much more serious and damaging than just an occasional wave of apprehension for these people.

There are different types of anxiety disorders out there that can go from minor to severe depending on the individual. A person’s overall behavior, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations are affected by an anxiety disorder. Depending on which type of anxiety disorder they have will determine the severity of it. People handle anxiety in different ways so the severity of their suffering will vary from person to person.

A fear of being around other people is known as social anxiety or social phobia. People suffering from from this particular disorder feel self-conscious around others. They feel that everyone is staring at them, judging and being critical in some way.

These people also learn to stay away from social situations and avoid others, because the anxiety is so overwhelming. Some stay in a room with the door closed so that they can be alone. The feeling is constant and even happens with people they know and have spent time around.

Social anxiety sufferers are aware that their thoughts and fears are not rational. They know that others are not really watching or evaluating them. But, even knowing this does not make the feelings go away.

A person that has panic attacks without warning, suffers from a condition known as panic disorder.

About 5% of the adult American population suffers from panic attacks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For those people who experience panic attacks and never receive treatment go unknown, therefore, making the number higher than recorded.

People suffering from panic attacks experience:

Trembling
Sweaty palms and hands, tingling in the hands, feet, legs, and arms
Acceleration or pounding of the heart
Heaviness in the heart or chest pains
Feeling of terror
Dizziness and lightheaded
Fear of dying
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Feeling unable to catch one’s breath

In some instances, the person who has a panic attack does not know what causes it. It happens unexpectedly and without warning. For some people, they have encountered difficult times and have felt extreme stress and weren’t surprised that they had the panic attack.

Finding treatments for anxiety and panic attacks is the foremost step to overcoming your problem with anxiety. Once receiving the proper treatment, most people who suffer from anxiety begin to feel better in a short amount of time. Since each person’s anxiety is caused by a unique set of factors, it can be difficult to identify the correct treatment.

Seeking professional help immediately will allow you to have a diagnosis of the problem and set you on your way to conquering your anxiety. Anxiety can be overcome if dealt with properly. It takes the patient believing that his or her anxiety can be stopped and overcame.

Nicole Ross
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/anxiety-disorders-knowing-the-disease-and-how-to-treat-it-127507.html

October 6, 2009

Don’t Let Social Anxiety Disorders Ruin your Career

Social anxiety disorder is a disorder that is based on excessive self-consciousness. This can manifest itself in a feeling of fear or dread of public situations like a doing a business presentation are speaking up in a meeting. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, are very broad and can affect people in a variety of ways.

Some may be fine in public places like shopping, the supermarket or a mall but be very self-conscious if they need to interact with anyone. Social phobia is identified as having a persistent or chronic fear of doing or saying something that might be judged harshly and could result in embarrassment or humiliation. In more severe cases, this fear can keep someone from the human to human interaction necessary to advance one’s career, or even be successful in many school are educational situations.

It’s no secret that one of the best ways of moving up the corporate ladder is to make yourself visible to those in management above you. The most common way to gain this visibility is by volunteering for higher profile projects and assignments. This offers the opportunity to deliver regular reports to upper management and demonstrate not only project management skills but team leadership as well.

To the person suffering with social phobia however, the option to volunteer for a high profile project or assignment is simply not possible. While they may be mentally up to the challenge and possibly even the best person for the job, a social phobic can limit themselves by the need to remain out of the spotlight. This in turn, severely limits their visibility to management and can also limit career advancement potential.

Social Phobia Treatments

The good news is that there are many treatment options available to help control social phobias. The most successful treatment has been a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating many social anxiety disorders. This therapy focuses on control of a person’s own thoughts and how they react or behave in relation to that thought process. This allows someone suffering with social phobia to move past the fear and anxiety and be able to continue on with their lives. This does not mean that they are cured, only that the social phobia monster has been faced and controlled for a given situation.

Cognitive behavior therapy or CBT works to gradually deal with situations that are increasingly more fearful or complex. This offers the sufferer a way to develop the confidence to face situations and deal with the anxiety.

Abigail Franks
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dont-let-social-anxiety-disorders-ruin-your-career-87866.html

October 6, 2009
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