School Phobia a very real problem

admin September 10th, 2009

School Phobia a Very Real Problem
Wednesday August 20, 2008
Many districts are back to school this week, causing outbreaks of nerves in legions of kids. Most will soon settle into a routine, conquering their fears and finding success. For some, however, the fear goes far beyond the jitters. For a 17 year old Pennsylvania girl, school phobia has greatly impacted her life.

According to NPR, the teenager has been unable to attend school since she was eight. Plagued with phobia symptoms that she likened to a heart attack, she was unable to focus, to complete assignments or even speak to others. The district sent tutors to her home for the next six years, but when testing determined that she was performing far under grade level, her parents successfully sued the school district. They won a settlement calculated at $45 per hour for 1,000 hours of instruction the girl did not receive.

Phobias Blog
By Lisa Fritscher, About.com Guide to Phobias

Read the full article

Fear of eating in front of others

admin August 25th, 2009

The fear of eating in front of others can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. Socializing usually includes some form of food and drink. Business meetings often take place over lunch or dinner. If eating and drinking in front of others causes you extreme anxiety, you may either endure these situations with great discomfort or avoid them altogether. Avoidance creates a vicious cycle in that the more narrow your life becomes, the harder you will find it to eat and drink in front of others. You may find yourself limiting your career choices or turning down invitations because of your fears.

For the full article go to Arlin Cunic’s About.com “Fear of Eating in Front of others”

E-Couch: Online Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder Available Through the Australian National University

admin August 4th, 2009

This information was gathered from Social Anxiety Disorder Blog
By Arlin Cuncic, About.com Guide to Social Anxiety Disorder

You may have heard of MoodGym, an online program offered by the Australian National University (ANU) to combat depression. During a recent visit to the MoodGym site, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that ANU is now offering a complementary program to provide education and coping strategies for social anxiety disorder (SAD). The online program is aptly named “E-Couch“.

The description on the website reads:

E-Couch provides evidence-based information about emotional problems (including depression and anxiety disorders) and teaches strategies that may help you to prevent problems and understand yourself better.

SAD quiz

admin July 15th, 2009

This 20-item quiz has two questions per page and will help you learn about social anxiety disorder (SAD). Whether you have been diagnosed, know someone with the disorder, or just want to find out more about SAD, this quiz is a great learning resource. Begin the quiz now to test your knowledge about a variety of aspects of SAD such as symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and coping strategies.

From the site About.com Social anxiety Disorder

Tips for Parents of Socially Anxious Children

admin June 16th, 2009

Great article by Arlin Cuncic about tips for parents of SAD kids. Take a look!

As a parent of a child with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), you may find it challenging to balance the need to socialize your child with the desire to be protective of him or her. Summarized by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, this list of tips for parents of socially anxious children is adapted from the book Triumph Over Shyness by Murray B. Stein, M.D., and may be useful for parents of children with SAD.

Shyness and Social Anxiety

admin June 1st, 2009

Shyness and social anxiety disorder share many characteristics. If you have spent your whole life feeling as though you are just a shy person, how do you know if it is something more serious? Or, if you’re a worried parent, you may be wondering if your child is afraid of strangers or not making new friends at school. In either case, how do you know whether it is a serious problem?

You have every right to be worried — social anxiety disorder (SAD) is often dismissed as just extreme shyness. Statistics show that although symptoms usually start in childhood, the majority of people with the disorder don’t receive treatment (close to 75% of sufferers), and those who do seek treatment wait a long time to do so — on average 14 years.

About.com article by Arlin Cuncic
Read more…

Social Anxiety Forums worth visiting

admin May 25th, 2009

Social anxiety forums are places where those with social anxiety disorder can openly discuss issues and questions. Popular forums are a great place to connect with those who may have problems similar to yours. In addition, forums can be a place to learn from the experiences of others. Take a look around each of these forums and you will see that the social anxiety supportive community is alive, vibrant, and an interesting place to be.

Read more…

From About.com Arlin Cunic Social Anxiety site

What a wonderful surprise…

admin February 25th, 2009

Every day I receive “social anxiety” Google alerts which notify me of what’s happening both in the main stream media as well as the blogosphere. There is so much information out there, and I hope that what I bring to the blog will enlighten, encourage and educate people on the ups and downs of social anxiety.

In the past I have found my blog listed on the alert, usually regarding my entry for that day. However today (much to my surprise) I found a wonderful little synopsis of my experience with parenting a socially anxious child, and kudos from the author Arlin Cuncic stating, “If you have a child with SAD, this blog is worth a look.” Arlin has a background in clinical psychology with a focus on anxiety and mood disorders and manages the Social Anxiety Disorders section of about.com.

If you have a chance please take a look at the about.com Guide to Social Anxiety Disorder. It contains a wealth of information, and I’m honoured to see the blog included in it’s index.