Social Anxiety Disorder Blog

Michael Meaney, professor at McGill University in Montreal, Canada is set to investigate the impact of maternal stress during pregnancy on various physical and mental health problems, including social anxiety disorder (SAD). Following on research showing that chronic release of stress hormones during pregnancy may be linked to problems such as SAD, Meaney hopes to shed some light on the impact of positive parenting skills in these circumstances.

Unfortunately, as Meaney notes, parents who have children already predisposed to mental illness may be least well-equipped to cope. A mother with SAD who battles stress hormones daily during pregnancy will also most likely have difficulty being the good role model that her child needs. The best solution? For mom to get help for herself before embarking on parenthood.

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If you have never suffered with social anxiety disorder (SAD), it may be difficult to understand what it is like to live with social fears. Or, SAD may be confused with shyness or introversion. What do you think? Do people in general understand what SAD is all about?

My post about jobs for people with SAD from last week generated some interesting comments. I agree that what you are ready to tackle on the job depends largely on where you are in managing your social anxiety. One of the comments from last week raised the issue of changing job requirements. What happens when you are pushed to do something that is beyond the limits of what you are currently comfortable with?

This topic is a tough one. What is the measure of a phobia? If someone is afraid of public speaking, but firmly chooses to avoid it, is it necessary to overcome the fear?

Unfortunately, the nature of social obligations is such that we are tested on a daily basis. In the end, I think we all need to learn to manage our fears and phobias so that we are less vulnerable to the unexpected. However, I don't believe that we need to torture ourselves if something just isn't our cup of tea. If you have learned to cope with a fear of clowns (for example), I don't think that means that you have to go work for the circus. That is, unless it is something that you really want to do.

Often suggestions are made that people who have social anxiety should work at particular kinds of jobs - for example, those that involve working with numbers, animals or objects instead of people. Some such jobs are:

• software engineer
• accountant
• editor
• writer
• landscaper
• animal care
• graphic design

On the other hand, do you think it would it be better for someone with SAD to take a job that challenges their phobia - such as a salesperson? Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki has written about taking a job as a salesperson at Xerox to help overcome his fear of rejection.

I think both kinds of jobs can have their place. The more important question is whether anxiety is preventing you from doing something that you would really like to do.

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In a recent news story about SAD, Dr. Christine Gill of the U.K. is challenging the will of her late mother in which an inheritance of 2.3 million pounds was left to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Toward Animals (RSPCA). Gill claims that because her mother suffered with severe undiagnosed social phobia, she was mentally incapable of understanding the process of the will, and would have been coerced by her husband. Gill's mother could not be left alone in the house, and would not speak to strangers unless accompanied by someone that she knew.

Gill argues that she devoted and tailored her life to suit the needs of her parents and to work on their farm, turning down more lucrative careers in favor of working as a University lecturer. Had she known the estate would not be left to her, she would not have made these sacrifices. Gill claims that she was assured by her parents that the inheritance would be hers, and that she would not have to worry about money.

Do you think someone with social phobia could be mentally incapable of understanding their own will? I don't think this argument holds much water unless someone purposely tried to pull the wool over her eyes. The woman had an intense fear of strangers, but that doesn't render her mentally incompetent.

Another quick and simple poll this week about whether it is possible to overcome social anxiety disorder. If you answer "it depends", please leave a comment as to why!

If you are having doubts about whether or not paxil (paroxetine) is right for you, I would suggest having a look at the article "Extroverted Like Me" by Seth Stevenson. His honest account of taking paxil for a month is eye-opening.

Although the message of his article is essentially one of "it's better to be shy than take paxil", I think the larger issue is the haphazard diagnosis of social anxiety disorder by his doctor, and the fact that paxil was simply not appropriate in this case.

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Earlier this week I received a question by email about getting tested for social anxiety disorder (SAD). The basic question was this ... "I think that I may have SAD but I'm not sure how to find out if I do. I'd rather be more sure about whether I have it, before seeking out professional help".

I think this is a common question that many readers probably share. Here is what I suggest ....

1. Read my article about screening for SAD.
2. Take the two screening tests mentioned in the article (the MINI-SPIN and Liebowitz scale).
3. Take the SAD self-test from the panic disorders site.
4. Look at the results from all three screening tests and make your decision based on those results.

Chances are, just the process of taking the self-tests will give you a good indication of how much your symptoms are interfering in your life. In the end, only a professional can make a diagnosis of SAD, but these are tools you can use to get you pointed in the right direction. They can also be a good starting point for discussing problems with your doctor or psychologist.

Photo © Microsoft

A 2007 videotaped police interview with convicted rapist and serial killer Paul Bernardo has been released to the media for public viewing. In the interview, Bernardo claims that he is no longer a threat to society and that his actions were due to his sexual performance anxiety.

This is not the first case where the acts of a killer have been blamed on variations on a theme of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Remember the Virginia Tech Shooter? Much of the blame for his actions was centered around his social phobia and selective mutism. Unfortunately, there is a piece of the puzzle here that just does not fit. Violent behavior is not in any way part and parcel of SAD. Paul Bernardo, and those who will consider his parole release in the future, need to think long and hard about the real causes of his actions.

Personal Photo: The Bernardo's Wedding Day

Okay folks, a simple question this week - what is your reason for visiting the social anxiety disorder blog? To learn more about SAD, to help someone else, or for some other reason? Take a moment and register your vote in this week's poll.