A Cure For Shyness? Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

A Cure For Shyness? Many of us experience a pounding heartbeat or shaking when faced with a public situation, especially if we think we are going to be judged by others. When does this cross the line between normal and a mores serious disorder? Social anxiety disorder, a relatively newly recognized disorder by the psychiatric profession, involves many of the same symptoms as shyness. What makes the difference between a case of the jitters and a real disorder? Social Anxiety Disorder was first recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a disorder in 1980 (1). It is characterized by such physical symptoms as increased heartbeat, blushing, dry mouth, trembling and shaking, difficulty swallowing, and twitching in the muscles (2). Many people with social anxiety disorder also have depression. A study in France found that 70 percent of patients who developed social anxiety disorder before the age of 15 also suffered from major depression (3). Diagnostic criteria, according to the current definition of social anxiety disorder given by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 4th ed. (DSM-IV), requires a persistent fear of at least one social situation which involves exposure to unfamiliar people or scrutiny by others. The patient must fear that he or she will act in this situation in a way that will cause embarrassment, and avoid the situation or experience extreme anxiety or a panic attack if fac ed with the situation. The patient must also realize that the fear is unreasonable. The avoidance or anxiety must interfere to a large extent with the normal routine, functioning, social activities, or relationships with the person (1). This last criterion, a significant interference ... ...%3Dhave51822&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no 10) Coming to you direct , from Expanded Academic http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/have51822?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%3A%2F%2Fweb6.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F430%2F157%2F36658653w3%2Fpurl%3Drc2_EAIM_1_coming%2Bto%2Byou%2Bdirect______________________________________________%26dyn%3Dsig!1%3Fsw_aep%3Dhave51822&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no 11) Selling Shyness - How doctors and drug companies created the "social phobia" epidemic , from Expanded Academic http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/have51822?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%3A%2F%2Fweb2.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F746%2F514%2F36545191w3%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A64993728%26dyn%3D23!xrn_59_0_A64993728%3Fsw_aep%3Dhave51822&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no