Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is the third most common mental health care problem and may affect more than 1 in 10 people during their lifetimes, according to the non-profit organization Social Phobia/Social Anxiety...
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most successful treatments for social phobia and is based upon the presumption that fear of interaction, relationships or social settings is driven by negative thoughts and misinterpretations of...
While most people suffering from social phobia require support from qualified physicians and psychotherapists, it's helpful to verbalize or write a list of things that elevate your anxiety levels. People who suffer from social phobia generally...
Social Anxiety Disorder (social phobia) is the third-largest mental health problem in the world. The latest U.S. government epidemiological data show social phobia affects over 7 percent of the population at any given time. The lifetime prevalence...
Speaking in public is a common fear that can leave you awake the night before a speaking engagement, or sweating and shaking the day you give a presentation at work. Fear of public speaking is usually a type of social anxiety disorder or social...
For some people, anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. But for others, anxiety is disabling, becoming so severe that it limits their ability to function from day to day. This is when medication may be prescribed. And just as there is more than...
Treating anxiety disorder takes strategies that usually combine therapy, self-treatment and medication. Strategies are geared toward specific conditions that include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobias, specific phobias,...
A phobia is an intense fear. Often this fear is irrational and causes immobilizing terror. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder and is usually treatable. The most common type of phobia is a simple phobia, or the fear of a specific object. A...
Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder where the patient has extreme fear in social situations. The Mayo Clinic notes that patients with social anxiety have immense difficulty interacting in public, which results...
Major depressive disorder, a condition characterized by intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, affects approximately 14.8 million adults in the United States, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Depression often occurs...
Anxiety can present a spectrum of emotions ranging from mild worry to engulfing terror depending on the severity of the case. The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders identifies two types of anxiety: normal, or "objective" anxiety, which occurs when...
Fear plays a part in certain anxiety disorders for many patients. Drugs, which include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, help relieve anxiety symptoms and reduce fears. Medication works best when treatment includes psychotherapy to deal...
If you sweat excessively, you know how embarrassing and uncomfortable it can make you feel. Excessive sweating can lead you to avoid social situations, and cause cracked and inflamed skin and body odor, according to the Merck Manuals Online...
Medication that treats depression can also help patients with anxiety disorders. Antidepressants balance chemicals or neurotransmitters in the brain that affect emotions and moods, improving mental health conditions. Some people have anxiety as a...
If the thought of speaking in front of a group leaves you trembling, odds are most of your potential audience has felt the same way at one time or another. While public speaking is the most commonly reported fear among adults, the U.S. Department...
Depression is divided into a number of subtypes that can help determine the best courses of treatment. Atypical depression was first described in the 1930s and has several defining characteristics.
Many people who struggle with anxiety don't realize they need help. The first step toward conquering your anxiety is to talk with your family doctor about the symptoms you've been experiencing and what might be causing them. This is an important...
Avoidant personality disorder is a personality disorder as classified by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition). It is categorized by the individual's pervasive need to avoid interpersonal relationships for fear of...
Several types of medications help treat anxiety conditions. Some work on a variety of anxiety disorders and others are used to treat specific conditions. The medicines treat symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder,...
For less severe cases of social anxiety disorders, counseling and behavioral or cognitive therapy can help a patient determine the cause of their anxiety and how to deal with it. A therapist may recommend that the patient keep a journal of their...
Everyone suffers from a bit of anxiety at times. Anxiety is a normal response to stressful situations. When anxiety interferes with daily living, it indicates there is a problem. According to MedlinePlus, there are different degrees of anxiety,...
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry or abnormal reactions to stress. Major types of anxiety disorders include social phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic...
Various anxiety medications are available to help the approximately 40 million U.S. adults who suffer from anxiety disorders every year, according to 2010 estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health. The American Psychiatric Association...
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), an estimated 40 million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, which include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder,...
Darkness, animals, separation anxiety and fear of shots at the doctor's office are common fears that children have. Fear is normal in children, and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), close to 45 percent of children aged 6 to 12...
Stress "can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious," according to the National Institutes of Health, which adds that anxiety "is a feeling of apprehension or fear." However, the institute points out...
Anxious depression is a condition where anxiety and depression symptoms co-exist. As a result, many cases of anxious depression can be severe, according to a 1998 article in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." Treatment is also a problem, as it...
According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 40 million adults in the United States (about 18 percent) suffer from anxiety disorders every year. There are six different types of disorders and accompanying...
People with depression, anxiety and panic disorders benefit from counseling, but usually need medication to control symptoms as part of their overall treatment. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that causes unexpected and severe anxiety...
