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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Advancing social anxiety
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Advancing social anxiety
by raymond, Dec 26, 1999 12:00AM
My name is Ray, I am 28 years old, and Married. Over the course of my life I have battled with depression, and what I believe to be a learning disability. This christmas My wife was returning to Phoenix, AZ to be with her family, and I was welcomed with warm arms, but I could not bring myself to go. The thought of travaling to the airport being on the plane, to just be away from home for six days, filled me with a kind of paralysis. This has happened before in minor ways like not wanting to go out for social events, or being able to hold a job. The opposing pressures of needing to support myself, and assist my wife, who does work, and not being able to force myself out to find a job seems to grow everyday, and is already monumental to me. Everyday that I don't look, or when I apply and am rejected pushes me further into isolation. I don't know what to do or who to turn to for help. I can't afford therapy, even when we had insurance, and especially now that I am not working. I am really hoping to be able to find some help.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Dec 27, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Ray,
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common groups of psychiatric disorders. It seems you may have Social phobia or what is now called Social Anxiety Disorder.
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others and exposure to the situation may provoke anxiety. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable and avoids those situations.
The good news is that this is a treatable disorder. A combination of medications and cognitive -behavioral therapy seem to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. SSRI (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa are the drugs of choice. Other medications like benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants and MAOI's are proven to be effective.
Since you are not employed or have insurance you may qualify for Community Mental Health programs.
Contact your local hospital or mental health provider for information on how to contact Community Mental Health.
Best Wishes,
HFHS M.D.-SW
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common groups of psychiatric disorders. It seems you may have Social phobia or what is now called Social Anxiety Disorder.
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others and exposure to the situation may provoke anxiety. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable and avoids those situations.
The good news is that this is a treatable disorder. A combination of medications and cognitive -behavioral therapy seem to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. SSRI (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa are the drugs of choice. Other medications like benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants and MAOI's are proven to be effective.
Since you are not employed or have insurance you may qualify for Community Mental Health programs.
Contact your local hospital or mental health provider for information on how to contact Community Mental Health.
Best Wishes,
HFHS M.D.-SW
Member Comments (2)
by marie, Dec 26, 1999 12:00AM
MY GIRLFRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ITALKED HER INTO SEEING HER FAMILY DR. AND HE GAVE HER PAXIL. SHE HAS BEEN ON IT FOR 2 MONTHS AND IS 100% BETTER I WAS SO HAPPY FOR HER SHE SAID SHE SHE IS SO THANKFUL SHE LISTENED TO ME. PLEASE TRY TO SEE A DR. YOUR WIFE AND KIDS NEED YOU AND YOU NEED A LIFE AND YOURSELF BACK.
