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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Do I need help?
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.
Do I need help?
by Cheryl, Oct 16, 1999 12:00AM
It is obvious that I need a doctor to help me. I do not relate to people well and as a result live alone. Unfortunatelty this problem is causing me great difficulty on my job. I truly do not know how to change my personality anymore than how to change the color of my eyes or the shape of my nose. Why am I like this?
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Oct 19, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Cheryl,
An inability to relate to people may have multiple reasons.
From the information provided, it seems you may have Social phobia or what is now called Social Anxiety disorder .
A phobia is an irrational fear that leads to a conscious avoidance of a feared activity, subject or situation and usually disrupt people's ability to function in life. Phobias are one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Social phobia 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. People may assume this is shyness rather than a bonafide medical condition.
The good news is that this is a treatable disorder.
A combination of medications particularly antidepressants called SSRI's (Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors)and cognitive-behavioral therapy/ exposure techniques are helpful in this condition.
You may also have Avoidant Personality Disorder
People with this disorder are hypersensitive to rejection which may lead to a socially withdrawn life. They show a great desire for companionship but are characterized as being timid with low
self-esteem. I would recommend that you contact a trained Mental Health Professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
If you are in the Detroit area you may contact 248-689-7476.
Best Wishes.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-SW
An inability to relate to people may have multiple reasons.
From the information provided, it seems you may have Social phobia or what is now called Social Anxiety disorder .
A phobia is an irrational fear that leads to a conscious avoidance of a feared activity, subject or situation and usually disrupt people's ability to function in life. Phobias are one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Social phobia 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. People may assume this is shyness rather than a bonafide medical condition.
The good news is that this is a treatable disorder.
A combination of medications particularly antidepressants called SSRI's (Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors)and cognitive-behavioral therapy/ exposure techniques are helpful in this condition.
You may also have Avoidant Personality Disorder
People with this disorder are hypersensitive to rejection which may lead to a socially withdrawn life. They show a great desire for companionship but are characterized as being timid with low
self-esteem. I would recommend that you contact a trained Mental Health Professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
If you are in the Detroit area you may contact 248-689-7476.
Best Wishes.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-SW
