Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Social anxiety disorder – beyond shyness
Story at The Daily - "Social anxiety disorder, aptly described as "crippling shyness," usually begins in childhood or early adolescence, and the symptoms often persist for decades, a new study shows. The study, based on data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS): Mental Health and Well-being, provides further evidence supporting the description of the disorder as an 'illness of lost opportunities.' People with social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, go through life feeling extremely uncomfortable or paralyzed in social or work situations because of their intense fear of being scrutinized or embarrassed. They either totally avoid social encounters, or face them with dread." See also the full report (Adobe Acrobat format).