an article from here
Suffering From Social Networking Anxiety Disorder
Written by Nicole Ferraro
Social networking is fab, isn't it? The rekindled friendships, the fun quizzes and game applications, the mind-altering, crippling anxiety...
This could just be the before-effects of Memorial Day bar-b-que fumes decaying my remaining brain matter, but I think it's time to coin a new buzzphrase: Social Networking Anxiety Disorder, or as we'll call it from here on out, SNAD.
To be clear, SNAD is a bit different from what psychiatrists have defined as Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD. According to the DSM IV, the guidebook to all things mental, SAD is "a 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" (a.k.a. "Life").
SNAD, on the other hand, is caused by stress from the pressures of social networking: the constant Friend requests, Scrabulous requests, photo tag requests, group and event invitations... Consider also the anxiety of creating things like "limited profiles," carefully managing how much of ourselves to reveal to our virtual associates -- and that accompanying, nagging, guilty question: "Will this person realize I restricted his ability to see my Super Wall?"
Speaking on a recent O'Reilly Webcast ( The Facebook Application Ecosystem: Why Some Thrive -- and Most Don't), Shelly Farnham, doctor of social psychology, said, "A common problem in social networking applications is it's hard to say no to people who want to be your friend," adding that a number of applications ease this pain by allowing you to isolate 25 Friends (e.g., Top Friends).
But what about when someone you don't consider to be a "Top Friend" per se requests to be part of that elite list? Truth be told, our social algorithms and applications just can't capture the complexities of human relationships.
Not sure if you're suffering? Here are three symptoms of SNAD to look out for. If you have any of these, you should contact your mental-health-professional avatar immediately.
1. You were considering breaking up with your significant other, but decided to stick it out because of the anxiety associated with changing your Relationship Status on Facebook and de-tagging hundreds of photos.
2. You currently have 36+ Friend requests festering on Facebook or MySpace, which have built up month over month because you don't want your rejection to send these strangers on a downward, emotional spiral.
3. You belong to several groups including "I Skin Cats on Sundays" and "Cousins Make Great Husbands," because, well, they were nice enough to invite you...
Silly symptoms aside, it's true that there's a certain anxiety that comes along with social networking, whether it's from the pressure of keeping people up to date, or the guilt in rejecting a Friend request. Certainly, if we recognize something like Internet Addiction and set up camps for the sufferers, we can recognize the mental tolls of social networking.
You could, of course, just make your profile private to all but a few special Friends. But once one less special Friend finds out you have a profile you've never told her about, it's right back to the days of nail biting, hives, and Lexapro.
— Nicole Ferraro, Site Editor, Internet Evolution
Showing posts with label Social Anxiety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Anxiety. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
My Social Anxiety - Personal Story
I need to go shopping. There is no food for the kids. I cannot wait for my husband to go shopping on his way home from work. They need lunch, why can I not just jump in the car and go to the shops? I know I will throw them in the car and go through a drive through, that way I am in and out and home again in no time. How long can I keep this up, is it laziness or is there something else going on? I go to work everyday, I smile, my customer service is at an optimum, so why is it the moment I step out those big double doors, I remove a mask and go back into hiding. My mask is the facade that there is nothing going on here, I am fine, I portray my confidence, people seem to like me, so why is it that judgment is crippling me? Oh my god, look what she is wearing, oh no her hair is a mess, she has stuff on her face, her shoes don’t match her skirt, these are all the things that my head fills with every time I walk out of my house without my mask…
With a simple trip to the local shopping centre I would feel stiff, anxious and fearful that everyone is laughing at me. My heart races, I can’t concentrate, my eyes flicker around to see who is looking at me. All this before I go through the checkout and endure what the young lady is going to ask me. My mind is on overload, get the job done and get home. I was living in a world made up of my own thoughts and judgments. Who needs to worry about others negative thoughts, when I was already doing it for them? Enough was enough. I needed to change how I could provide a wonderful life for my children if I was unwilling to let them explore it. Our weekends were usually spent in the house or garden, never venturing out further than my sister’s house.
I needed to change. I was ready to embark on one of the most powerful and amazing journeys of my life, exploring myself deeper than ever before. Learning to meditate was the first step. Sitting with myself long enough to let the negative thoughts ease gave me the permission to just relax. The next step was therapy. Therapy was the scariest experience, releasing years of built up sadness and anger, and I choose to do all this in a group with forty eyes piercing judgment at me. I shed tears, I learnt to laugh again, and began to trust not only others but in myself. Overtime, I learnt that the only person that was judging me was me, that only person that didn’t like me, was me, and the only person that didn’t like the way I looked, was me.
It was in an exercise where I had to place a scary mask on (you know the kind the rubbery latex dress up masks like out of scary movie or Freddie Kruger), where it all hit me like a ten foot wave. As I stood in front of the mirror looking at the person before me, all I could see was me, not the scary mask but the person that I had become. My chest became heavy, tears streamed down my cheeks and fear engulfed me. That scary monster that was reflecting back at me was the person I feared more than anything…ME. I pulled the mask off gulping for air. It had all become very clear. How did I get to this point, why did I hate myself so much?
Step by step with help from a therapist, I began to look deeper inside myself to find a beautiful, powerful woman. Years of built up self judgment began to melt away. When I look in a mirror now I see small wrinkles beginning to form, an overweight body needing attention, but more than that, I see a woman living her life, exploring every inch of herself and the world around her. I still have bad days where judgment seeps through, but I now have the tools to push it away. I see my children’s eyes swollen with pride as they see the difference. I have opened up a whole new world for all of us. Life is so hard at the best of times and I know that the phrase “it is easier said than done” better than anyone, but if I had not taken the first step and reached out for help, I would still be forced to live in a world that was not much fun.
Social anxiety is the fear of social situations and the interaction with other people that can automatically bring on feelings of self-consciousness, judgment, evaluation, and criticism. Social anxiety is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation and depression.
Don’t listen to anyone that says "face your fears and they’ll go away". Sorry, but they don’t understand the dynamics of social anxiety. Getting over social anxiety disorder is not an easy task. Cognitive-behavioural therapy and meditation is a good start for treatment of social anxiety. This will support you in understanding and gaining awareness of your problem. Take a deep breath and take one step at a time.
By Georgette (ACAP Placement Student)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Social Anxiety and Helpful Ways of Managing It
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or also known as Social Phobia is not to be confused with shyness. Social Phobia is far more intense than shyness, and can interfere with ones daily functioning. People with social phobia want to interact with others, but are overcome with fear and much distress.
Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer fears social or performance situations or being scrutinized by others and therefore, they are afraid of embarrassing or humiliating themselves in public. Exposure to the feared situation almost instantly provokes anxiety, which may take the form of panic attacks. The feared social or performance situations are either avoided or endured with anxiety or distress and interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational or social functioning. Public speaking is one of the most common anxiety-provoking situations for people in general and it is the single situation most commonly feared by SAD patients as well. Other situations most feared by people suffering from social phobia are eating in front of others, dealing with authority figures or unfamiliar people, dating, performing on stage and informal speaking, which is avoided by 71%. When put in these social or performance situations sufferers may become anxious and have symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, blushing or even sweating.
Social Phobia has two subtypes: specific or generalised phobia. Specific phobia refers to when the sufferer may only fear and/or avoid only one specific situation whereas the generalised subtype is when one may be concerned about several social or performance situations. Risk factors for social phobia include: early experiences of embarrassment, humiliation or scrutiny by others in social or performance situations, and having rigid rules of social behaviour, such as always having to sound intelligent or fluent. Parenting influences can also put children at risk for developing social phobia. For example, parents with elevated self-criticism or those that encourage avoidance of threatening situations which build coping and resilience.
There are some helpful tips and treatments readily available to effectively manage and reduce social anxiety in social or performance situations. Taking slow, deep breaths in a controlled manner in socially anxious situations can be a great way to reduce social anxiety and manage social phobia. Take deep, long breaths and feel your stomach and chest rise with each inhalation and exhale slowly.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to focus externally rather than internally. SAD is based on intense feelings of dread, fear and apprehension in social settings. Sometimes, people suffering from social anxiety are so involved in their own physical symptoms and discomfort that everything else vanishes into the background. However, by trying to focus on external rather than internal stimuli - such as the people, conversations and information around you - attention may be diverted away from any physical sensations and allow for better social functioning and reduced social anxiety.
It may also be helpful to try and identify and remove deeply ingrained fears and false beliefs. Even though that may be easier said than done, negative thoughts, false beliefs, prior conditioning, self-esteem issues only help to feed social anxiety. By challenging and refuting these negative beliefs and irrational thoughts, great healing and change can occur. A popular and widely available therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps you change your thought patterns, beliefs, feelings, and behavior associated with the phobia and much research has shown it can be highly successful.
Taking small steps is vital to help overcome social phobia and build social confidence. Exposure therapy is frequently used for social phobia. By gradually exposing the person to feared social situations, usually beginning with small exposures and then slowly moving onto longer exposures, the brain is learning that the social or performance situation it once feared is actually not so bad. Social skills training may also help a person suffering from social phobia to become more confident in certain feared social or performance situations.
Lastly, Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests that if you suffer from social anxiety disorder you should try avoiding isolation during the holidays as it only reinforces social anxiety. If friends, family or others who you may feel comfortable with are available then keep in contact with them. It may also be beneficial to leave time for relaxation, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. It should also however, be kept in mind that social anxiety is likely to get worse if left untreated.
References:
Bandelow, B., & Stein, D.J. (2004). Social Anxiety Disorder. Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York.
http://www.socialphobia.org/
http://www.au.reachout.com/
www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/easing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays
http://www.ehow.com/ - How to Reduce and Manage Social Anxiety
By Aly—ADAVIC Volunteer
Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer fears social or performance situations or being scrutinized by others and therefore, they are afraid of embarrassing or humiliating themselves in public. Exposure to the feared situation almost instantly provokes anxiety, which may take the form of panic attacks. The feared social or performance situations are either avoided or endured with anxiety or distress and interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational or social functioning. Public speaking is one of the most common anxiety-provoking situations for people in general and it is the single situation most commonly feared by SAD patients as well. Other situations most feared by people suffering from social phobia are eating in front of others, dealing with authority figures or unfamiliar people, dating, performing on stage and informal speaking, which is avoided by 71%. When put in these social or performance situations sufferers may become anxious and have symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, blushing or even sweating.
Social Phobia has two subtypes: specific or generalised phobia. Specific phobia refers to when the sufferer may only fear and/or avoid only one specific situation whereas the generalised subtype is when one may be concerned about several social or performance situations. Risk factors for social phobia include: early experiences of embarrassment, humiliation or scrutiny by others in social or performance situations, and having rigid rules of social behaviour, such as always having to sound intelligent or fluent. Parenting influences can also put children at risk for developing social phobia. For example, parents with elevated self-criticism or those that encourage avoidance of threatening situations which build coping and resilience.
There are some helpful tips and treatments readily available to effectively manage and reduce social anxiety in social or performance situations. Taking slow, deep breaths in a controlled manner in socially anxious situations can be a great way to reduce social anxiety and manage social phobia. Take deep, long breaths and feel your stomach and chest rise with each inhalation and exhale slowly.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to focus externally rather than internally. SAD is based on intense feelings of dread, fear and apprehension in social settings. Sometimes, people suffering from social anxiety are so involved in their own physical symptoms and discomfort that everything else vanishes into the background. However, by trying to focus on external rather than internal stimuli - such as the people, conversations and information around you - attention may be diverted away from any physical sensations and allow for better social functioning and reduced social anxiety.
It may also be helpful to try and identify and remove deeply ingrained fears and false beliefs. Even though that may be easier said than done, negative thoughts, false beliefs, prior conditioning, self-esteem issues only help to feed social anxiety. By challenging and refuting these negative beliefs and irrational thoughts, great healing and change can occur. A popular and widely available therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps you change your thought patterns, beliefs, feelings, and behavior associated with the phobia and much research has shown it can be highly successful.
Taking small steps is vital to help overcome social phobia and build social confidence. Exposure therapy is frequently used for social phobia. By gradually exposing the person to feared social situations, usually beginning with small exposures and then slowly moving onto longer exposures, the brain is learning that the social or performance situation it once feared is actually not so bad. Social skills training may also help a person suffering from social phobia to become more confident in certain feared social or performance situations.
Lastly, Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests that if you suffer from social anxiety disorder you should try avoiding isolation during the holidays as it only reinforces social anxiety. If friends, family or others who you may feel comfortable with are available then keep in contact with them. It may also be beneficial to leave time for relaxation, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. It should also however, be kept in mind that social anxiety is likely to get worse if left untreated.
References:
Bandelow, B., & Stein, D.J. (2004). Social Anxiety Disorder. Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York.
http://www.socialphobia.org/
http://www.au.reachout.com/
www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/easing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays
http://www.ehow.com/ - How to Reduce and Manage Social Anxiety
By Aly—ADAVIC Volunteer
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Social Anxiety Group
RMIT University Psychology Clinic is holding a Social Anxiety Group from the 29th of October for 8 weeks for any one suffering from Social Anxiety.
Social Anxiety affects 2-3% of the Australian Population, occuring equalling in both men and women. Social Anxiety is an intense and overwhelming fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things the will embarrass them. They will have either a general or specific fear about social situations that interferes with the individuals work, school and other ordinary activities, even making and spending time with friends.
If you are interested in participating in the Social Anxiety Group or would like more information, please call the clinic on 9925 7603
Social Anxiety affects 2-3% of the Australian Population, occuring equalling in both men and women. Social Anxiety is an intense and overwhelming fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things the will embarrass them. They will have either a general or specific fear about social situations that interferes with the individuals work, school and other ordinary activities, even making and spending time with friends.
If you are interested in participating in the Social Anxiety Group or would like more information, please call the clinic on 9925 7603
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Group Therapy Program: Overcoming anxiety in social situations
Group therapy can be an important part of learning to overcome social anxiety.
Swinburne Uni, in collaboration with Gestalt Therapy Australia, is starting a group therapy program aimed at assisting people to better manage their social anxiety.
Group Details:
Start Date: Mid-June
Location: 333 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield
Duration: One Saturday morning seminar, followed by 8 weekly sessions from 6.30 – 8.30pm on Tuesday nights.
Program fee: $265
For further information contact the Swinburne Psychology Clinic on
(03) 9214 8653, and ask for the Gestalt Social Anxiety Group.
Swinburne Uni, in collaboration with Gestalt Therapy Australia, is starting a group therapy program aimed at assisting people to better manage their social anxiety.
Group Details:
Start Date: Mid-June
Location: 333 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield
Duration: One Saturday morning seminar, followed by 8 weekly sessions from 6.30 – 8.30pm on Tuesday nights.
Program fee: $265
For further information contact the Swinburne Psychology Clinic on
(03) 9214 8653, and ask for the Gestalt Social Anxiety Group.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Looking for Research Participants!
Social Anxiety and Substance Use
Swinburne University is seeking individuals who experience anxiety in social situations for a study which is investigating the relationship between social anxiety, personality, coping strategies, beliefs about the use of alcohol, and use of substances. We are interested in exploring why some people with social anxiety use alcohol or other substances whilst others don’t.
We are interested in people who experience anxiety in social situations who are 18 years old or older.
As a participant you will be required to take part in a clinical interview (either in person or by phone) and to complete a questionnaire pack. Answering questions during the interview and completing the self-report questionnaire should take no more than 45 minutes in total.
If you are interested in being a part of this study, please contact Annette Raber (Associate Investigator) via email: annetteraber@gmail.com
or by phone: 0459 775 739.
If you have any questions or comments about the study, please forward them on to Annette Raber or Professor Michael Kyrios (Principal Investigator) via email: mkyrios@swin.edu.au
Swinburne University is seeking individuals who experience anxiety in social situations for a study which is investigating the relationship between social anxiety, personality, coping strategies, beliefs about the use of alcohol, and use of substances. We are interested in exploring why some people with social anxiety use alcohol or other substances whilst others don’t.
We are interested in people who experience anxiety in social situations who are 18 years old or older.
As a participant you will be required to take part in a clinical interview (either in person or by phone) and to complete a questionnaire pack. Answering questions during the interview and completing the self-report questionnaire should take no more than 45 minutes in total.
If you are interested in being a part of this study, please contact Annette Raber (Associate Investigator) via email: annetteraber@gmail.com
or by phone: 0459 775 739.
If you have any questions or comments about the study, please forward them on to Annette Raber or Professor Michael Kyrios (Principal Investigator) via email: mkyrios@swin.edu.au
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Surviving the Interview Process!
- If you read October’s article ‘Dealing with Gaps in your Resume’, you may be interested in wising up on the interview process. Of course this is where our anxiety usually accelerates as we move towards the business end of the application process.
At this point it is best remembered that we are only human and, more importantly, so are the people interviewing us. We all make mistakes and perform badly on occasion and, yes - that includes your potential employer. So, it really doesn’t matter what happens - you will survive. It is not the last job on earth!
Whether you are an anxious person or not, preparation is the key when it comes to blitzing an interview. Think about your strengths and prepare examples of how you have demonstrated these in the past. ‘Interview Stuff’ is an excellent website if you are wanting to practice your answers to potential ‘tricky’ questions. You can access this by typing www.interviewstuff.com into your browser.
Before you attend an interview, make sure you know as much about the company/ business as possible. For example: How big is the company? What products or services do they provide? What is their culture? How did they start up? Remember that this is also your opportunity to ask questions that may help you make a more informed decision about whether or not you will be comfortable working for this employer or organisation. Don’t be scared to take notes!
Be aware that you will be asked questions about your resume, so be clear about your ‘story’ regarding work history before you go in and practice answering likely questions. Remember that you don’t need to divulge your entire life story - you are really providing information on a ’need to know’ basis, so stick to answering the questions and don’t go off on a tangent.
If you have been out of work for a long time be clear about your reasons and put a positive spin on it regardless. For example, you may explain that you were seriously considering your next move and are looking for something in which you can settle and contribute over the long term.
This works particularly well if you are moving from one industry to another or one mode of service to another ie. retail to administration, indoor to outdoor, customer service to behind the scenes etc.
If you find yourself stuck trying to think of a reasonable explanation consider CLAMPS:
Challenge: You weren’t able to grow professionally in that position
Location: The commute was too long
Advancement: There was nowhere for you to go.
Money: You were underpaid for your skills and contribution.
Pride or Prestige: You wanted to be with a better company.
Security: The company or your position was not stable.
Once you feel comfortable with explaining where you are at, spend some time thinking about how you might answer some of the following common ‘tricky’ questions:
Why do you want to work here?
What did you like/dislike about your last job?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Why should I employ you?
Tell me about yourself
What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
What are your salary expectations?
At the end of the day remember that the interviewer is in the spotlight too. They are ‘selling’ you the company/role. It is important to keep in mind that an interview is, at worst, a learning experience. Don’t be shy about contacting the employer and asking for feedback if you don’t succeed. It is all useful information and it actually shows how determined and adaptable you are if you follow up. Who knows, maybe that same employer will consider you in future should you take the opportunity to imprint your wonderful self on their mind!
By Kate Henderson
For tips on how to prepare for the interview process visit:
http://www.seek.com.au/career-resources/get-your-dream-job/interview-success.ascx
Monday, February 21, 2011
Anna's Story...
(Note: This story is not on Anna Kouloubos, Managing Director of ADAVIC)
Anna’s Story
Hi my name is Anna, and I’m a 22 year old university student who has social phobia. I’m not exactly sure when this all started for me, I can remember being a happy-go-lucky child but my teenage years were pretty stressful. I remember the phobia becoming a real problem when I left high school and started Uni. I would just become absolutely terrified at the prospect of being asked questions in lectures or appearing strange or different to everyone else in my classes. I was really frightened that I would embarrass myself by saying something or doing something stupid and that everyone would laugh at me. It really affected my studies, I found it hard to go to my lectures and if I did go I would end up panicking and have to sneak out of the room. I would always sit at the back close to the exit so that I could just slink out when it all became too much. I worried that the lecturers thought that I was lazy or unable to do the work, and that my classmates would just think that I was weird, and that made my anxiety worse. I also found social situations extremely difficult, especially large groups, and at my age that’s something that is really hard to deal with and explain to others. When the anxiety hit I felt like I had no control over myself, I would shake, my heart would pound, and then there’s the sweating and feeling of hot then cold. I would become short of breath and my chest would tighten. So many times I was convinced I would die, or that I had contracted a horrible disease. I finally decided to look for help and that’s when I found PADA. I had a talk with them over the phone and they made me feel very comfortable. I attended an info session with my best friend in town and then we decided to attend a weekend workshop together. I was terrified and I was getting all of those horrible feelings, but I was determined to get some help. I found both the info session and the workshop very helpful, and I was so relieved to find that there were others who felt the same as me. I am now working through this with my psychologist and things are better. I’m back at Uni on a part time basis. Some days are still really hard. Especially when I see others sitting around chatting and socializing in the cafeteria, and I hear people talk about what a fantastic night out they had. It still makes me sad sometimes, but I’m lucky I have a couple of very supportive friends who are always around to lend a hand, and Mum seems to be a bit more understanding these days.
One day that will be me chatting and laughing with a big group of friends planning our next night out. I have faith in myself and the determination to continue on this journey however long and winding it may be.
You should join me!
Re-printed with permission from The Panic Anxiety Disorder Association (South Australia)
Anna’s Story
Hi my name is Anna, and I’m a 22 year old university student who has social phobia. I’m not exactly sure when this all started for me, I can remember being a happy-go-lucky child but my teenage years were pretty stressful. I remember the phobia becoming a real problem when I left high school and started Uni. I would just become absolutely terrified at the prospect of being asked questions in lectures or appearing strange or different to everyone else in my classes. I was really frightened that I would embarrass myself by saying something or doing something stupid and that everyone would laugh at me. It really affected my studies, I found it hard to go to my lectures and if I did go I would end up panicking and have to sneak out of the room. I would always sit at the back close to the exit so that I could just slink out when it all became too much. I worried that the lecturers thought that I was lazy or unable to do the work, and that my classmates would just think that I was weird, and that made my anxiety worse. I also found social situations extremely difficult, especially large groups, and at my age that’s something that is really hard to deal with and explain to others. When the anxiety hit I felt like I had no control over myself, I would shake, my heart would pound, and then there’s the sweating and feeling of hot then cold. I would become short of breath and my chest would tighten. So many times I was convinced I would die, or that I had contracted a horrible disease. I finally decided to look for help and that’s when I found PADA. I had a talk with them over the phone and they made me feel very comfortable. I attended an info session with my best friend in town and then we decided to attend a weekend workshop together. I was terrified and I was getting all of those horrible feelings, but I was determined to get some help. I found both the info session and the workshop very helpful, and I was so relieved to find that there were others who felt the same as me. I am now working through this with my psychologist and things are better. I’m back at Uni on a part time basis. Some days are still really hard. Especially when I see others sitting around chatting and socializing in the cafeteria, and I hear people talk about what a fantastic night out they had. It still makes me sad sometimes, but I’m lucky I have a couple of very supportive friends who are always around to lend a hand, and Mum seems to be a bit more understanding these days.
One day that will be me chatting and laughing with a big group of friends planning our next night out. I have faith in myself and the determination to continue on this journey however long and winding it may be.
You should join me!
Re-printed with permission from The Panic Anxiety Disorder Association (South Australia)
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