LiveWellTalk - Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) Social Anxiety Disorder ( SAD ), which is also referred to as Social Phobia , is a disorder that causes a person to feel intense fear in social situations that involve interaction with other people, or in public performances, such as public speaking. People with social anxiety often fear that they are being watched, judged, and evaluated by other people. It is often confused with shyness or low self-esteem. According to the Social Anxiety Association, Social Anxiety Disorder is the third largest psychological problem in the world today. [Ref.  ILLINOIS LIBRARY ] The fear that people with social anxiety experience is brought on by many different types of social situations, including speaking in public, speaking to strangers or meeting new people, using public restrooms, speaking on the telephone, eating, drinking, or writing in public, attending parties or large gatherings, talking to authority figures, talking to co-workers, shopping, com...

Social Anxiety In modern society, it can often be challenging to cope with a variety of situations, and social anxiety is an increasingly common issue that often starts in the teenage years. There is so much pressure on people that it’s no surprise that many of us develop a fear of social situations. This problem usually gets easier in later life as we become more experienced, but for some, it doesn’t, and this can have a profound impact on mental health and well-being. Social anxiety is more than simply being shy in the company. It can be a dread of everyday activities such as meeting people, constant worry about getting things wrong, and often shows in symptoms such as being physically sick when faced with social situations. With  social anxiety disorder (a.k.a social phobia) you desperately want to avoid any situation that would lead to judgment and embarrassment. Plus, you're worried that you'll be found lacking. The fear of being judged is so intense that you avoid peop...

What is a phobia? A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where the sufferer experiences a persistent dread of a specific situation, creature, or place. It is characterized by an abnormal fear attached to a particular event. For example, David, developed a phobic response to snakes, after being cornered in the bathroom one time when he was a teenager. David is now 32 years old and still “runs a mile” when he sees snakes – even at the zoo. He, like all sufferers, has an overwhelming desire to keep away from anything that remotely reminds him of snakes, and he chooses not to go to the garden or go on holidays in the country because of it. Phobic individuals will do anything to avoid their particular perceived source of danger, which, is greater in their own minds, than what is there in reality. Sufferers will experience great distress when confronted by their “danger” and it can interfere with normal life… quite severely if not taken control of. Anyone who suffers from phobias has a ...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by a range of distressing symptoms that persist for an extended period, affecting various aspects of an individual's life. In this article, we will delve into the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and coping strategies associated with PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) can develop after one is exposed to one or more terrifying events that threaten or caused grave physical harm. It is also a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma. PTSD has far-reaching effects on a wider population than most people would like to think. Although prevalent with the men and women in uniform who are deployed in battlegrounds, PTSD affects a whole lot of other individuals ranging from kids to the elderly. The aftermath of a disaster, whether natural or man...

Adjustment Disorder Life is stressful. Many of these stressors are obvious and easy to identify - death (of a spouse, loved one, or friend), divorce, marital separation, jail term, personal injury or illness, being fired or other problems in career/occupation, legal or financial trouble, family conflict, etc. But there are many less obvious stressors we encounter every day that have smoothly and surreptitiously integrated themselves into our regular daily routine. Some of these feel so normal that they are practically invisible. Commitments (towards job/profession, to our children, spouses, our home, community, and more…) Procrastination – postponing stuff to pile up stresses us out Disorganization – visual clutter making it difficult to find the stuff we need stresses us out Being late – then having to rush to get ready, rush to get there - always stresses us out Exerting control over our environment - is a sure way to get stressed out Multitasking – actuality slows...