There is no proof that Social Phobia is hereditary. Some epidemiologic data suggest it, but there are not enough elements to warrant a conclusion. The same occurrence in one of the parents cannot be regarded as evidence. A person's self-concept, values, and beliefs, as well as many current feelings and emotions, may have their roots in childhood, when the self was being formed.

Social Phobia is classified in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (CID-10), as an anxious disorder. Thus, this classification speaks of Social Phobia inserted into a wider group of Anxious Disorders. The expression "disease" has been abandoned by several areas of medicine, including Psychiatry. At times it is used more as a force of habit rather than intentionally.

Social Phobia can be eliminated by psychotherapy, even if the existence of genetic or biochemical factors associated to the psychological process is admitted. Given the fact that anxiety is very high, panic attacks being common, medication may be needed.

No. It cannot be said that one approach is more effective than the others for Social Anxiety Disorder. Even though some therapists say so, there is no scientific proof of it. The hard fact is that there is no time-honored tradition in the different schools of psychotherapy, except for some exceptions, of assessing treatment outcomes. This is also due to the difficulty of having reliable instruments to carry out such measurements.

Social Anxiety Disorder generates great uncertainty. The person knows that, all of a sudden, she may face a hazardous situation. Even though the person puts up defenses and avoids social contacts as much as possible, life and obligations do not always make this practice possible. Thus, anxiety attacks end up occurring. Most sufferers of Social Anxiety Disorder live in a permanent hazardous state.

The impact varies with the individual. For some, social anxiety is limited to a very specific kind of performance, such as giving a speech or playing a musical instrument for an audience. For others, the anxiety is much more generalized and can prevent them from eating in public restaurants or using public lavatories. It can interfere with education and affect building and maintaining friendships or romantic relationships.

Yes, many medications yield good results, and all over the world sufferers of Social Anxiety Disorder are being treated exclusively with them. On the other hand, medications are ineffective in a small percentage of persons, due to special metabolic conditions of a genetic nature. Many professionals, the author of this website among them, prefer an association of medication and psychotherapy.

Because scientists are still striving to determine what causes the disorder, they do not know how to prevent social phobia. Mental health professionals urge people who suspect they have a problem to seek treatment right away. With early intervention, there is hope that as quality-of-life improves, some of the problems related to social phobia can be avoided or reduced. People with social phobia, for example, are at an increased risk of alcoholism.

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Generally not in most people. Social phobia is generally viewed as a chronic condition requiring intervention. Some people can conquer it on their own if they develop the appropriate skills. In most cases, however, professional assistance is recommended.

Social phobia cannot be detected through a blood sample or an X-ray. Instead, it is diagnosed based on information provided to a physician or therapist during a clinical interview. Having a family member with social phobia appears to heighten one’s risk slightly for developing it. The family influence appears to be related to both genetic and environmental sources.

Various studies have shown that up to 10 percent of children may have a shy and anxious predisposition from earliest childhood. Whether these are the people who go on to develop social phobia remains to be answered. Most studies of social phobia have indicated that the average age of disorder onset is in the teenage years.

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a very rare and potentially life threatening genetic condition that occurs in about 1/10,000 to 1/50,000 people. HAE symptoms include episodes of edema (swelling) in various body parts including the hands, feet, face, and airway. In addition, patients often have bouts of excruciating abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting that is caused by swelling in the intestinal wall. Airway swelling is particularly dangerous and can lead to death by asphyxiation.

Heredity does seem to play a role. Ten percent of lupus patients have a first-degree relative (sister, daughter, son, mother) or a second-degree relative (aunt, uncle, first cousin) with lupus. Therefore, 90 percent of lupus patients DO NOT have relatives with lupus. Even in identical twins, when one sibling has lupus and the other twin does not, it is believed there are environmental factors that play an important role.

No, hammertoes and bunions are caused by pathomechanics, although shoe gear can aggravate the symptoms that can cause these problems.

ESB has proved to be a very useful treatment for social phobia, the best that there is. While the medication (pharmacotherapy) and psychotherapy give relief in 50 to 70 % of the cases, ESB helps in 85 % of the cases, and at much better level of life quality. This has been proved to be so statistically higly significantly in a University based study of more than 200 patients. ESB often reduces the ambient redness in the face, even if it is performed at levels T3 or T4 for sweating symptoms.

Susceptibility can be affected by hereditary (inherited) genes in as much as they are thought to influence the likelihood of getting Alopecia. About 25% of patients have a family history of the disorder (Bertolino, 2000). However, your genes alone are not going to make Alopecia occur. Neither are you going to pass on an 'Alopecia gene' to your children.

There is an increase in AMD among children of AMD patients. This is one more reason why your children, after age 40, should have regular eye exams at least every other year.

It is more correct to say that there is evidence of a strong family history and genetic relationship to bipolar disorder.