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.

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 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.

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.

There isn't a ready, out-of-the-box cure for emetophobia or any other phobia. Some people suggest desensitizing phobics to vomit. Densensitization supposedly culminates with the phobic inducing vomiting. But that isn't the best option. This is because many phobics are already around vomiters (usually their children; additionally, phobic health care workers are exposed to their patients, and phobic teachers are exposed to their students).

I find that my phobia has varied in intensity over the years. There was a time when I was about 16 that I thought I was cured; I hardly ever worried about vomiting and preventing it then. When I was 18, it came back suddenly and with a vengeance. It did not prevent me from doing things I wanted to do that fall starting college, however. My fear gradually eased to the point where I call myself close to being cured.

No phobia, fear or anxiety is silly. Almost certainly our well trained hypnotherapists will have seen it before and will be able to deal with it. No worry is silly if it is affecting your life and it is worth doing something about it.

Moxibustion (heat therapy) is a great way to do a treatment without any needles at all. The results from moxibustion are as good or, in some cases, even better then needles. In fact, most of our patients receive a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion as part of their regular treatment.

A fear or anxiety associated with visiting a dentist is often referred to as dental phobia. Dental phobia is often the reason people avoid regular check-ups with a dentist. This naturally has serious consequences for the state of oral health and general well-being for many people. Neglecting your oral health can have numerous unfavorable effects. One of these could be chronically infected gums which can seriously compromise your ability to chew and digest. You may even lose teeth.

The Virtual Reality Medical Center employs psychologists and psychiatrists that are able to treat clients with traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This typically involves teaching stress and anxiety management techniques that can be used in any anxiety-inducing situation, and then exposing you to pictures and video and auditory stimuli of the phobic object. Some disorders will then involve exposure to the actual feared object in real life, when you are ready for this step.

Beats me. In my opinion, those who know about these techniques and continue to prescribe drugs are irresponsible. Others need to be educated. After you're improved feel free to educate them!