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Body Language and Social Anxiety Disorder

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:49:44 +0000

I have wanted to write an article about body language for some time now and... this is the month! As it turned out, my one article about body language morphed into a whole series. Seven in total.

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Zack Greinke Victim of "Rain Man" Comment After Errant Pitch

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:37:59 +0000

Recent events have thrust Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke back into the spotlight years after his original difficulties with social anxiety disorder (SAD). During a game against the San Diego Padres, Greinke through a pitch that hit Padres player Carlos Quentin. One thing led to another, and soon Greinke was left with a broken collarbone and Quentin with an eight-game suspension.

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Getting Things Done When You Have SAD

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:13:09 +0000

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Like there is too much to do and too little time? All the time?

I go through these phases I'm sure like anyone else. This month the to-do list is unmanageably long and time is short. Such is life with a not-yet-toddler. Actually he's not even crawling or sitting yet, so I am pretty much his only source of entertainment.

For those with social anxiety disorder (SAD), having a lot to do can also bring out an aspect of the disorder that doesn't get talked about too much. Procrastination!

How do those with SAD procrastinate? Procrastination is in essence a form of avoidance. People with SAD avoid anything to do with social or performance situations.

So you might procrastinate...

Making a work phone call
Starting work on a speech
Calling a friend
Talking to a supervisor
Leaving the house
Going shopping
Going to the bank

You might even procrastinate in less obvious ways....

If you fear the judgment of others, you might procrastinate....

Choosing gifts
Planning meals for guests
Starting an essay for school
Even eating!

The list is endless.

Social anxiety wreaks havoc with your ability to get things done, because you are constantly thinking about how others will perceive what you do, what you say, how you look or what you choose.

Part of overcoming the disorder is learning to a) understand and accept that others care less than you think they do (through cognitive-behavioral therapy), and b) get to the point that you can let the feelings of being judged and evaluated roll of your back instead of block your path (through acceptance and commitment therapy).

So my question for you is... is this you? Do you procrastinate because of your social anxiety?

Further Reading

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Easter 2013 Blog Roundup

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:28:14 +0000

Happy Easter Everyone! And Happy April Fool's Day right around the corner. Do you have any pranks planned?

I have, as they say in the world of writers, a bit of a block today. So, instead of tackling a new topic, reporting on a news item, or dealing with a human interest story, I will simply be doing a little roundup of all the new articles that were published on the site this month for those that might have missed one or more. Hope you enjoy them!

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Big Bang Theory Characters With SAD

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:36:37 +0000

Have you ever seen the show "The Big Bang Theory"? For months I listened as the show was on in the background; others were watching but I wasn't really tuning in. I didn't quite get the concept of a bunch of nerds as a sitcom. That and the voice of some of the characters grated on my last nerve.

But, slowly, I started paying attention. Turns out Sheldon Cooper is pretty funny if you listen to what he says. Although he has no formal diagnosis, if one were to categorize him Asperger's would come pretty close. He takes people literally and doesn't understand social conventions. Hats off to actor Jim Parsons for playing a character who never smiles or laughs. Must be tough!

Okay, enough preamble.

So I watched a new episode recently and guess what it was about? Social anxiety disorder!

One of the characters, Raj, who suffers with a specific type of social anxiety (he can't speak to women) was going on a date with a girl suffering with terrible social anxiety. The two of them met in the library for lunch and ended up having a texting date. They sat across from each other and texted instead of talking.

Although the idea sounds ridiculous and would only happen in a sitcom, it isn't far from what is happening in a lot of real life relationships these days. Email, chat and text have replaced phone and in-person meetings. For the younger generations anyway.

While this might seem like a good thing for those with social anxiety disorder, it may in fact only provide another way of avoiding social contact. Should Raj have forced himself to speak to his date instead of text? Maybe that was too big a step for him.

In the episode there is a miscommunication due to autocorrect (his date says she works for porn websites instead of prom websites). In reality, text-based communication leaves lots of room for misinterpretation. Body language and tone of voice communicate much more than words in a lot of cases. Without those cues, lots of misunderstandings will ensue.

So what is the recipe for a potential relationship between Raj and his date? Hopefully in coming episodes they will get off their phones and start talking to one another. Otherwise it is hard to imagine things between them getting off the ground in any real sense.

Fortunately they both have issues with social anxiety and are willing to help each other work through their barriers.

What do you think? Has text-based communication helped or hindered your relationships?

Further Reading

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Quotes to Ponder About Social Anxiety Disorder

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:07:38 +0000

Do you collect quotes? Little tidbits of wisdom sprinkled liberally throughout your day... perhaps coming in through your Facebook feed or by other means. For me, I subscribe to Positive Outlooks and the Garden of Thoughts on Facebook. A little bit of inspiration to keep going. Every once in a while a quote will really hit home.

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Bell Canada Let's Talk Day in Support of Mental Health

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 21:56:00 +0000

February 12th, 2013 is the Bell Let's Talk Day here in Canada in support of mental health. Canadians who are Bell Canada customers will help raise 5 cents for every text message they send and long distance call that they make.

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Royce White a Pioneer for Acceptance of Anxiety Disorders in Sport

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:14:07 +0000

Have you heard of Royce White? If you don't watch basketball, probably not. White was signed by the Houston Rockets and hasn't yet set foot on the court because of an anxiety disorder. Last night an agreement was reached, in which White will report to the Rocket's D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 11th.

White has battled with the Rockets about his anxiety disorder since being signed. He has asked for special accomodations to help him fulfil his commitments; things like travelling by RV instead of by airplane, due to his fear of flying.

White has also been vocal on Twitter about his anxiety; he is somewhat of a pioneer in asking for understanding and acceptance in a very public arena. He posts tweets with the hashtags #AnxietyTroopers and #BeWell.

Although it is not completely clear the nature of White's anxiety, some reports indicate he suffers from panic attacks, generalized fears, social fears, and specific phobias. In a video documentary, we learn about some of his issues and how he handled being drafted.

White is not the first athlete to struggle with mental health issues. Pitcher Zack Greinke took time out because of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and came back to win the Cy Young award. Football player Ricky Williams has also had his fair share of struggles with SAD.

Hopefully as more athletes and public figures come forward and share their struggles, it will make it easier for others to be open as well.

What do you think? Should athletes with anxiety disorders be given special accomodations to help them cope while they compete?

Further Reading

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How to Break Out of a Negative Rut

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:02:40 +0000

I was recently reading a blog post here at About.com by Marcia Purse, the guide to bipolar disorder. In the post, she described a strategy for beating depression sent to her by a reader. In a nutshell, the reader noted that when depression struck, although he could not complete ordinary mundane tasks, he found doing something out of the ordinary was not only possible but helped to pull him from his negative spiral.

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Goal Setting and Social Anxiety Disorder

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:01:25 +0000

It's that time of year again... the new year is right around the corner. That means it is time for New Year's resolutions and goal setting. Last year at this time I made a list of professional goals that I wanted to achieve in 2012. How about you? Are you going to set goals for 2013?

If one of your goals is to work on your social anxiety, I came across a handy little website that you might find useful.

It is called "Psychology Tools," and includes a variety of free downloadable resources for a myriad of psychological disorders including social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Here is just a sampling of what you will find on the website:

Social anxiety assessments
Treatment manuals
Research studies
Information sheets
Worksheets
Self-help programs

Whether you are looking for self-help tools to work on social anxiety on your own, currently receiving therapy and looking for additional resources, or you are a professional looking to share your own worksheets, I think you will find "Psychology Tools" to be a valuable resource.

Back to goal setting; how do we set S.M.A.R.T. goals?

S.M.A.R.T. stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

For example, last January 1st, I set a goal to grow the readership of my social anxiety Facebook page to 1500 followers. The goal was specific (1500 followers), measurable (whether or not I met the target), attainable (If I work harder to engage the audience my followers will grow), realistic (other Facebook pages have many more followers than this) and timely (My goal was to be reached by December 31st, 2012).

Although I will not meet my goal of 1500 followers by the end of this year (I am hovering close to 900), it gives you an idea of what a goal setting exercise looks like.

In terms of your social anxiety, perhaps you might set a goal to complete a self-help program by December 31st, 2013. You might even use the resources found on the website mentioned above!

How about you? What goals will you set for 2013 related to your social anxiety?

Further Reading

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