Living with Social Anxiety Disorder - Oct. 20

Have you ever been uncomfortable in social situations? Have you ever felt nervous about a first date, before a big presentation or public performance, or maybe your first day at a new job? These situations often make the heart beat rapidly and cause sweat to build.

It is often normal to feel this way before a major event. However, when these symptoms arise from everyday situations, it becomes debilitating and in it's extreme form, can cause a sufferer to live a lonely life behind closed doors. It's called social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Extreme Anxiety In Social Situations

Our guest, Aimee, understands social anxiety disorder. Her relentless symptoms have caused her to think twice about engaging in an activity that is simple for many of us to do: eat around others.

All my life I have been skinny- too skinny. Growing up, instead of fat jokes I got nicknamed "Chicken Legs." In a society where meal proportions get bigger and bigger, I constantly heard, "That's all you're going to eat? Several times in my life, I have been asked by people that were just concerned about me, in all seriousness, if I had an eating disorder. So I began to not enjoy eating around others. I got tired of the jokes and the constant worrying that if I didn't eat enough or perform just right that people might think something was wrong with me or that I have an eating disorder."

Aimee is determined to help others that suffer from social anxiety, so don’t miss her story. And, of course, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director, Dr. Harry Croft, will be here to provide insight into social anxiety disorder and answer your personal questions on the subject.

Healthyplace.com has extensive information on the signs, symptoms, causes and treatments of social anxiety disorder, as well as other anxiety disorders. It is our goal to help people to be both informed and in good company.