Social Anxiety Support

Noca · 06-09-2007, 04:37 AM

Which term best captures the severity and seriousness of this illness we have? Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia?

UltraShy · 06-09-2007, 04:42 AM

I voted for Phobia, since that's the way it's listed in the DSM. (300.23 if you want to look it up)

I'm not sure where SAD came from -- perhaps GSK just thought it sounded better in their endless Paxil ads?

millenniumman75 · 06-09-2007, 10:36 AM

Social Anxiety Disorder if you can function with the anxiety.
Social Phobia if it is debilitating. That is how I see the difference, at least.

barnabas · 06-09-2007, 11:23 AM

disorder implies something that can be fixed with the magic of pills and therapists, whereas phobia is a life-long abnormality that no one can be completely rid of (and thusly is more serious/severe).

actually, that didn't make sense at all.

sonya99 · 06-09-2007, 01:10 PM

Well...people see SAD and they think that a person is plagued with panic attacks and therefore have a legitimate fear of being in social situations. The blame is taken off the person--after all, it sounds more biological. I think it does seem less permanent, but it's true that it's not a lifelong thing for a lot of people.

SP...I'm not sure, but I think the public isn't as familiar with this term. And some people, even some mental health professionals, don't know it's supposed to be a synonym for SAD. It's unlike many other phobias and it certainly isn't cured the same way or as quickly. I can see how some people could see it as an "it's all in your head" kinda thing. But also it can connote a more longterm, serious condition--depends on the person I guess. So maybe people who suffer most of their lives are represented, but not the people who only suffer for a few years.

But I don't really care what they call it or how the average uniformed person perceives it. SAD's an ok fit, and so is SP.

WineKitty · 06-09-2007, 04:26 PM

Doesnt really matter to me what name you put on it...

sprinter · 06-09-2007, 04:36 PM

I prefer social phobia. I think phobia describes the condition well. Also I think the general population would understand what it is better with the phobia description. The general population seems to think of SAD as just shyness. Some phobias can be quite debilitating like agoraphobia and it is easy to imagine a person with a severe snake phobia who happened to live in a snake infested area being afraid to leave their house. And of course phobias have been known to be completely cured so I don't think that is an issue.

lyssado707 · 06-11-2007, 11:08 PM

I have a slight preference for SAD cuz I think it's more descriptive. Like we don't fear the people, but it's the situations that cause anxiety. But Social Phobia's cool too. My psych teacher used them interchangeably (when for a split second he explained this lol). It's all the same thing anyways.

Mehitabel · 06-12-2007, 08:29 AM

I like the 'phobia' part because that word shows that our fear is so severe that it actually causes avoidance, but I like the 'disorder' part because it shows that it's not our fault. But people tend to blow off anything you call a phobia as something that's not very serious.... so I'll go with SAD.

Rufus · 06-12-2007, 03:57 PM

Either one; they mean exactly the same thing.

Mercurochrome · 06-12-2007, 04:27 PM

I don't believe in disorders, only disorder. So Phobia. Social-Phobe.

And too many people see SAD as "Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder," which is a crock of ****. Not to demean people who get (more) depressed during certain seasons (because its understandable), but give me a break.

Razorblade Kiss · 06-12-2007, 08:36 PM

What's the difference? They both suck ***.

ghostgurl · 06-13-2007, 12:54 PM

Social Anxiety Disorder makes it sound more severe. Social phobia sounds like just an ordinary phobia, like fear of spiders or something.

Noca · 06-13-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostgurl

Social Anxiety Disorder makes it sound more severe. Social phobia sounds like just an ordinary phobia, like fear of spiders or something.

06-09-2007, 04:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Noca Status: Spectacular Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario Gender: Male Age: 26 Posts: 15,062	Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? Which term best captures the severity and seriousness of this illness we have? Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? __________________ I is/was Dr. House, hi! “There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."” --Isaac Asimov Very soon what will be considered news in America, is a day without a spree shooting.

06-09-2007, 04:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
UltraShy Status: Surrounded by Sadness Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI (BDSM sadist, Libertarian) Gender: Male Age: 40 Posts: 35,049	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? I voted for Phobia, since that's the way it's listed in the DSM. (300.23 if you want to look it up) I'm not sure where SAD came from -- perhaps GSK just thought it sounded better in their endless Paxil ads? __________________ I wonder what reason I have to live Desperately I have searched for a meaning Is it now time for me to let go of the world

06-09-2007, 10:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Mentor Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton, OH Gender: Male Age: 37 Posts: 91,684	Social Anxiety Disorder if you can function with the anxiety. Social Phobia if it is debilitating. That is how I see the difference, at least. __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better! TROLL ALERT STATUS: CHAT -> BERT FORUMS -> ERNIE (troll activity on the increase) WATCH WHAT YOU TYPE!

06-09-2007, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
barnabas Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 666	disorder implies something that can be fixed with the magic of pills and therapists, whereas phobia is a life-long abnormality that no one can be completely rid of (and thusly is more serious/severe). actually, that didn't make sense at all. __________________ barnabas wishes y'all good luck. :]

06-09-2007, 01:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
sonya99 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CA Posts: 2,305	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? Well...people see SAD and they think that a person is plagued with panic attacks and therefore have a legitimate fear of being in social situations. The blame is taken off the person--after all, it sounds more biological. I think it does seem less permanent, but it's true that it's not a lifelong thing for a lot of people. SP...I'm not sure, but I think the public isn't as familiar with this term. And some people, even some mental health professionals, don't know it's supposed to be a synonym for SAD. It's unlike many other phobias and it certainly isn't cured the same way or as quickly. I can see how some people could see it as an "it's all in your head" kinda thing. But also it can connote a more longterm, serious condition--depends on the person I guess. So maybe people who suffer most of their lives are represented, but not the people who only suffer for a few years. But I don't really care what they call it or how the average uniformed person perceives it. SAD's an ok fit, and so is SP.

View Poll Results: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia?
Social Anxiety Disorder	23	65.71%
Social Phobia	12	34.29%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

06-09-2007, 04:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
WineKitty Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Gender: Female Age: 44 Posts: 12,789	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? Doesnt really matter to me what name you put on it... __________________ "You can never really know a person and if you think you can, you're living in a ****ing dream world!" David Fisher, Six Feet Under

06-09-2007, 04:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
sprinter Status: symbol Join Date: Nov 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 3,000	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? I prefer social phobia. I think phobia describes the condition well. Also I think the general population would understand what it is better with the phobia description. The general population seems to think of SAD as just shyness. Some phobias can be quite debilitating like agoraphobia and it is easy to imagine a person with a severe snake phobia who happened to live in a snake infested area being afraid to leave their house. And of course phobias have been known to be completely cured so I don't think that is an issue.

06-11-2007, 11:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
lyssado707 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Humboldt Co California Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 4,840	I have a slight preference for SAD cuz I think it's more descriptive. Like we don't fear the people, but it's the situations that cause anxiety. But Social Phobia's cool too. My psych teacher used them interchangeably (when for a split second he explained this lol). It's all the same thing anyways. __________________ In Loving Memory, http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...6/P1000595.jpg http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...P1000480-1.jpg Marmalade January 1991-February 19, 2007

06-12-2007, 08:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mehitabel Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 917	I like the 'phobia' part because that word shows that our fear is so severe that it actually causes avoidance, but I like the 'disorder' part because it shows that it's not our fault. But people tend to blow off anything you call a phobia as something that's not very serious.... so I'll go with SAD.

06-12-2007, 03:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rufus Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: backstreets, north side, water tower pl. Gender: Male Posts: 3,682	Either one; they mean exactly the same thing. __________________ skulk leader

06-12-2007, 04:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mercurochrome Status: constantly terrified Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 8,351	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? I don't believe in disorders, only disorder. So Phobia. Social-Phobe. And too many people see SAD as "Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder," which is a crock of ****. Not to demean people who get (more) depressed during certain seasons (because its understandable), but give me a break. __________________ "Never mind what's been selling, it's what you're buying." - Fugazi "You are not what you own." - Again, Fugazi

06-12-2007, 08:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
Razorblade Kiss Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dancing on the corpse's ashes Age: 29 Posts: 3,686	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? What's the difference? They both suck *. __________________ Still I send all the time My request for relief Down the dead power lines Though I'm beyond belief In the help I require Just to exist at all Took a long time to stand Took an hour to fall Elliott Smith**

06-13-2007, 12:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
ghostgurl Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 27 Posts: 8,325	re: Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia? Social Anxiety Disorder makes it sound more severe. Social phobia sounds like just an ordinary phobia, like fear of spiders or something. __________________ http://www.livejournal.com/users/dazed_girl/ "To err or not to err? That is the question"-Graciously Organized Design Currently reading: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie Currently playing: Freeware

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