chicagoanxiety
Active member
I don't like the term mentally ill. Some incorrect views I've heard regarding people with social anxiety is that they may be prone to hear and see things that aren't there, may be dangerous, violent, or prone to crimminal acts ect. Television and the media motivates these beliefs by displaying loners and quiet people in a negative light.
It also doesn't mean the depression those with social anxiety experience is "always" a genetic or chemical mood disorder. Sure someone with social anxiety may be depressed, but it's usually not due to a chemical or genetic component. The depression arises when one is not able to fully participate in life on a social level. Individuals can't be grouped together. Some people do have chemical inbalances that cause their depression to occur, but I think that differs from depression caused by thinking and learned behavior. Each person has a different cause and orgin of their symptoms. These are all just my personal opnions based on my life experiences, others may disagree.
Truth be told, most of us have acceptable social skills. It's just that our anxiety in social situations prevents us from utilizing those skills and sharing them with others. I could be the best dancer in the world, but if experiences of my past placed me on floors hot enough to burn through my shoes, chances are I'd be afraid of dancing on floors in the future even if they weren't hot. I know it's not the best analogy, but I'm just trying to explain that most of our problem is learned behavior, shaped by environment. There may also be the possibility that some people are more predisposed because they have more sensitive temperments. It's no misake that the highest levels of anxiety are found in the U.S. and other technologically advanced countries. We are trained to move too fast, and aspire to a certain temperment which is unnatural for some people. For those of us with sensitive temperments, exercise, relaxation, careful selection of foods, ect are very important.
Society wouldn't label someone who is afraid of snakes or flying as mentally ill, so why are social phobics grouped in that category? A phobia is a phobia, and phobias are caused by increased anxiety when confronted with certain stimuli. I'm not sure what terminology should be used to distingused the socially anxious from the mentally ill, but there is definitely a need for one. I think social anxiety is a behavioral issue that needs to be adjusted and/or corrected when it reaches excessive levels. If someone has anger issues, they aren't labeled mentally ill are they? They are taught ways to manage their anger and/or outbursts to normal or manageable levels. Keep in mind that problems have to be labeled as diseases, disorders, ect to be approved for medications by the FDA. That's big business, which is why any and everything is labeled as an illness, especially if it affects many people. Obesity Disease is another example of labeling to make money by big business.
Yes some people have serious mental disturbances along with social anxiety. That doesn't mean social anxiety is a mental illness. Just my opinion. Regardless of what the psychological professionals state, I do not consider social anxiety a mental illness.
It also doesn't mean the depression those with social anxiety experience is "always" a genetic or chemical mood disorder. Sure someone with social anxiety may be depressed, but it's usually not due to a chemical or genetic component. The depression arises when one is not able to fully participate in life on a social level. Individuals can't be grouped together. Some people do have chemical inbalances that cause their depression to occur, but I think that differs from depression caused by thinking and learned behavior. Each person has a different cause and orgin of their symptoms. These are all just my personal opnions based on my life experiences, others may disagree.
Truth be told, most of us have acceptable social skills. It's just that our anxiety in social situations prevents us from utilizing those skills and sharing them with others. I could be the best dancer in the world, but if experiences of my past placed me on floors hot enough to burn through my shoes, chances are I'd be afraid of dancing on floors in the future even if they weren't hot. I know it's not the best analogy, but I'm just trying to explain that most of our problem is learned behavior, shaped by environment. There may also be the possibility that some people are more predisposed because they have more sensitive temperments. It's no misake that the highest levels of anxiety are found in the U.S. and other technologically advanced countries. We are trained to move too fast, and aspire to a certain temperment which is unnatural for some people. For those of us with sensitive temperments, exercise, relaxation, careful selection of foods, ect are very important.
Society wouldn't label someone who is afraid of snakes or flying as mentally ill, so why are social phobics grouped in that category? A phobia is a phobia, and phobias are caused by increased anxiety when confronted with certain stimuli. I'm not sure what terminology should be used to distingused the socially anxious from the mentally ill, but there is definitely a need for one. I think social anxiety is a behavioral issue that needs to be adjusted and/or corrected when it reaches excessive levels. If someone has anger issues, they aren't labeled mentally ill are they? They are taught ways to manage their anger and/or outbursts to normal or manageable levels. Keep in mind that problems have to be labeled as diseases, disorders, ect to be approved for medications by the FDA. That's big business, which is why any and everything is labeled as an illness, especially if it affects many people. Obesity Disease is another example of labeling to make money by big business.
Yes some people have serious mental disturbances along with social anxiety. That doesn't mean social anxiety is a mental illness. Just my opinion. Regardless of what the psychological professionals state, I do not consider social anxiety a mental illness.
