socialphobia

[sidewinder86]

Does anyone have any expirence of this?
A friend of mine is currently 'on the sick' with this and is on various medications to help with anxiety etc.
She finds it really difficult to do everyday things like shopping or being around strangers for any length of time and while the medication helps a little and makes some situations a little more tolerable it doesnt cure it. She is fine around friends and family and is lovely to be with. However she had to go for a medical today and she came out in tears. It was stressful eneough for her to actually attend the medical but the doctor was derisive of her condition and more or less said that he didnt beleive such a condition even existed.
Has anyone here had any experience of socialphobia and what is the generally accepted view of the medical proffesion about this?
All answers appreciated.
Thank you.

[wolf63]

Here is a link to the Royal College of Psychiatrist for phobias - it accepts Social Phobia as an illness.

I found the site helpful when I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/prob lems/anxietyphobias/anxietyphobias.aspx

[Rosetta]

If the medical was anything to do with benefits, they can be tough.

If it was, and she is not eligible suggest she appeal and gets advice from somewhere like CAB.

As Wolf says, it is a recognised illness.

My apologies for the first half of this post if I made an incorrect assumption

[Philmitchleg]

i may sound unsympathetic but isnt it the case that there are more and more psychioatric illnesses today
in the past didnt people just get oin with things?
isnt socialphobia just an extreme shyness?
im no expert but i wonder where it will all end

there are more folk on disability now than ever before and its a great drain on society.

[sqad617]

wolf/rosetta.

Nowhere in you link to the Royal College of Phychiatrists can I confirm your statement:

"Here is a link to the Royal College of Psychiatrist for phobias - it accepts Social Phobia as an illness."

[karma22]

I suffer a bit from this - I would say I suffer mildly as although I get quite nervous and anxious to do things like phone people at work or go and get my eyebrows waxed it hasn't on the whole stopped me from doing these things (well in general but sometimes it has affected me making phone calls at work to a large extent having said that)

I think the medical profession just have to give something a name but there are many people out there who share the same feelings.

Have a look at social anxiety uk website. www.social-anxiety.org.uk/

[sqad617]

If your friend is not happy with the result of her medical, she can appeal to the Medical Appeal Tribunal.

[sidewinder86]

thanks for all of your replies guys. It is to do with benefits so we'll see what the outcome is and as much as she would love to work its doubtfull that she could hold down a job at the moment. Thanks again folks.