Self- improvement

“How do you improve your character on a daily basis to make yourself a better person?”

“People with social phobia often feel as if everyone's attention is focused on them.
- everyone notices their tiniest mistakes (which often aren't mistakes in the first place).
- everyone else is much more capable in the same situation.
In feared situations, people with social phobia will feel intense anxiety. The anxiety may lead to nausea, trembling, pounding heart, blushing, sweating and stammering. For some, the anxiety will intensify into a panic attack. These symptoms of anxiety often lead to further embarrassment for the social phobic.

Some people with social phobia are only comfortable with close friends and family. Others only fear specific social situations. Many become anxious when dealing with people in authoritative positions (such as bosses). The NIMH states that the most common social phobia is a fear of public speaking.

Other specific social fears include

Using public restrooms
Eating in restaurants
Using a telephone
Writing in front of people
Who Has Social Phobia

Anywhere from 1 to 13 percent of the population may have some form of social phobia, according to The Harvard Mental Health Letter. NIMH reports that social phobia often runs in families and often begins in adolescence or younger.

Social Phobia & Shyness are Not the Same

Shy people do not experience the same intense anxiety as people with social phobia. In addition, shy people don't avoid social situations to the extreme that social phobics do.

Shyness is not a criteria for social phobia. People with social phobia can be quite comfortable with certain people or many people, but still avoid or feel intense anxiety in specific social situations. In addition, social phobia can come to be debilitating for some people whereas shyness does not. Social phobia can begin to overtake every aspect of a person's life.

Social Phobia & Other Conditions

The Harvard Mental Health Letter reports that of people with social phobia,

49% also have panic disorder with agoraphobia
59% also have specific phobias
19% abuse alcohol
17% also have major depression
The Harvard Mental Health Letter also reports on a study which found that 95% of people with both panic disorder and social phobia are at risk for depression.

Treatment

Social phobia is usually treated with therapy or medication or a combination of both. The NIMH reports that 80 percent of social phobics will find relief from either of these treatments or both. However, The Harvard Mental Health Letter reports that only 5 percent of people with social phobia alone seek treatment, and only 20 percent of those with social phobia and some other problem seek treatment. As with other anxiety disorders, social phobia will only become worse without treatment. Therefore, it is crucial for people with suspected symptoms to seek proper treatment as soon as possible.

The therapy used most often in treating social phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy helps those with social phobia learn how to cope with and change irrational, repetitive thoughts which may precede and intensify anxiety in feared situations. The therapy may also focus on self-esteem, anger, assertiveness and other issues. Behavioral therapy involves the actual practice of social skills. It may involve desensitization in feared situations. Behavioral therapy is often done in groups where participants may practice skills with people who have the same fears. However, not all social phobics will feel comfortable in groups, so this therapy may be practiced one-on-one.

Medication may be an important part of recovery for many. Medication may be temporary, allowing the person to feel well enough to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy. Or, medication use may be long-term. The medications most commonly used for social phobia are monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOI's), benzodiazepines, and beta blockers. Other antidepressants, such as SSRI's and tricyclics may also be used, particularly if depression is also present.”

“Improve your life - results guaranteed - just click the link

KABONG
last edited: 10/29/05 2:44:11 PM”

“I got about 324,000 results nowslimmer on google. Try that.”

“Hmmm. Did you get any dates?”

“Here you go dumbass.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=libbie&defid=590550”

“I've done nothing to deserve that label, Sarge, but in respect I withdrew my question. Thank you for the definition.

Well, maybe the second label is correct.
last edited: 10/29/05 3:07:54 PM”

“Hmmm. Did you get any dates? - nowslimmer

I've done nothing to deserve that label, Sarge, but in respect I withdrew my question. - nowslimmer”

“Chill out Sarge. Nowslimmer was not "starting" anything with you. If you really think so, you are being way too sensitive.”

“Creek Dancer, Did you get any dates?

I wonder if anybody ever loved you at all.”

“What the hell did I say to deserve that? Now I remember why I had you on ignore. *click*.”

“Whoa!

Point made.

When nowslimmer say that to me, I am to "Chill out." and ... "I am being way too sensitive."

But when it's said to you ....

What the hell did I say to deserve that? Now I remember why I had you on ignore. *click*.

I'm not even going to comment on this.

I'll let it soak in to anybody's mind who is reading this for a bit ... let it stew around in there ... This is classic.”

“Creek Dancer's message to everyone.

Sarge is supposed to just sit back and take anything thrown his way ... but he can't reciprocate in kind.

Now do you wonder why I post this ...

**ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A LIBBIE "STARTING IT", NOT SARGE, AS IS POPULAR OPINION**

Some of you people are just comical.”

“Ok, I lied. I commented on it. But come on people! This is just so amusing.”

“I don't know what Nowslimmer said on the first post, but he is no Liberal (by anyone's standards) and he is very easy to get along with - even when you register disagreement with him - which I have.

As for "Kabong" - that personal harassment and trolling is annoying. Please say what you mean and use your usual TT name.”

“pedxing - nowslimmer may be easy to get along with, but that doesn't give him a right to harrass people unprovoked. Maybe he had a bad moment, but he sure was being an ass during that moment. I don't hold a grudge against him, but I think it was out of line and unprovoked.”

“I LIKE harassing people unprovoked...trick or treat time!”

“I do believe he has stayed away from Fuego threads for a long time - so he may not have seen any of your ANOTHER posts or known the context.
last edited: 10/29/05 4:35:03 PM”

“That could be. Doesn't make it right to be an ass, does it?

I'm pretty sure if I attacked him, unprovoked, you'd blame me.

Hence ...

**ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A LIBBIE "STARTING IT", NOT SARGE, AS IS POPULAR OPINION**”

“Sarge - There was nothing in my posts that gove you cause to label me as a "LIBBIE." Also, there was some humor in my posts. It appears that you failed to recognize it.

It appears that you do have a military background___Shoot first and think about it later. From my own military experience I concluded that military people are trained to react, not to think. This is something the military needs.”

“There was nothing in MY post for you to accuse me of not getting any dates.

It's funny, because you are being just as reactive as you claim that I am.

Why are you offended I called you a "libbie"? Why was I offended you said I didn't get dates? Why did we both respond?

All I know is you're expecting me to live by a different standard than you do. Was that supposed to be humor too?”

“PS - Anybody who gets a handicapped parking pass to get better spots at the trailhead is a "libbie" in my book. I realize others may have a different definition, that's fine.

YMMV”

“What are you theeeeenin' to do weeth that pre-war herringbone D-28, Queeeeeeksdraw?”

“(salute font)
Fine commentary from someone who doesn't hike.
(end salute font)
last edited: 10/29/05 4:49:45 PM”

“Sarge -
1. You are twisting my words.
2. I did not accuse you of not getting any dates.
3. I am happy to realize that your medical knowledge exceeds that of the professionals who treat me.

And now as "A LIBBIE 'STARTING IT'" and as a "dumbass," I wish you lots of success and a happy future. Goodbye.
last edited: 10/29/05 5:09:30 PM”

“Offtopic - I wonder what TTer has the skills to use embedded links and funky fonts?

Would the real El Kabong please stand up so that we can know your TRUE trolling nature instead of the sweet innocent alias you typically hide behind.

Gives me an idea. Maybe I'll come up with a "nice" alias and a "mean" alias, and only hike with people under the "nice" alias.

Good idea nows----, I mean, El Kabong.

As for "Kabong" - that personal harassment and trolling is annoying.

I agree with pedxing.
last edited: 10/29/05 5:15:07 PM”

“1. What word of yours did I twist?
2. semantics - We all know that wasn't a nice thing to ask.
3. All I know is if you're going to go on a hike, you can affort to walk an extra 10 feet. If I need a doctorate for that, well, blow me down and call me "shorty".”

“Fine commentary from someone who doesn't hike. - tanngniost

Who are you talking about?”

“Surprisingly enough, I don't think I've ever had anything but insults and trouble from Nowslimmer.

It is suspicious that Now deleted his post.
last edited: 10/29/05 5:17:10 PM”

“I was thinking that Kabong was probably USA, because USA is Spock and Spock started this thread originally.

I guess I should have spoken for myself when I said "Nowslimmer" is easy to get along with. I never noticed him tangling with someone in any big way.

Without knowing what was in the NS's first post of the thread, I'm in the dark on this thread.”

“Well, USA/Spock is a coward so it could be.”

“pedxing - My purged post was something like the following:

It was not addressed to anyone, but it did follow a post by Sarge. I said something like "What is a LIBBIE?" I continued with something like "Is that a woman of questionable reputation?" Then I quoted (from Dictionary.com) which had no definition for LIBBIE.

Sarge - I already gave you one reference to my words being twisted. Here is a second example: "Anybody who gets a handicapped parking pass to get better spots at the trailhead ..." I have explained that it was because of my bad knees.

Now, in my original post the second question was an attempt at humor. After you replied with the number of returns from Google, my question about dates was an extremely obvious joke following your reply.

FrankeNigal - Yes, Nigal, I did get you upset. It was because I did not agree with something which you said. When you let me know that you were getting tired of it, I quit it. And later, in another string, I tried to make some amends and praised you. I realized that you are a real backpacker. Now, for those upsetting remarks and any others that may have upset you previously, I apologize.”

“If that's the post - it makes "did you get any dates?" funnier and less like an out of the blue slap - i.e. I found 324,000 women of ill repute? Did you get any dates?


Anyway - I also realized there is a history from when I was on the Long Trail (July 25 - August 15) that I was ignorant of (and am mostly ignorant of now).”

“For the record, I was only kidding in my second post. I should have put a smiley face or a "LOL" in there. Sarge's comment didn't bother me in the least.”

“Good cover Creek Dancer.

I already gave you one reference to my words being twisted. Here is a second example: "Anybody who gets a handicapped parking pass to get better spots at the trailhead ..." I have explained that it was because of my bad knees.

I didn't see the first one. For the "new" one, what words did I twist? Maybe you're confusing "twisting words" with "interpreting reality differently"?

I get the joke now. Ha Ha. This is funny. Sorry if I didn't realize your 2nd post was in reference to your first. All I was focusing on was that you didn't find any search results. It seemed to be another personal attack in the vein of the original poster's post.

Speaking of that ...

Who is this El Kabong that is so mysterious?

Anybody know who this coward might be?”

“In a thread about a recent study using rats that showed that pot might grow brain cells, I mentioned that it might be good news for a good friend of mine who has brain cancer. You responded something like, "Why, is she a rat". You later posted that you were kidding. I took you at your word. I would appreciate the same consideration here, rather than being accused of somehow "covering" something.”

“My car at the GSMNP Deep Creek Trailhead Parking Lot.


It's Official, I'm Disabled.
last edited: 10/29/05 8:20:32 PM”

“Nowslimmer, I try to be a forgive and forget type of guy but fail often. If I tell you this will never come up again, you can take it to the bank. I have no qualm with you.”

“FrankeNigal - Thank you. It would be an honor to backpack with you anytime.”

“Ok, group hug everyone. Wait a second...

Nigal, get your hand off my ass, you lush. LOL.”

“Shorry babe!”

“LMAO!”

“Me too! It was my hand rubbing you that you blamed on Nigal.”

“Oh great, my first TT group hug and it had to be with a couple of pervs. LOL!”

“I would appreciate the same consideration here, rather than being accused of somehow "covering" something.

I was joking again! Geez! "Nice cover." Didn't you guys used to say that back in the hood? We did. It was never meant to be mean, but in jest. Geez louise!”