"The Social Killer"

Scared to go out to a meeting to speak to a client?  Need to deliver a speech but feel like fainting at the thought of going in front of the class to present?  Scared to attend a social gathering for no apparent reason?  You might be suffering from social anxiety disorder.

    Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a kind of mental disorder where the sufferer experiences a severe or unreasonable fear of social gatherings where there is a possibility that one may get embarrassed or ridiculed.   Most of the time, these anxieties arise from an intense fear of being closely watched or scrutinized - from the simple things like the way they dress, talk or act; to important job functions like performing in front of a crowd, giving a presentation, or finishing an interview for a job application.  This kind of phobia gives sufferers a feeling of being trapped or shut away from the world.

    They say social anxiety disorder is closely related to shyness.  However social phobia differs in the sense that this disrupts normal socializing functions.  It is true that everyone goes through a stage of shyness in their life, overcoming it is a different thing.  When it becomes too much that it interrupts your daily life and relationships to the point where you are sick with worry, it is time to seek counsel.  It is good to know the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder to be able to determine and treat this said condition before it worsens.

    People with social phobia manifest 2 basic kinds of symptoms: emotional and physical.  The emotional symptoms include: an intense fear of being in situations in which you don't know people, fear of situations in which you may be judged, worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself, fear that others will notice that you look anxious, anxiety that disrupts your daily routine, work, school or other activities, avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment, avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention.  The physical symptoms include: Blushing, profuse sweating, trembling or shaking, nausea, stomach upset, difficulty talking, shaky voice, muscle tension, confusion, palpitations, diarrhea, cold and clammy hands, and difficulty making eye contact.

    Basically, this phobia manifests a symptom of being overly anxious around other people.  Sufferers think that other people are more confident that they are, that other people are better them.  They feel uncomfortable being around people that it makes it difficult for them to eat, drink, work, asking questions, asking for dates, even going to the toilet, when other people are around.

    The good news is that there is a cure for this condition.  For the past 20 years, a combination of talk therapy and medications has proven most helpful to limit the effects, if not cure, this mental condition.  Certain anti-depressants (Paroxetine, Sertraline and Venlafaxine), anti-anxiety medications, and beta blockers are used to help Socio-phobic people to balance certain chemicals in the brain and minimize panic attacks during periods of heightened anxiety.  Talk therapy teaches people with social anxiety disorder to react differently to situations that trigger their anxiety.  The therapist helps the patient confront the negative feelings about social situations and the fear about being judged by others. Patients learn how their thinking patterns add to the symptoms of social anxiety disorder and how to change their thinking so the symptoms begin to lessen.
    To be shy is quite normal, everybody has gone through a similar phase.  Getting past that stage is the difficult part.  Ultimately, it ends up to building your confidence to a certain level for you to be comfortable enough to move normally.  In case you’ve been diagnosed as a socio-phobic, it is nothing to be ashamed of.  With a little bit of therapy, proper medication, and enough support from people who believe in you, you’ll slowly be able to do socialize and function normally within a group without being too anxious.

"Car Accidents: The Expressway to The Next Life"

According to a recent study, car accidents ranked ninth out of the top ten causes of death world wide.  It also ranked first among the top ten accident-caused deaths.  Over 40,000 Americans die in car crashes every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is involved in a car accident every ten seconds. It is estimated that every 12 minutes, a person dies in a car crash. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans 35 years old and younger.  In 2002 alone, there has been a reported 43,005 deaths caused by car accidents.

What are the leading causes of car accidents?

    Car accidents can often be attributed to driver recklessness or negligence, the vehicles involved in an accident, and road and weather conditions at the time of the accident. 

Driver Negligence.

        Driver negligence may manifest in many forms.  It may be because of rubbernecking, driving under the influence of alcohol, the driver’s lack of experience, or an aggressive driving behavior. 

        Under driver negligence, rubbernecking had been reported as the top cause of car accidents.  This happens when motorists stop to look at other accidents they pass by and lose concentration on the road ahead.  This distraction ends up in a chain of accidents that     could have been avoided.  Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited in the US. This is considered as a criminal offense and is not taken lightly.  A reported forty percent of all traffic-related deaths have been attributed to driving while intoxicated. Inexperienced drivers who aren’t accompanied by an adult with a valid driving license also contribute to car accidents.  One quarter of reported car accidents involved teenage     drivers. Aggressive driving behaviour like challenging other drivers to a street race in the     middle of the road, forcing to cut into a lane, not giving way to other cars also contribute to the growing statistics of car accidents. 



Vehicles.
   
    Defective auto parts, vehicle design, and/or car maintenance are also major causes of car accidents. Defective door latches, seat belts, airbags, seat backs, roofs, ignition systems, and fuel systems are all contributing factors in the damage caused in vehicular accidents.  The overall faulty design of a car makes accidents and damages more likely. SUV designs make a car less stable on the road and four times more likely to rollover in an accident as compared to passenger cars.

Road and weather conditions.

    It is understandable that this cause isn’t really something man can have any control of.  However choosing to come out on the road without first taking into consideration the weather and road condition may also be considered negligence on the part of the driver.

How can I avoid car accidents?

     Responsible driving is the key to avoid getting yourself involved in a car accident.  For teenage drivers, don’t go out driving unsupervised.  Avoid ingesting too much alcohol when you’re driving, not only will you be able to see the road clearer, your concentration will be better, too.  Concentrate on the road, disregard any distractions while driving.  If it is really necessary that you take a moment to acknowledge any distractions, park your car on a safe area and then attend to what ever needs your immediate attention.  Drive defensively instead of being aggressive on the road.   Always keep yourself abreast to weather conditions before going out.  Make sure and check your vehicle for any problems even before you hit the road.  It is better to be prepared and safe than getting into an accident on the road.

2 Steps To Six Pack Abs

First off, I want to mention that, for most people, getting six pack abs is not an easy task. It requires dedication, but it is possible! Below is a general 2-step guide that, if followed religiously for 3 months, will produce results.


Step 1: Nutrition

This is the single most important part of the puzzle, hands down. You can have the most impressive set of abs, but if they're covered with a layer of fat, you won't see them! Break up your day with 5 or 6 mini-meals because this jump starts your metabolism. And stop eating the food that is preventing results: white bread, loads of pasta, soda, candy, fast food, hydrogenated oils, sugars and fructose corn syrup.

Instead, replace them with foods that will help you reach your goal: oatmeal, olive oil, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, natural peanut butter, chicken, fish, protein and water. Be realistic- you'll slip here and there, but make a conscious effort to radically improve your eating habits because getting a six pack will be impossible if you don't.


Step 2: Exercise

You need to concern yourself with 3 different exercises: cardio, weightlifting and ab exercises. And aim to workout 3- 4 times a week.

The cardio you do can be anything: walking, running, biking, swimming....whichever cardio you don't mind doing so that you'll stick with it. Aim for 30-45 minutes, a minimum of 2 times a week.

Weightlifting is important because 3 pounds of added muscle burns as many calories as a 1 mile jog...and this is while you're just sitting around! Aim for 30-45 minutes, a minimum of 2 times a week. If you're confused as to what exercises to do for each body part, check out out the following website. It features professional bodybuilders, but the information is great and can be used by anyone.