I have no need for titles
So I have signed up for this social anxiety research program at a local university. Some details about it are available on this website. The research unit purpotedly publishes some of the leading research in the field. I have found a bunch of publications (accessed through a university gateway), so I can forward them to anybody if they are interested.
I had an assesment last week, and went in for some intitial research tasks this week. The assmement involed getting background information, and answering a long series of fairly standard questions, in which I had to give a rank for such things as the level of anxiety caused in certain situations, and the degree of avoidance of certain tasks. I expect much of the questions were focussed on establishing whether I had other co-existing conditions, or a generalized anxiety disorder, and just my general suitability for the program.
One of the initial research tasks were just a computer test, involving the categorisation of words with timed responses. The other was a 3 minute unprepared speech about a topic of my choosing, with the only audience the assesor and a video camera. As the guinea pig that I am, I am perfectly willing to jump through the hoops that they set before me.
All that I know about the program at this stage (I haven't really pressed them for details) is that it goes for 12 weeks, with three control groups each pursuing a different approach. Two of these have weekly sessions of 2-3 hours in length, the other one having 5 session with additional homework. It is a group CBT program with the groups consisting of about 8 people.
I will either be starting the program in October or November, or perhaps as late as January, but I will be sure to shblog again when it starts.
I don't really know what I'm expecting yet of the program. I guess I am a bit skeptical that it can affect long-term change. At the least it will give me a change to meet and interact with others who have social anxiey, and give me further insight into the nature of the condition.
I had an assesment last week, and went in for some intitial research tasks this week. The assmement involed getting background information, and answering a long series of fairly standard questions, in which I had to give a rank for such things as the level of anxiety caused in certain situations, and the degree of avoidance of certain tasks. I expect much of the questions were focussed on establishing whether I had other co-existing conditions, or a generalized anxiety disorder, and just my general suitability for the program.
One of the initial research tasks were just a computer test, involving the categorisation of words with timed responses. The other was a 3 minute unprepared speech about a topic of my choosing, with the only audience the assesor and a video camera. As the guinea pig that I am, I am perfectly willing to jump through the hoops that they set before me.
All that I know about the program at this stage (I haven't really pressed them for details) is that it goes for 12 weeks, with three control groups each pursuing a different approach. Two of these have weekly sessions of 2-3 hours in length, the other one having 5 session with additional homework. It is a group CBT program with the groups consisting of about 8 people.
I will either be starting the program in October or November, or perhaps as late as January, but I will be sure to shblog again when it starts.
I don't really know what I'm expecting yet of the program. I guess I am a bit skeptical that it can affect long-term change. At the least it will give me a change to meet and interact with others who have social anxiey, and give me further insight into the nature of the condition.
