Yesterday I watched the biopic 'About a Son' in which Kurt Cobain discusses his childhood, music career and views on life. An edited version of 25 hours of interview tapes recorded a year before he committed suicide, the film offers some insight into the negative thought patterns that seemed to be driving Kurt towards taking his own life. From the film  I got the impression that Kurt exhibited many of the c ...

You feel the way that you think, and now UK school children are being taught how to think more positively to help them cope with the stresses of teenage life. Initially, 1500 11-year olds from 22 schools are being given lessons on how to assess situations objectively, how to be assertive and many other skills that can help them cope better with emotionally difficult situations. If the scheme is a success th ...

[photo courtesy James Jordan] The brain is a complicated muscle, but one we're learning more about all the time. Most people aren't adversely affected by the changes in the weather as summer draws to a close, whilst some feel moody, drained and depressed with the arrival of cold winds and gray skies. In the news recently the results of research was announced that identified a biological reason why two milli ...

[Photo courtesy of Ferdinand Reus] Since embarking on my voyage into understanding what causes social anxiety disorder and its effects rarely a week passes without hearing news on how it can be treated. From everything I've heard I believe that popping 'happy pills', such as Prozac, on their own are not the answer. Drugs can help cushion some of social anxiety and depression's harsher symptoms, but you have ...

In the news recently a new anti-anxiety drug was announced that uses oxytocin hormones released by mothers when they bond with their newborn babies. The results of trials appear to be encouraging, with 120 patients reported to be relieved of their social anxiety within half an hour. The report also highlights how millions of people suffer from shyness or social anxiety in the UK. One in ten say it affects t ...

It looks as though my overcoming social anxiety disorder website is nearly up and running at just the right time based on the recent news headlines. In the results of a survey, announced in Businessweek, it was discovered that potentially 15 million Americans could suffer from social anxiety, with it damaging their ability to live fulfilling social and romantic lives. The fear of encountering hostility or r ...