Blushing-Driven Suicide Opens the Door for Understanding of Complex Social Anxiety Disorder

GREAT NECK, N.Y., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent tragedy where Brandon Thomas, a 20-year-old college student, committed suicide opens the door for an improved understanding of a complex social anxiety disorder which currently impacts countless individuals of all ages worldwide. According to his parents, Brandon's suicide was driven by his "unbearable blushing."

Most medical professionals, including Dr. Enrique Jadresic, a Chilean psychiatrist, who was described in a recent MSNBC press release as the "world's foremost expert in this area," believe pathological blushing is an "involuntary response."

Jonathan Berent, L.C.S.W., author of "Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties" (Simon & Schuster) and "Work Makes Me Nervous: Overcome Anxiety and Develop the Confidence to Succeed" (Wiley), who has worked with thousands of social anxiety sufferers, stated today that he strongly disagrees with the term "involuntary response" as a comprehensive diagnostic.

Berent does agree with Dr. Jadresic that "the social shame, which often accompanies blushing, can be devastating." Berent has worked clinically with many patients with blushing, technically called "social anxiety-driven hyperhidrosis," and has seen it lead to social avoidance, depression, and substance abuse. Berent adds, "Many patients who have been in treatment with me have considered a sympathectomy, or have had this invasive procedure, where nerves are cut to prevent blushing."

Berent however intensely disagrees with Dr. Jadresic in his assertion that pathological blushing is an "involuntary response." Berent states that "the psycho-physiological dynamics behind this disorder are crucial for the medical and mental health professionals to understand if clinical progress is to be achieved on any meaningful scale."

Berent invites interested individuals to visit his free library of clinical interviews at www.social-anxiety.com where there are numerous interviews with real patients who have resolved pathological blushing and hyperhidrosis via a non-medication, non-medical procedure, treatment methodology.

Jonathan Berent, L.C.S.W. is the author of "Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties" (Simon & Schuster) and "Work Makes Me Nervous: Overcome Anxiety and Develop the Confidence to Succeed" (Wiley). Since 1978 he has pioneered psychotherapy for social and performance anxiety. He is an experienced media presenter.

Contact: 800-248-2034
www.social-anxiety.com

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SOURCE Jonathan Berent, L.C.S.W.