Your answer to that question reveals a surprising amount about your brain and way you integrate your right and left hemispheres. (In this article, left side will be referred to as dominant one, which is by far most likely scenario.)

You see, left side of brain excels at verbal, analytical, rational and logical tasks. It's dominant half. It takes over most of time, using words to describe and define, figuring things out step by step, drawing conclusions based on facts and logic, and thinking in a linear way. The left side of brain jumps right in with words and symbols, and is such a bully that it takes on even those tasks it isn't likely to perform well.

Now, right side of brain is completely different. It relies on nonverbal cues to process perceptions. It's good at tasks requiring ability to see similarities, to understand how parts fit together as a whole, to make leaps of insight(those a-ha moments), and to perceive overall patterns at once. It tends to hang back a little, letting left side take over most duties.

It's sort of like siblings. You've got a confident, verbal first child and a quiet, introspective, thoughtful second child. Who do you think wins argument for that last dessert? Who chooses which television show to watch? Who dominates conversation about where to go on a family vacation? The second child might have a valuable perspective, but older one is so assertive that he tends to win most arguments and rule roost.

If your answer to drawing question is "No, I'm pathetic," it's likely your left brain is being a bit of a thug. Whenever you pick up a pencil and start to sketch, it's taking over with its tendency to verbalize images and analyze shapes. Meanwhile, right side--the perceptual, spatial part of your brain--is over in corner, raising its hand, trying to get attention. "Oh, pick me!" it says. Too bad that left side is already busy drawing lines and forming a strategy.

What if you could outsmart bully on left? What if you could somehow give that right side of your brain its chance to shine?

Title: DOES SOCIAL ANXIETY HOLD YOU BACK? Author: Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW Email: mailto:editor@overcoming-depression.com copyright: by Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW Web Address: http://www.Overcoming-Depression.com Word Count: 631 Category: Self-Help

Does Social Anxiety Hold You Back?

In "Anxiety Disorders" section of manual entitled "Diagnostic Criteria from DSM IV," which is used for diagnosis of mental health conditions, there are 12 anxiety diagnoses covered.

The fifth, and what may appear to be a soft diagnosis, is Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder). In contrast to "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" and "Panic Disorder" this diagnosis may seem to be lighter than rest.

Please don't be fooled by names or sound of names or even fact that many of others have achieved more press time. Social phobia is a very real threat to quality of life for many individuals.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Glad you asked. Following is a list of life areas impacted by social anxiety --

1. Meeting new people 2. Answering door 3. Interacting with merchant clerks at banks, grocery stores etc. 3. Setting appointments with doctor’s offices etc. 4. Attending church 5. Buying or returning items at retail outlets 6. Sick days where your anxiety has made you sick 7. Driving (fear other drivers looking at or thinking of you) 8. Paying at gas station 9. Eating in front of other people 10. Signing your name in front of others 11. Attending or hosting social events 12. Dating 13. Talking in a small or large group 14. Expressing your opinion 15. Performance situations, such as playing on an athletic team, singing in a choir etc. 16. May or may not have panic attacks 17. Fear of what others are thinking of you 18. Fear of being embarrassed or humiliated

Next is a general physical symptom list of physical signs of social anxiety --