July 2, 1999

A Salt Lake man is sharing his story about how it is to suffer from what you could call, "permanent public stagefright."

It's a phobia that pyschiatrists say is the most underdiagnosed anxiety disorder, probably afflicting one in ten people.

More from Science Specialist Ed Yeates.

Four years ago, Steve Fox would have found this excruitiating. In fact, even going in for job interviews was impossible.

His social anxiety disorder - as it will soon be officially named - began in high school when teachers asked students to introduce themselves.

Fox says, "I would have these panic attacks, so I just started skipping out the first day of school in all my classes, because I knew tha was just something I couldn't do."

Psychiatrists believe many sufferers were simply labeled excessively shy or bashful. But Dr. Daniel Christensen, of the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute, says the disorder goes much deeper.

"They don't advance in their jobs because they can't go in and ask for a raise. Or when the group meets to discuss new ideas, they can't say anything," he explains.

Blushing, sweating, shortness of breath, shaking, nausea - Steve remembers symptoms all too well.

"I knew it was irrational, but there was nothing I could do about it," he says.

For many, no groups, no parties, no dating - nothing involving two or more people.

Steve says, "Sometimes it's writing in public-- can't sign a check, can't sign into a hotel-- somebody's watching me... The basic human instinct of two staring eyes. That's something that everyone fears."

But Steve's fears are gone thanks to a new generation medication and therapy. Now, he says he's making up for lost time. This isn't his only job.

The last place you would expect to find someone with a social phobia would be a public restaurant. But Steve is not only here, he's serving tables.

Confident, outgoing - married with a child on the way - Steve's even joined a toastmaster's club - highlighting his cure with a remarkable appearance at a New Orleans convention two weeks ago.

"This young man from a few years ago who couldn't talk to two people, and to see him in front of a group of nearly 2,000."

Composed and in control on stage and off stage. As Steve would say, meet the new ME!

Dr. Christensen is beginning clinical trials on a new treatment for "Social Anxiety Disorder."