Juliette hasn't been out for a meal or a drink for years, can't make a phone call in public and is scared of leaving her house.

And it's not because she's agoraphobic.

Juliette is one of the many silent sufferers of social phobia, which is a fear of making a fool of yourself in public.

She does not wish her real name to be used due to her condition, and because she hates drawing attention to herself in any way.

"If I do go out I'm worried I'll make a fool of myself. That I'll slip and everyone will look at me. I spend ages getting ready so people don't stare because my hair is messy. "It's the same with family gatherings, which I try to avoid as much as possible. I keep quiet most of the time because I can't think of anything to say and I'm worried that when I do everyone will laugh at me.

"My relatives say I'm moody or snobby, that I think I'm better than them, but it's not that. I just wish I had someone to talk to, someone who understands what it's actually like.

"I find it hard eating in front of other people in case I drop something or spill food down my front.

She used to work as a boutique manager and really enjoyed her job, but as her condition worsened she gave up working years ago. "Looking back I must have been confident enough to run a shop on my own, but I could never do it now," she said.

"The thought of going out now makes me feel sick, and shaky, my legs buckle and I feel faint. It's a nightmare. I just wish I could be normal. My friends and family have stopped coming to see me. I think their patience and sympathy just ran out," she said. "I have thought about killing myself many times because no one understands how I feel or what it's like to have social phobia."

Juliette, who lives in Marston, is now 38, but has suffered from social phobia since the birth of her daughter 18 years ago. One of her worst memories is having to take her daughter to school every day.

"I always asked my friend to take her to school, but then she moved away. I forced myself to do it, but as soon as I opened the door I felt sick, shaky, broke into a sweat, my heart started beating fast and I felt faint. Sometimes I just couldn't face it and my daughter would miss school. If I did take her, when I got back it took two hours to stop shaking and then I spent the rest of the day worrying about going to pick her up again, when the same thing would happen." Juliette's symptoms are not unusual for social phobics, as Dr Richard Rush has discovered.

He is currently undertaking research into the field and asking social phobics to take part in a drug test, run from Oxford's Acland Hospital. The volunteers will take a drug, currently being used for depression, so it has already been tested for side-effects, to see if it counteracts their social phobia. They are screened first to make sure they are suitable. For example if someone is schizophrenic or suffers from mental problems you cannot isolate their social phobia, and Dr Rush has found that many sufferers also have drink and drug problems. Those chosen are then interviewed at Oxford Health Management's offices at the hospital, by nurse Lisa Weaver, to find out how extreme their social phobia is. At a later date some will be given dummy pills and others the real thing, to study the effects. Not even Dr Rush will know who's given what, so that when he talks to them afterwards he does not ask leading questions.

The study began three weeks ago and so far 47 people have phoned in, certain they are suffering from social phobia. "We have been overwhelmed by the numbers of people who have phoned in. And all of them think they are the only ones suffering from this. They are all desperate to find a way out and are so relieved to hear there might be light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

"Everyone suffers from it to some extent. Some men can't pee in a public urinal. Others are scared of public speaking. But social phobics feel like they are going to take an exam or driving test, every time they step out of the door."

This is certainly true of Juliette. She has visited her GP on many occasions and was prescribed anti-depressants. "He told me I was just run down and didn't understand how I felt at all. He said I just had to get on with my life. I feel very badly treated by the medical establishment and had begun to think no one could help me," she said. So when she heard about the drug trial she jumped at the chance to take part: "My boyfriend (whom she met through a lonely hearts column) heard about it on the radio and phoned me straightaway. He said I would be ideal and I immediately picked up the phone. I'm going to meet them this week."

But even the short voyage to the hospital is a scary prospect. Juliette couldn't possibly get on a bus, so is taking a taxi instead. "I'm scared but excited as well because there might be a cure for this.

"I was so relieved when I talked to them and found out there were other people out there like me. I would love to meet someone else with the same condition." Dr Rush points out that Juliette's case is extreme. Other grades of social phobics will avoid meetings at work, won't make a point at lectures, don't go to restaurants, pubs or parties, and can't use a public telephone, because they are terrified of the spotlight on them, or of anyone watching them.

"Lots of people hide their phobia because they don't want anyone to know and are too scared to go to their GP. They just avoid a situation or make excuses rather than tell the truth," he said. "Most still go to work but avoid certain stressful situations. Others have had to give up their jobs. I know one man who became socially phobic when he was a teacher and had to stop working because he couldn't talk in front of his class."

The causes of social phobia are still unknown. It can happen at any time of life and is not brought on by one incident. It could be hereditary, but more research needs to be done in that area. So far experts think it's lack of certain chemicals in the brain, which the drug would boost. Teenagers, women and those in their 20s seem most susceptible to it, but it can disappear at any time.

In a generalised sense it's an anxiety disorder, but Dr Rush is trying to pinpoint the symptoms and sufferers so that social phobia can be treated.

Dr Rush is recruiting social phobics until January. For further information telephone Lisa on 01865 516761.

Story date: Friday 03 December

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