Free Republic

A year into the pandemic, a lot has changed. And we're reminded of that every time we go outside (if we go outside). Masks have joined the traditional don't-leave-home-without-them trifecta of keys, wallets and phones - and they are here to stay. There are folks who hate them, who can't breathe through them, or who think they're a sign of political oppression. But for others, the widespread use of masks has made the past year one of liberation. With a mask, you can sing in the grocery store, talk to yourself on a walk, grimace in the gym, leave the...

THE SOCIETY of Nuclear Medicine has been touting a new study that suggests we're one step closer to solving the riddle of social anxiety disorder. Researchers believe the origins of the disorder are biological. This sounds like a breakthrough worth celebrating. "Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million American adults," the press release declares, and is "the third most common mental disorder in the United States, after depression and alcohol dependence." But what are its symptoms? A "fear of being evaluated by others, with the expectation that such an assessment will be negative and embarrassing." Once you start calling fear...

Hello,I've been searching and searching the Internet, but I don't quite have my answer. I was hoping someone could help me out.Basically, my life is in a major rut and it's going nowhere. I recently turned 24. I have social anxiety and other mental issues - but I am trying very hard to recover from them. I want out of my job, but I have no idea where to go from here. Like I said, my life is going absolutely nowhere. But yesterday, an idea popped into my head: what about joining the military (probably the Army)? I've done over...