I know a 6th-grade teacher who complains about kids not having any time for homework because they participate in non-school sports. This is someone who coaches football/wrestling and has had a least one child play in the majors. The level of emphasis put on activities like these is ridiculous.
>"Individuals suffering from anxiety disorders describe losing emotional control as one of their greatest fears. They are afraid of their own fear, and therefore small degrees of fear generated by mildly threatening situations lead to high degrees of fear generated by the person's fear of losing control."
This is absolutely correct.
Finally, I wonder how much parental social lives relate to the issue of isolation. My parents did not have any local friends when I was growing up and I feel this may have contributed to my social isolation during that time.
edit:grammar