Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder

Introduction

It's normal to feel nervous in some social situations. For example, going on a date or giving a presentation may cause that feeling of butterflies in your stomach. But in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.

World wide data

The National Institute of Mental Health report that 12.1% of adults in the United States experience social anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime. It is more common in females than in males. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) approximately 15 million American adults have social anxiety disorder. Symptoms of this disorder may start around the age of 13.

Definition

Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition characterized by a fear of being watched or judged by others in social situations.

Description

People with this disorder have trouble talking to people, meeting new people, and attending social gatherings. They fear being judged or scrutinized by others. They may understand that their fears are irrational or unreasonable, but feel powerless to overcome them.

Although some anxiety is usual in social situations, such as when giving a presentation or going on a date, social anxiety disorder refers to anxiety that is intense, affects work or personal life, and lasts for at least 6 months.

In social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt your life.

Difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety is different from shyness. Shyness is usually short-term and doesn’t disrupt one’s life. Social anxiety is persistent and debilitating. It can affect one’s ability to:

work

attend school

develop close relationships with people outside of their family

Causes of social anxiety disorder

The causes of social anxiety disorder are complex. They are likely to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Social anxiety disorder typically starts early in life, during a person’s adolescence or teenage years, but it can affect people of all ages.

Possible causes include:

Inherited traits. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. However, it isn't entirely clear how much of this may be due to genetics and how much is due to learned behavior.

Brain structure. A structure in the brain called the amygdala (uh-MIG-duh-luh) may play a role in controlling the fear response. People who have an overactive amygdala may have a heightened fear response, causing increased anxiety in social situations.

Adverse life events: Stressful or traumatic events — such as abuse, violence, the death of a loved one, or a prolonged illness — may increase the risk of an anxiety disorder. Previous bullying, humiliation, or rejection can also increase the risk.

Parenting styles: Some suggest that overprotective parenting can increase a child’s risk of social anxiety.

Underdeveloped social skills are another possible contributor to social anxiety. For example, if you have underdeveloped social skills, you may feel discouraged after talking with people and may worry about doing it in the future.

Symptoms

Social anxiety disorder has many effects on the body and mind, causing physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.

The symptoms tend to occur in certain social situations and may include:

physical symptoms, such as blushing, sweating, trembling, nausea, an increased heart rate, and the mind “going blank”

feelings of panic or panic attacks

a fear of experiencing anxiety or of seeming anxious in front of others

an intense fear of judgment from others

feelings of fear or dread in situations with other people, especially strangers

feeling very self-conscious, embarrassed, or awkward in front of others

having difficulty speaking

avoiding situations that might trigger anxiety

a rigid body posture and a soft voice during social interactions

difficulty making or maintaining eye contact

sensitivity to criticism, low self-esteem, and negative self-talk

These symptoms can greatly disrupt daily life, such as school, work, and relationships. Without treatment, the person may not achieve their potential at school or work, as they may avoid participating in group tasks, speaking in front of groups, or receiving a promotion.

When severe or chronic, social anxiety can lead to the development of other conditions, such as depression or substance use disorders.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will diagnose social phobia from a description of your symptoms. They can also diagnose social phobia after examining certain behavioral patterns.

Your health care provider may determine a diagnosis based on:

Physical exam to help assess whether any medical condition or medication may trigger symptoms of anxiety

Discussion of your symptoms, how often they occur and in what situations

Review of a list of situations to see if they make you anxious

Self-report questionnaires about symptoms of social anxiety

We should be sympathetic and try to solve problem of those suffering from social anxiety disorder. We should have soft corner for these people and encourage them in order to help them in their fight against this social

anxiety disorder.

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