Nov 11
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Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer has an extreme irrational fear of social situations. The subject experiences nervousness, anxiety and embarrassment from the fear of being closely watched and judged by the people around. A person with social anxiety disorder is terrified of making mistakes so experiencing embarrassment or humiliation in public.
As sufferers avoid the public view, they lack experience of interaction with others and lack social skills which brings about further isolation. In the worst cases, sufferers undergo anticipatory anxiety, a fear of a situation before it happens, for days or weeks before the event. Unfortunately, the person is often aware that the fear is unreasonable, but is unable to overcome it.
If left untreated, social anxiety disorder can interfere with a person’s normal daily routine, including school, work, social activities, and relationships. People with social anxiety disorder may experience fear of a specific situation, such as speaking in public, but most sufferers fear more than one social situation. Some situations that frequently provoke anxiety include are eating in public, working in front of others, interacting with people including dating or going to parties, or using public toilets. The symptoms include mental confusion, pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach and nausea. Children with this disorder can express their anxiety by crying, trying to hide, clinging to a parent or throwing a tantrum.
There are many causes of social anxiety disorder, the main ones being biological, psychological and environmental factors. It can have a biological cause, when it is triggered by an imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin, a brain chemical. If the chemical balance of the brain is upset, neurological messages cannot get through the brain properly, and the result is a state of high anxiety.
Alternatively, social anxiety disorder may be psychological, the result of an embarrassing or shameful experience at a past social event. Or it could be caused the person’s environment. Fear can develop from observing the behaviour of others, by seeing someone who is ridiculed for a reason which is not apparent. Also children who are overprotected by their parents may not learn proper social skills as part of their normal development.
There are many treatments available for social anxiety disorder. The most common proffered by the medical profession is an array of drugs designed to handle the symptoms. Amongst the different types of medications used in treatment are antidepressants, like Paxil, tranquilizers (benzodiazepines), such as Xanax, Librium, Valium, and Ativan. Beta-blockers, often used for heart conditions, may also be used to minimize physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and rapid heartbeat. These drugs have, of course, a range of side effects.
A much better form of treatment is cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) and social skills training. CBT is a form of psychotherapy designed to modify your thoughts and behaviours in order to positively influence the emotions. Sufferers are encouraged to imagine a specific social situation, and with the help of the therapist adjust to situations that they would otherwise avoid. Social skills training involves various role-playing exercises designed to help people learn appropriate behaviours and decrease anxiety in social situations.
It is always good to remember that this problem can be dealt with by proper treatment and counselling. Social anxiety disorder is one of those problems that can ruin lives but can cured by the proper course of action.