Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder

We've all had that feeling when we went to a party, but we'd rather be at home. For most of us, that feeling is nothing to be concerned about, but for some people, it can be a panic attack including endeavor. 

The defining feature of social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation. People with social anxiety disorder may worry about acting or appearing visibly anxious (e.g., blushing, stumbling over words), or being viewed as stupid, awkward, or boring. As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations, and when a situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant anxiety and distress. Many people with social anxiety disorder also experience strong physical symptoms, such as a rapid heart rate, nausea, and sweating, and may experience full-blown attacks when confronting a feared situation. Although they recognize that their fear is excessive and unreasonable, people with social anxiety disorder often feel powerless against their anxiety.

Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million American adults and is the second most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder following specific phobia. The average age of onset for social anxiety disorder is during the teenage years. Although individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder commonly report extreme shyness in childhood, it is important to note that this disorder is not simply shyness. Social phobia has also been linked to anxiety disorders and depression.

There are signs and symptoms to look out for in the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder:
When having to perform in front of or be around others, people with social anxiety disorder tend to:

• Blush, sweat, tremble, feel a rapid heart rate, or feel their “mind going blank”

• Feel nauseous or sick to their stomach

• Show a rigid body posture, make little eye contact, or speak with an overly soft voice

• Find it scary and difficult to be with other people, especially those they don’t already know and have a hard time talking to them even though they wish they could

• Be very self-conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed and awkward

• Be very afraid that other people will judge them

• Stay away from places where there are other people

So, what causes this?

Social anxiety disorder sometimes runs in families, but no one knows for sure why some family members have it while others don’t. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. Some researchers think that the misreading of others’ behavior may play a role in causing or worsening social anxiety. 

For example, you may think that people are staring or frowning at you when they truly are not. 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. By learning more about fear and anxiety in the brain, scientists may be able to create better treatments. Researchers are also looking for ways in which stress and environmental factors may play a role.

Psychotherapy, support groups, and medication can help in alleviating the problems. Despite the availability of effective treatments, fewer than 5% of people with social anxiety disorder seek treatment in the year following initial onset, and more than a third of people report symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help. It is often best to reach out to people that care about you and explain to them what you are going through. 

Alternatively, you can reach out to us here. Betterfe is always eager to help you out and we'll go all the way and see things through.

If you feel like talking to someone, or you want to learn more about mental health, visit Betterfe.

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE.