What is social anxiety disorder?
Social anxiety
disorder, also called social phobia, is an anxiety disorder in
which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social
situations. Anxiety (intense nervousness) and self-consciousness
arise from a fear of being closely watched, judged and criticized
by others.
A person with social anxiety disorder is afraid that he or she
will make mistakes and be embarrassed or humiliated in front of
others. The fear might be made worse by a lack of social skills or
experience in social situations. The anxiety can build into a panic
attack. As a result of the fear, the person endures certain social
situations in extreme distress or might avoid them altogether. In
addition, people with social anxiety disorder often suffer
"anticipatory" anxiety--the fear of a situation before it even
happens--for days or weeks before the event. In many cases,
the person is aware that the fear is unreasonable, yet is unable to
overcome it.
People with social anxiety disorder suffer from distorted
thinking, including false beliefs about social situations and the
negative opinions of others. Without treatment, social anxiety
disorder can be harmful by interfering with the person's
normal daily routine, including school, work, social activities and
relationships.
People with social anxiety disorder might be afraid of a
specific situation, such as speaking in public. However, most
people with social anxiety disorder fear more than one social
situation. Other situations that commonly provoke anxiety
include:
- Eating or drinking in front of others
- Writing or working in front of others
- Being the center of attention
- Interacting with people, including dating or going to
parties
- Asking questions or giving reports in groups
- Using public toilets
- Talking on the telephone
Social anxiety disorder might be linked with other mental
disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder
and depression. In fact, many people with social anxiety disorder
see the doctor with complaints related to these disorders, not
because of social anxiety symptoms.
What are the symptoms of social anxiety
disorder?
Many people with social anxiety disorder feel
that there is "something wrong," but don't recognize their
feeling as a sign of illness. Symptoms of social anxiety disorder
include:
- Intense anxiety in social situations
- Avoidance of social situations
- Physical symptoms of anxiety, including confusion, pounding
heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach
and diarrhea
Children with this disorder might express their anxiety by
crying, clinging to a parent or throwing a tantrum.