Shyness to the Extreme
Social anxiety disorder: its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Imagine a fear of being humiliated in front of others to the point you avoid social situations at all costs or endure them with great distress. You may think this is a rare problem, but it’s estimated that nearly 1 out of 10 people have suffered from social anxiety at some point in life. The second most common anxiety disorder (next to phobias), social anxiety disorder follows depression and alcoholism as the third most prevalent mental disorder. More women than men experience this condition and it usually begins during the teen years or early adulthood but may start younger.
Do you or someone you know suffer from this type of anxiety? It may help to know what defines social anxiety disorder, what causes it, and how it is treated. Lucky for you, all this information is below.
Social Symptoms
Social anxiety disorder is more than just shyness (a personality trait of timidness or social discomfort) or social anxiety (feelings of dread or apprehension about social interaction). This medical disorder is characterized by extreme anxiety and self-consciousness that come from a fear of being scrutinized and criticized by others to the point that it recognizably interferes with relationships, work, and daily life.
Panic attacks can occur at the thought of future social events. When around others, one may experience physical symptoms of anxiety including a racing heart, sweating, blushing, feeling faint, dry mouth, upset stomach, confusion, or trembling. An anxious child may cry, cling to their mommy, or throw a tantrum. And someone with social anxiety disorder will continually think thoughts such as, “Everyone is staring at me,” “People can see how nervous I am,” or “I look stupid.”
People with social anxiety disorder know they have a weakness, but don’t acknowledge the feelings to be an illness. They recognize the fear is unwarranted but don’t know how to overcome it.
It’s not just public speaking that triggers anxiety. It’s any kind of social situation: eating a meal with others, working where others can see, conversations with others, job interviews, maintaining eye contact, using public restrooms, talking on the phone, or the potential or reality of being the center of attention in any way.
Social Causes
Biological, environmental, and psychological factors all contribute to the development of social anxiety disorder. Abnormal brain functioning in the areas that control emotion and the stress response may play a large role. The disorder also seems to run in families. A past embarrassing situation, rejection by peers, or bullying can foster social anxiety. In addition, seeing the humiliation of someone else can cause someone to fear the same thing. And children who are overly sheltered when they’re young and fail to learn social skills are more prone to developing social anxiety.
Over time, this combination of experiences and feelings forms a pattern of behavior. The more a person avoids a situation out of fear, the more his or her beliefs and opinions of the fear become distorted and reinforced.
Social Treatment
Psychologists and psychiatrists are trained to diagnose a mental illness such as social anxiety disorder through an interview and evaluation process. Treatment includes medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, counseling, or usually, a combination of treatments. The earlier that treatment begins, the better the outcome. Common drugs used to overcome symptoms of social anxiety disorder include antidepressants, sedatives, or beta-blockers.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps one think rationally about anxiety-provoking situations, teaches new ways of reacting to the situations, and gradually exposes the sufferer to feared situations with continued support. A third aspect of treatment includes counseling to build social skills, improve self-esteem, and teach relaxation methods. More often than not, a commitment to treatment will help one overcome unwarranted fears and lead a normal life.
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Allan Alguire