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Social Phobia (Social Anxiety
Disorder)
Social phobia, also called
social anxiety disorder, involves overwhelming
anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in
everyday social situations. People with social
phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic
fear of being watched and judged by others and
being embarrassed or humiliated by their own
actions. Their fear may be so severe that it
interferes with work or school, and other ordinary
activities. While many people with social phobia
recognize that their fear of being around people
may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable
to overcome it. They often worry for days or weeks
in advance of a dreaded situation.
Social phobia can be limited to
only one type of situation- such as a fear of
speaking in formal or informal situations, or
eating, drinking, or writing in front of
others-or, in its most severe form, may be so
broad that a person experiences symptoms almost
anytime they are around other people. Social
phobia can be very debilitating-it may even keep
people from going to work or school on some days.
Many people with this illness have a hard time
making and keeping friends.
Physical symptoms
Often
accompanying the intense anxiety of social phobia and
include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling,
nausea, and difficulty talking. If you suffer from
social phobia, you may be painfully embarrassed by
these symptoms and feel as though all eyes are
focused on you. You may be afraid of being with
people other than your family.
Irrational
Feelings
People with social phobia are
aware that their feelings are irrational. Even if
they manage to confront what they fear, they
usually feel very anxious beforehand and are
intensely uncomfortable throughout. Afterward, the
unpleasant feelings may linger, as they worry
about how they may have been judged or what others
may have thought or observed about them.
Who it
effects
Social phobia affects about 5.3
million adult Americans.
Women and men are equally likely to develop social
phobia. The disorder usually
begins in childhood or early adolescence, and
there is some evidence that genetic factors are
involved. Social phobia
often co-occurs with other anxiety disorders or
depression. Substance abuse
or dependence may develop in individuals who
attempt to "self-medicate" their social phobia by
drinking or using drugs.
Social phobia can be treated successfully with
carefully targeted psychotherapy or medications.
If you are suffering from
Social Phobia, please get yourself some
professional help.
Find the Light that I
have.
Resources
Social Phobia and
Shyness Portal
Social
Phobia/Social Anxiety Association
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Home
Page
Social Anxiety
for the UK
National Institute of Mental Health's Anxiety
Hotline-1-888-826-9438 |
