Social Anxiety Disorder
Overview
Definition
Social anxiety disorder is the intense fear of social situations. People with social anxiety disorder:
- Avoid interactions with other people
- Are extremely afraid of being judged negatively by others
- Feel humiliated, embarrassed, and inadequate more easily than others
Social anxiety may be:
- Generalized to all social interactions
- Specific to certain social situations, such as public speaking
Social anxiety disorder is much more severe than shyness. It can interfere with work, school, or other situations, as well as cause physical symptoms.
Physical Reactions of Anxiety |
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Risk Factors
Social anxiety disorder is most common in adolescence and early adulthood. It is almost twice as common in women than in men. Other factors that may increase your chances of social anxiety disorder:
- Family history of social anxiety
- Other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety , bipolar disorder , depression , or substance abuse
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms may begin in any public situation such as:
- Being teased or criticized
- Being the center of attention
- Meeting new people
- Interacting with authority figures
- Interacting with members of the opposite sex
- Eating, writing, or speaking in public
- Using public toilets
Symptoms during these social interactions may include:
- Blushing
- Excessive sweating
- Trembling
- Dry throat and mouth
- Muscle twitches
- Rapid heart beat
- Lightheadness
Treatments
Treatment
Treatments may include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
During cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the therapist may:
- Help you change your negative thought patterns and behaviors
- Teach you techniques to help you control anxiety symptoms, such as deep breathing, visualization, and meditation
- Suggest changes to your social environment to minimize stress
- Gradually expose you to feared situations in a controlled environment
A support group may also be part of your treatment.
Medication
The following medications may be used to help control symptoms:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or other antidepressants—to help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Beta-blockers—to stop the physical symptoms of panic and anxiety (has been used to relieve the performance anxiety that often occurs with social anxiety disorder)
- Short-term use of benzodiazepines
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Social Phobia)
RESOURCES
Anxiety and Depression Association of America https://adaa.org
Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Psychiatric Association https://www.cpa-apc.org
Canadian Psychological Association https://cpa.ca
References
Social anxiety disorder. Anxiety and Depression Association of America website. Available at: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder. Accessed January 31, 2018.
Social anxiety disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115906/Social-anxiety-disorder . Updated May 16, 2017. Accessed January 31, 2018.
Social phobia. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/anxiety-and-stressor-related-disorders/social-phobia. Updated May 2014. Accessed January 31, 2018.