Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

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Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

Social Phobia is characterized by an intense fear of situations, usually social or performance situations, where embarrassment may occur. Individuals with the disorder are acutely aware of the physical signs of their anxiety and fear that others will notice, judge them, and think poorly of them. This fear often results in extreme anxiety in anticipation of an activity, a Panic Attack when faced with an activity, or in the avoidance of an activity altogether. Adults usually recognize that their fears are unfounded or excessive, but suffer them nonetheless.

Symptoms of Social Phobia manifest themselves physically and can include:

palpitations
tremors
sweating
diarrhea
confusion
blushing

Read an interview with John Walker, PhD, co-author, with Murray Stein, M.D., of the new book, Triumph Over Shyness: Conquering Shyness and Social Anxiety.

Blushing when in social situations is particularly common and often causes the sufferer further embarrassment.

HealthyPlace.com Radio

NFL running back Ricky Williams about Social Anxiety Disorder, a condition that he suffered from for years that ruined his enjoyment of social interaction. Williams says that once he was treated for the disorder, his whole life changed for the better.

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People with Social Phobia tend to be sensitive to criticism and rejection, have difficulty asserting themselves, and suffer from low self-esteem. The most common fears associated with the disorder are a fear of speaking in public or to strangers, a fear of meeting new people, and performance fears (activities that may potentially be embarrassing), such as writing, eating or drinking in public. Sufferers usually fear more than one type of social setting.

Onset of the disorder is usually in mid to late adolescence, but children have also been diagnosed with Social Phobia. Children with the disorder (See "Children & Adolescents") are prone to excessive shyness, clinging behavior, tantrums and even mutism. There is usually a marked decline in school performance and the child will often try to avoid going to school or taking part in age appropriate social activities. Their fears are centered on peer settings rather than social activities involving adults, with whom they may feel more comfortable. For a child to be diagnosed with Social Phobia, symptoms must persist for at least six months.

Take a Social Anxiety, Social Phobia Self-Test

RELATED LINKS AND INFO

Shyness and Social Anxiety
Shyness and Fear of Public Performance
Social Phobia, Social Anxiety Chat w/ Dr. Luann Linquist
Detailed Info on Social Phobias, Social Anxiety
Exposure with Response Prevention Therapy for Social Phobia
Effexor XR Approved For The Treatment Of Social Anxiety Disorder
Zoloft, First SSRI Approved for Social Anxiety
Beta-Blockers For Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) for Social Anxiety Disorder

More about: generalized anxiety disorder ~ phobias ~ panic disorder ~ post-traumatic stress disorder ~ obsessive-compulsive disorder

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