A Complete Guide To Social Anxiety Disorder | Causes, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

 

 

Introduction

We all feel nervous in some social situations, For example, going on a date or giving a presentation or meeting a person of authority. But in social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment. This is caused by fear of being scrutinized or judged negatively by others. This is mostly self created and not real.

Social anxiety disorder caused by fear and anxiety often leads to avoidance of meeting people and this can disrupt your life. Severe stress can affect your relationships, daily routines, work, school or other activities.

Social anxiety disorder can be a chronic mental health condition, but learning coping skills in psychotherapy and taking medications can help you gain confidence and improve your ability to interact with others.

What is feels like  having Social Anxiety Disorder?

If you have social anxiety disorder then fear of meeting or talking to people is strong and tendency to avoid becomes prominent.

Students may become afraid of being called on. Employees may become afraid of talking to boss even in very simple and normal situations. You may avoid going to social functions to avoid meeting new people.

So the feeling is bad and becomes worse every time you avoid something you fear. But the good news is that you can come out of this situation. You need not carry this life long.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is a common type of anxiety disorder. A person with social anxiety disorder feels symptoms of anxiety or fear in certain or all social situations, such as meeting new people, dating, being on a job interview, answering a question in class, or having to talk to a cashier in a store. Doing everyday things in front of people—such as eating or drinking in front of others or using a public restroom—also causes anxiety or fear. 

The undelaying cause is that people having this problem tend to think they are not good at doing things and people judge them and think bad about them which is not the reality most of the times.

This fear is so strong that they can not control it. As a result, several problems may occur in their life for example not being able to go to work. The worse part is people with social anxiety disorder may worry about these and other things for weeks even before they happen. 

Some people with the disorder may not have anxiety in social situations but have performance anxiety instead. Feeling physical symptoms of anxiety in situations such as giving a speech, playing a sports game, or dancing or playing a musical instrument on stage is very common.

But one thing is very important to know is that when any you performs any activity first time, having anxiety is normal but it fades away after the performance as confidence level increases. But if it comes up every time before any performance then it can be due to social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder usually starts during youth in people who are extremely shy. Social anxiety disorder is not uncommon.  If not treated social anxiety disorder can last for many years or a lifetime and prevent a person from reaching his or her full potential.

What are the signs and symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder ?

There are three different types of symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

Emotional & Behavioral symptoms : Fear and avoidance are two major emotional & behavioral symptoms. They include the following 

·        Fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively

·        Worry about embarrassment or humiliation

·        Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers

·        Fear of physical symptoms that may cause embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice

·        Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment

·        Avoidance of situations where you might be the center of attention

·        Anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event

·        Over analysis of you's performance and identification of flaws in  a social situation

·        Expectation of the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation

Physical symptoms

The following symptoms can be seen in people having social anxiety disorder. But please note that if it occurs regularly before facing social situation or before any performance then only it can be considered as symptom of anxiety. Occurrence is one of cases or in  special circumstances may not be judged as anxiety symptom.

·        Blushing

·        Fast heartbeat

·        Trembling

·        Sweating

·        Upset stomach or nausea

·        Trouble catching your breath

·        Dizziness or lightheadedness

·        Feeling that your mind has gone blank

·        Muscle tension

Avoiding common daily work & social situations

Common, everyday experiences may be hard to endure when you have social anxiety disorder, including:

·        Interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers

·        Attending parties or social gatherings

·        Going to work or school

·        Starting conversations

·        Making eye contact

·        Dating

·        Entering a room in which people are already seated

·        Returning items to a store

·        Eating in front of others

symptoms of social anxiety disorder can change over time. They may flare up if you're facing a lot of changes, stress or demands in your life. But under laying causes remain same which is fear and action is avoidance.  

Although avoiding situations that produce anxiety may make you feel better in the short term, but anxiety is likely to come up every time similar situation arises.

What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety is essentially is triggered by brain in danger situations to keep us safe. But social anxiety is not a real threat but a perceived one. It is mostly self created by our thoughts. Sometimes this anxiety triggers much ahead of the situation that you have to face. So it is very clear that it is created by perception. 

 

Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. Some researchers think that misreading of others’ behaviour may play a role in causing or worsening social anxiety. For example, you may think that people are staring or frowning at you when they truly are not. 

Underdeveloped social skills are another possible contributor to social anxiety. For example, if you have underdeveloped social skills, you may feel discouraged after talking with people and may worry about doing it in the future. 

Some bad past social experience of social humiliation may also cause this. It may be in childhood or may be have arise after growing up.

 

Whatever it may be, the real cause of it may be deep rooted or may have started many years ago and gone unnoticed to convert the initial symptoms into actual social anxiety disorder. 

What are the risk factors for Social Anxiety Disorder?

Several factors can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder, including:

·        Family history. You're more likely to develop social anxiety disorder if your biological parents or siblings have the condition.

·        Negative experiences. Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule or humiliation may be more prone to social anxiety disorder. In addition, other negative events in life, such as family conflict, trauma or abuse, may be associated with this disorder.

·        Temperament. Children who are shy, timid, withdrawn or restrained when facing new situations or people may be at greater risk.

·        New social or work demands. Social anxiety disorder symptoms typically start in the teenage years, but meeting new people, giving a speech in public or making an important work presentation may trigger symptoms for the first time.

·        Having an appearance or condition that draws attention. For example, facial disfigurement, stuttering or tremors due to Parkinson's disease can increase feelings of self-consciousness and may trigger social anxiety disorder in some people.

What complication may arise due to Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia?

If not treated or taken care of social anxiety disorder can control your life. Anxieties can interfere with work, school, relationships or enjoyment of life. Major complication that areise due to this are

·        Low self-esteem

·        Trouble being assertive

·        Negative self-talk

·        Hypersensitivity to criticism

·        Poor social skills

·        Isolation and difficult social relationships

·        Low academic and employment achievement

·        Substance abuse, such as drinking too much alcohol

·        Suicide or suicide attempts in extreme cases

How Can Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia can be avoided?

The good news is that social anxiety disorder can be prevented if noticed early. If you are able to notice the symptoms that will be very good but if some one close to you notices this and informs you about this then please take a note of this instead of ignoring.

 

·        Get help early. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, can be harder to treat if delayed. So as soon as it is noticed get professional help.

·        Keep a journal. Journaling about your feelings, like what makes you feel good and what feels bad can help you and your mental health professional identify what's causing you stress and what seems to help you feel better.

·        Positive self talk. You can reduce anxiety by doing positive self talk at an early stage. This will help you to crate positive self image. But at a later stage it will not be easy to do it effectively. 

·        Stop avoiding what you fear. Avoiding things what you fear increases the anxiety. So if you take notice of it early then break down your problem in small parts. Face the parts one by one to eliminate your negative perception. This is a very helpful way to prevent problem to grow bigger.

·        Avoid unhealthy substance use. Alcohol and drug use and even caffeine or nicotine use can cause or worsen anxiety. If you're addicted to any of these substances, quitting can make you anxious. If you can't quit on your own, see your health care provider or find a treatment program or support group to help you.

How is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?

The basic rule to treat any disorder to consult a doctor and follow the instructions and advice of doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or counselor. The first step to effective treatment is to have a diagnosis made, usually by a mental health specialist.

Social anxiety disorder is generally treated with psychotherapy (sometimes called “talk” therapy), medication, or both. Speak with your doctor or health care provider about the best treatment for you. 

Psychotherapy

A type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially useful for treating social anxiety disorder. CBT works on your thoughts and thereby help to reduce your fear and anxiety. It can also help you learn and practice social skills. CBT delivered in a group format can be especially helpful. For more information on psychotherapy, please visit https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy

Support Groups

Social groups can also help to reduce social anxiety. Many people who have same anxiety disorder can help each others specially on giving feedback how people see you. In this way continuous positive suggestion to brain by others help to reduce anxiety. You can also help others to overcome their problem.

Medication

There are three types of medications used to help treat social anxiety disorder:

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antidepressants
• Beta-blockers

Your doctor will work with you to find the best medication, dose, and duration of treatment. So details of medication is not mentioned here. Many people with social anxiety disorder obtain the best results with a combination of medication and CBT or other psychotherapies.

Don't give up on treatment too quickly. Both psychotherapy and medication can take some time to work. A healthy lifestyle can also help combat social anxiety disorder. Make sure to get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy diet, and turn to family and friends who you trust for support.