Social Anxiety Disorder?
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Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have an intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things that will embarrass them. They can worry for days or weeks before a dreaded situation. This fear may become so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities, and can make it hard to make and keep friends.
While many people with social phobia realize that their fears about being with people are excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome them. Even if they manage to confront their fears and be around others, they are usually very anxious beforehand, are intensely uncomfortable throughout the encounter, and worry about how they were judged for hours afterward.
Social phobia can be limited to one situation (such as talking to people, eating or drinking, or writing on a blackboard in front of others) or may be so broad (such as in generalized social phobia) that the person experiences anxiety around almost anyone other than the family.
Physical symptoms that often accompany social phobia include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. When these symptoms occur, people with social phobia feel as though all eyes are focused on them.
Social phobia affects about 15 million American adults. Women and men are equally likely to develop the disorder, which usually begins in childhood or early adolescence. There is some evidence that genetic factors are involved. Social phobia is often accompanied by other anxiety disorders or depression, and substance abuse may develop if people try to self-medicate their anxiety.
Social phobia can be successfully treated with certain kinds of psychotherapy or medications.
Social Anxiety Disorder is a phobic disorder which includes Agoraphobia and Social Phobia. The main features of these illnesses are:
-Fear of being in public places and away from perceived safety of home
-Fear of being watched or criticised by others
-Only present when put in the stressful situation
Many anti-depressant groups (eg MAOIs TCAs and SSRIs) have shown benefit. Beta blockers can help reduce performance or physical anxiety symptoms such as tremor and sweating Benzodiazpines are best avoided.
it is a very common disorder that triggers your daily activities in life to the point where at times you cannot cope with relationships, going out in the public or even taking care of your responsibilities and errands that need to be ran. the best advice for you if you may think you have it is to get help fast b/c it can eventually control your life.
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