Social Anxiety
Social anxiety disorder affects approximately seven percent of people in the United States. About 12 percent of people will experience it in their lifetime.
Is Treatment Available In My State?What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a mental health condition that causes an extreme fear of being judged or humiliated when around other people. This phobia can make it difficult for someone to have a healthy social, work, or school life.
Social anxiety is more than just being introverted or shy. While introversion is simply a personality trait, social anxiety causes pain and disruption in a person’s life.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety
The symptoms of social anxiety disorder can be triggered by being around other individuals, groups, or even just thinking about being in those social situations.
Psychological symptoms of social anxiety:
- Obsessive worry about social situations
- Extreme fear that others will notice the social anxiety
- Worry about embarrassing oneself
- Intense fear of being judged
- Fretting about a social event weeks before it occurs
These psychological issues cause people to alter their behaviors. This may include:
- Avoiding social events entirely
- Missing school or work
- Depending on alcohol or other substances to get through social events
When someone with social anxiety disorder is faced with a social situation, they may develop physical symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Increased heart rate
- Abnormal sweating
- Shaking
- Trouble speaking, stumbling over words
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Blushing
Where Does Social Anxiety Come From?
Many people who develop social anxiety disorder do so after traumatic experiences or environments. Others are more likely to develop the condition due to their genetics or unique neurology. Finally, unhealthy coping mechanisms and attachments can be at the root of social anxiety.
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Is Social Anxiety Common?
Social anxiety disorder affects approximately seven percent of people in the United States. About 13 percent of people will experience it in their lifetime. This makes it the third-leading mental health condition in the country.
Can Social Anxiety Be Treated?
With high-quality mental health care, people with social anxiety disorder can overcome their struggles and live without symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the primary method for treating social anxiety disorder, and some patients can benefit from taking medication as well.
Telehealth may be useful for people with social anxiety disorder, especially at the beginning of treatment. Because they can access high-quality care at home, patients do not have to face many of their fears to use teletherapy. This makes them more likely to seek care in the first place and stick to the treatment plan. It is of even greater benefit to initially or eventually move to in-person treatment given the positive exposure to the challenge they are working through.
References
Social Anxiety Disorder (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/social-anxiety-disorder
Social Anxiety FAQ
Social anxiety is a mental health condition that causes an extreme fear of being judged or humiliated by other people. This phobia can make it difficult for someone to have a healthy school, work, or social life.
It may be. Several factors increase the risk of developing social anxiety including family history. You are more likely to develop social anxiety if your biological parents or siblings have the condition.
There are several types of medications available to help ease social anxiety symptoms. Medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the first type of drug prescribed for social anxiety.
Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule, or humiliation may be more prone to developing social anxiety. Other negative events, such as family conflict, trauma or abuse, may also trigger this condition.
While social anxiety might be seen more in introverts, it is still possible for an extrovert to develop this condition. Any person of any age, race, or personality type can develop social anxiety.
Talk to someone who can help. LifeStance is your online resource for finding the right mental health professionals to deal with social anxiety, and other related mental health issues.
