Social anxiety disorder, also commonly referred to as “social phobia”, is an anxiety disorder in which the person feels as though they are constantly being judged by people. As a result, they often become afraid of leaving the house in fear of embarrassing themselves or drawing attention to themselves. Sometimes, Social Anxiety Disorder can even lead to a person becoming agoraphobic.
Occasionally, the person’s feelings of being judged and watched by others are based on actual occurrences. For the most part, however, they are imagined or grossly overestimated. For example, an attractive woman with low self-esteem could develop Social Anxiety Disorder because she feels that every time she goes out in public she is being watched and stared at. She might feel as though she is being judged and talked about, when in fact, people are probably simply just looking at her because she is attractive.
There are several physical symptoms associated with Social Anxiety Disorder. A few of the common symptoms are: feeling faint, dizziness, sweating, and heart palpitations. Depression can also follow long periods of Social Anxiety Disorder.
People who have Social anxiety disorder are not just shy; they actually feel frightened to be in social settings. The social setting can be anything from going grocery shopping to even going to a restaurant or the doctor’s office. If they go out in public, they usually feel more comfortable in a place that does not contain a lot of people, like in a sparsely populated park.
Sometimes, people turn to alcohol and drugs to control their symptoms and feelings. They might begin taking drugs in order to “feel normal” about going out in public and being in social settings. The drugs and alcohol might make them feel as though they can handle the pressure and the people by giving them a type of confidence that they do not usually possess.
Although there is no known cause for Social Anxiety Disorder, many people who suffer from it had traumatic childhood experiences in which they were severely embarrassed. Children who were bullied or harassed in school have also reportedly been diagnosed with the disorder later on in life. Genetics might also play a part in the disorder although studies at this time are inconclusive.
There are several types of treatment available for help with Social Anxiety Disorder. A common counseling technique is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Medication is also used and can come in the form of anxiety medication such as Klonipin or antidepressants like Prozac.