Social Anxiety Disorder Definition, Symptoms and Treatment

Many people get nervous in certain situations, such as giving a presentation or doing a job interview. It happens to others when talking to people they have just met or have an authority role.

But social anxiety disorder it goes beyond shyness or occasional nerves. It is present in almost all daily interactions and often leads to avoidance of a number of situations, thus altering the life of the sufferer.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder (or social phobia) is the intense fear of certain social situations, especially unknown situations or in which it is believed that the person is going to be observed or judged by others.

These situations can produce such fear that the person suffering from this disorder becomes nervous just thinking about them and great efforts are made to avoid them, thus disrupting life.

Triggers of social anxiety

• Meet new people
• Chat socially with people you know
• Public speaking
• Perform on stage
• Be in the limelight
• Talk to "important" people or people in positions of authority
• Have a date
• Talking in class
• Speak in a meeting
• Use public toilets
• Eating or drinking in public
• Make phone calls
• Go to parties or other events

The underlying fear in social anxiety is that the person will be observed, judged or evaluated in public..

It is feared that others will think badly or less of the person and although it is understood that the fear is irrational, produces overwhelming anxiety.

Main characteristics of social anxiety disorder

• Excessive anxiety in everyday social situations
• Severe worry for days, weeks, or even months before a scheduled social situation
• Extreme fear of being watched or judged by others, especially strangers
• Fear that they will act in a way that makes them look bad or make a fool of themselves
• Fear that others will notice that you are nervous

Physical symptoms of social anxiety

The physical symptoms of social anxiety are those of anxiety of all kinds:

Fast heartbeat or tachycardia

Muscle tension

Blush

Feeling dizzy and unsteady

Difficulty breathing

Sweating

Stomach tension or nausea

• It may interest you: The 14 physical symptoms of anxiety

Consequences and Complications of Social Anxiety Disorder

As just explained, the person with social anxiety experiences a series of both physical and cognitive symptoms that make you fear many situations that are an integral part of daily life.

As a consequence they end avoiding many of these situations or they come to do them in a modified way, for example attending all kinds of events accompanied, staying quiet and not participating in meetings and parties, or drinking alcohol or using other substances to control the fear of the situation.

So it can interfere with various aspects of the person's life, at work, in studies, in relationships and in the general ability to enjoy, thus creating possible complications:

• Difficulty acting assertively
• Low self-esteem
• Hypersensitivity to criticism
• Poor social skills

Which in turn can lead to:

• Depression
• Isolation and difficult social relationships
• Poor academic and professional results
• Substance abuse
• Suicidal thoughts

Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder

There is no single cause of social anxiety disorder but, as in the vast majority of cases psychological disorders, it is the result of the interaction of various biological and environmental factors. Certain risk factor's specifically associated with social anxiety such as:

Family background: if someone in the family suffers from it, its appearance is more likely.

Character: Introverted and shy children are at higher risk.

Negative experiencesHaving experienced teasing, harassment, rejection or humiliation as children, especially in an intense and sustained way over time, poses a greater risk of developing social anxiety as an adult. The same as situations of abuse or family conflict situations.

Physical condition or illness attention-grabbing: having any trait that can draw attention to the person such as physical disfigurement, stuttering or tremors can increase the propensity for social anxiety in certain people.

Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be the most effective for social anxiety disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy understands that thoughts affect emotions and these in turn affect behavior. Consequently, if the thinking about social situations that produce anxiety is changed, the person feels and functions better. CBT for social phobia can include:

Manage physical symptoms anxiety, learning breathing techniques and muscle relaxation.

Restructure negative thoughts and harmful that fuel social anxiety into more balanced and objective thoughts.

Coping with situations social situations that gradually and systematically produce fear, rather than avoiding them.

Medication

Medication is sometimes helpful in alleviating the symptoms of social anxiety, but it does not fix the underlying problem. Typically used in combination with psychotherapy, especially in cases of severe physical symptoms or long-standing avoidance patterns, to facilitate systematic exposure. There are three types of medications that are used:

Beta blockers. Usually used to alleviate "stage fright". They control physical symptoms such as shaking of the voice or hands, sweating and tachycardia well. However, they do nothing for emotional and cognitive symptoms..

Benzodiazepines. They are fast-acting anxiolytic medications. They immediately and punctually lower the level of anxiety, allowing easier handling of the mechanics of fear, including its physical, cognitive, and emotional components. But taken alone, they offer short-term relief from physical symptoms, without resolving the cause of the disorder. They are also sedative and addictive and their correct use should be short and controlled..

Antidepressants. They are used in more severe cases where there are complications.

What to do if you think you have social anxiety disorder

If you find that there are many social situations that produce anticipatory anxiety and / or your life is conditioned by the number of situations you avoid, it is possible that you suffer from social anxiety and there are certain measures so that it does not go to more:

Get help as soon as possible: Anxiety disorders are characterized by fear and avoidance, and the more one avoids, the more fear increases, aggravating the situation and worsening the disorder.

Learn to better manage stress: put priorities in your life, manage your time and energy effectively and make sure to "schedule" activities whose only objective is to enjoy.

Avoid substance use such as alcohol or drugs and caffeine or nicotine: Alcohol temporarily relieves anxiety but is incorporated into the pathological mechanics of fear, worsening anxiety in the medium-long term. And both nicotine and caffeine, contrary to popular belief, organically and immediately increase anxiety, being stimulants of the central nervous system..