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What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

I always felt uncomfortable in public. I always feel like everyone is staring at me and judging me. If I get a dirty look from someone, I instantly think they don't like me and I feel bad. A lot of people are shy, and we all fear public embarrassment. Having a social anxiety disorder can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender identity. Symptoms may include the persistent fear of being judged or humiliated in specific social situations and excessive anxiety that does not appropriately match the tone of the situation. Having social anxiety disorder can lead to depression because you miss opportunities to have a good time or enjoy yourself, and feel connected to other people. Are you afraid of being judged by others? 

Social Anxiety Disorder

The fear that people with social anxiety disorder have in social situations is so intense that they feel it is beyond their control. Social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety. For people with social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt your life. Severe stress can affect your relationships, daily routines, work, school or other activities. Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.



What causes social anxiety disorder?

Researchers and healthcare professionals are still trying to figure out the cause of social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder can sometimes run in families, but researchers aren’t sure why some family members get it and others don’t. Many parts of your brain are involved with fear and anxiety, so social anxiety disorder is a complex condition to study. Researchers are also looking into how stress and environmental factors could contribute to social anxiety. Environmental factors may contribute, but only as part of a complex interaction that also involves biological and genetic features, some experts say.

Factors that may contribute include a history of:

  • Emotional, physical, or other kinds of abuse
  • Negative interactions with peers
  • Overcontrolling parenting styles
  • Having an insecure attachment style
  • Social anxiety disorders can run in families, but it’s unclear whether this is due to genetic or environmental factors. What are the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder? When having to perform in front of or be around others, people with social anxiety disorder may
  • Blush, sweat, or tremble.
  • Have a rapid heart rate.
  • Feel their “mind going blank,” or feel sick to their stomach.
  • Have a rigid body posture, or speak with an overly soft voice.
  • Find it difficult to make eye contact, be around people they don’t know, or talk to people in social situations, even when they want to.
  • Feel self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively.
  • Avoid places where there are other people.

I Are there different types of social anxiety?

A person with social anxiety disorder can have a mild, moderate or extreme form of it. Some people with social anxiety only experience symptoms with one type of situation, like eating in front of others or performing in front of others, while other people with social anxiety experience symptoms in several or all forms of social interaction. In general, the different levels of social anxiety include:

  • Mild social anxiety: A person with mild social anxiety may experience the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety but still participate in, or endure, social situations. They may also only experience symptoms in certain social situations.
  • Moderate social anxiety: A person with mild social anxiety may experience physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety but still participate in some social situations while avoiding other types of social situations.
  • Extreme social anxiety: A person with extreme social anxiety may experience more intense symptoms of social anxiety, such as a panic attack, in social situations. Because of this, people with extreme social anxiety usually avoid social situations at all costs. A person with extreme social anxiety likely has symptoms in all or many types of social situations.

It’s very common to have anticipatory anxiety when facing these situations. It’s possible to fluctuate between different levels of social anxiety throughout your life. No matter which type of social anxiety you have, it’s important to seek treatment because this type of anxiety affects your quality of life.

How Can It Affect Your Life?

Social anxiety disorder prevents you from living your life. You’ll avoid situations that most people consider “normal.” You might even have a hard time understanding how others can handle them so easily.When you avoid all or most social situations, it affects your personal relationships. It can also lead to:

  • Low self-esteem
  • Negative thoughts
  • Depression
  • Sensitivity to criticism
  • Poor social skills that don’t improve

How is social anxiety disorder treated?

Social anxiety disorder can be treated with psychological therapies (talking therapies). These strategies can help to change your underlying thinking patterns, which helps to keep anxiety under control.

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment which can be used to treat social anxiety disorder. In CBT, you work with a psychologist or doctor to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and reprogram them. It also helps with relaxation and breathing to manage anxiety. It usually takes between 8 and 12 sessions.

Many people with mild social anxiety disorder can be treated with psychological therapies only, but if the anxiety is moderate to severe, medications may be needed in conjunction with CBT. Children with social anxiety are usually treated with psychological therapies only. The medications most often used to treat social anxiety disorder are antidepressants  specifically SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Why doesn't one type of treatment work for everyone?

Treatments for social anxiety disorder do not work instantly and that no one plan works well for all patients. Treatment must be tailored to the needs of each individual. A therapist and patient should work together to determine which treatment plan will be most effective and to assess whether the approach seems to be on track. Adjustments to the plan are sometimes necessary because patients respond differently to any one type of treatment.


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