Social Anxiety Disorder Information

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Looking for social anxiety disorder information? Social anxiety disorder is one of the common anxiety disorders of all. It involves fear of humiliation and embarrassment in which you are exposed to the examination of others. Generally, it is so strong that it compels the person to avoid the situation totally. In social anxiety disorder, people are usually concerned that they might say or do something, which will make them vulnerable towards other people’s judgment such as being anxious, crazy, weak or even stupid. This concern is usually out of proportion as against the situation. Recent studies indicate that about four to five percent of the US population is affected by social anxiety disorder, and as much as 14 percent of adults are affected with social anxiety disorder at some time in their lives. The causes of social anxiety disorder are heredity but a number of maintaining causes also contribute to sustain SAD.

Public speaking is the most common social anxiety disorder, which a majority of people experience. It affects both men and women equally. The other most common social anxiety disorders include:

• Fear of being observed at work

• Fear of spilling or choking food while eating in public

• Fear of crowds

• Fear of using public toilets

• Fear of blushing in public

• Fear of signing or writing of documents in presence of others

Social anxiety disorder usually develops prior to agoraphobia and affects people in adolescence and late childhood. It is more common in children who are shy at the time when they face more pressure from peers in school. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder are physical and psychological. The physical symptoms include shaky voice, rapid breathing whereas the intense worry for several days before the social event and excessive self-consciousness make up the psychological symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

Though social anxieties are common you will be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder only if you start avoiding situations that lead to social activities, like work and other important relationships that can lead to stress. Just like agoraphobia, panic attacks are also relevant in social anxiety disorder. However, panic is more related to being humiliated or embarrassed than to being trapped or confined and these attacks are related only to certain social situation.

Though social anxiety disorder is prevalent without any treatment through young adulthood and adolescence, it usually wanes away later in life. However, there are a number of treatments, which can help overcome social anxiety disorder with a little social anxiety disorder information. The treatment of social anxiety disorder mainly includes relaxation training, cognitive therapy, exposure, medication, social skills training and assertiveness training.

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