Everything You Need To Know About Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder manifests as apprehension, fear or worry at a heightened level. This is confirmed if the person is easily embarrassed and is often anxious of practically every situation.
Anxiety, fear and worry when speaking in public is normal but if this reaction is heightened, like fearing the day days or weeks in advance, then that is a different case. The experience of social anxiety disorder is often described as an exaggerated reaction on situations that usually wouldn’t entail that much fear.
Social anxiety disorder is also referred to as social phobia. It refers to long-lasting anxiety that is triggered by extreme stress and the inability to function well in normal daily activities. Others, thus resulting in more fear for the individual, often scrutinize these anxieties. About 13.3% of the general American population suffer or has suffered from social anxiety disorder at a given point in their lives.
What are the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder?
Blushing, sweating, nausea, trembling and stammering are the common signs that the person is having a panic attack due to discomfort or intense fear. Whenever there are signs, it is better that the person gets an early diagnosis. In that case, the symptoms are minimized and additional problems like depression are prevented. There are also cases wherein people suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder turn to drugs or alcohol in order to lessen what they are afraid of.
Social phobics experience dread that is presented by others. They are overly conscious and they place too much attention on themselves when it comes to any activity. They put the pressure on themselves. They also have the tendency to be too negative.
As for their fear, it is always persistent in one or more situations. He is so afraid to be scrutinized by others that he is afraid to do anything at all. These feared activities include most kinds of social interactions like dating, parties, going to restaurants and talking to strangers.
Physiological effects are also normal to people suffering from anxiety disorder. They are often faced with uncomfortable situations. For children, they often throw tantrums, cry or cling to their parents; while in adults, this is shown by sweating, shaking, nausea and palpitations.
A 2006 study shows that the brain has amygdale. As mentioned previously, this is a small yet complicated structure that is part of the limbic system. It is so hyperactive that it is responsible for the emotions of an individual. One of these emotions is fear.
How to treat Social Anxiety Disorder?
A person suffering from the disorder may be treated with medication and/or psychotherapy. Recent studies show that the cognitive behavior therapy, whether done on an individual or in groups, are highly effective in providing the remedy for social phobia. The behavioral and cognitive components search for thinking patterns that affect the physical reactions of the individual therefore affecting his whole behavior.
The medication prescribed to the patient often consists of antidepressants. Social anxiety disorders have increased since 1999. Therefore the marketing of drugs to cure it has also increased.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that are said to be the first choice of professionals in treating social anxiety disorder. These drugs lift the level of serotonin. This is also the first drug that has been formally approved by the FDA or the Food and Drug Administration. There is less risk with this medication. It has also not been subjected to any controversy.
There may be side effects as the body adjusts to the medication. Symptoms such as insomnia, headaches and nausea are normal. There are also changes in sexual behavior. It is not yet sure whether the medication is safe for pregnant women though.
Another remedy for social anxiety disorder is psychotherapy and as we discussed previously it has been proven to be effective to the treatment of panic disorder as well.
It has two main components. The cognitive component assists in making people aware of how they can change thinking patterns to overcome their fears.
The other is gradual exposure where the person is exposed to the anxiety-provoking situations that he is afraid of. Throughout the whole procedure, he eventually learns how to handle his anxieties and worries. This is also termed as anxiety management training.
