Social Anxiety Disorder | Overview, Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Management

Social anxiety disorder is a medical condition that causes fear and anxiety when you are around people in social situations. In some social circumstances, feeling uneasy is normal. The feeling of butterflies in your stomach, for instance, may occur before important events like dates and presentations.

However, if you have social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, normal social interactions can make you feel extremely anxious, self-conscious, and embarrassed because you worry that other people will judge you or look upon you harshly.

Shyness and social anxiety are not the same. Although shyness can be challenging, it doesn’t significantly interfere with daily living the way social anxiety does.

Anxiety and worry can cause avoidance, which can affect your life if you have social anxiety disorder. Relationships, daily routines, work, school, and other activities can all be impacted by extreme stress.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) estimates that 15 million adult Americans suffer with social anxiety disorder. It commonly begins in adolescence.

Although taking medication and developing coping mechanisms in psychotherapy can help you build confidence and enhance your ability to communicate with others, social anxiety disorder is a mental health problem that can last a long time.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Particularly in children, feeling timid or uneasy in specific situations is not always a marker of social anxiety disorder. Various personality attributes and life experiences affect social comfort levels. Some people are extroverted by nature, while others are more reserved.

The fear, worry, and avoidance that characterize social anxiety disorder are distinct from normal trepidation because they affect relationships, daily activities, work, school, and other activities. The onset of social anxiety disorder often occurs between the ages of early and mid-teens, however it can also happen in younger children or adults.

Behavioral and Emotional symptoms

Consistent manifestations of social anxiety disorder include:

• Fear of encounters where you could receive unfavorable judgment.
• Worry about making yourself looking bad or humiliated.
• Severe anxiety or fear in social situations.
• Evaluating your performance and looking for weaknesses in your interactions after a social event.
• The anticipation of the worst potential outcomes as a result of a bad social experience.
• Severe anxiety while engaging or conversing with strangers.
• Fear that people may notice that you appear worried.
• Fear of experiencing physical side effects that could humiliate you, such as blushing, perspiring, trembling, or having a trembling voice.
• Avoidance of situations or interactions with individuals out of embarrassment.
• Avoiding circumstances where you might be the focus of attention.
• Fear of a dreaded activity or event-related anxiety.
• Children who are anxious about interacting with adults or peers may weep, throw fits, cling to their parents, or refrain from speaking in public.

Physical Symptoms

Social anxiety disorder can occasionally be accompanied by physical symptoms, which may include:

• Trembling
• Blushing
• Rapid heart rate
• Tense muscles
• Avoiding typical social scenarios
• Feeling as though your mind is blank
• Sweating
• Nausea or a stomachache
• Having trouble breathing
• Unsteadiness 

Performance type of Social Anxiety Disorder

This is typically the case when speaking in front of an audience or performing in front of an audience causes you to feel extremely nervous and anxious but not in other, more typical social circumstances.

Spectrum of Social Anxiety

A social anxiety disorder sufferer may experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. When in a particular setting, such as eating in public or giving a performance in front of others, some persons with social anxiety only experience symptoms; in contrast, some people with social anxiety may have symptoms in many or all types of social contact. The various degrees of social anxiety often consist of:

1. Mild social anxiety: A person who has mild social anxiety may nevertheless engage in or tolerate social events despite experiencing the physical and psychological signs of social anxiety. Additionally, they might only exhibit symptoms in particular social settings.
2. Moderate social anxiety: A person with moderate social anxiety may exhibit physical and psychological signs of the condition but continue to engage in some social activities while avoiding others.
3. Extreme social anxiety: A person with extreme social anxiety may encounter more severe symptoms of the condition in social settings, such as a panic attack. As a result, those who suffer from severe social anxiety typically steer clear of social situations at all costs. Extreme social anxiety often manifests as symptoms in a variety of social settings.

Throughout your life, you may have social anxiety at various levels. Regardless of the kind of social anxiety you experience, it’s recommended to get help because of the negative effects this kind of anxiety has on your quality of life.

What Causes Social Anxiety?

Although the precise causation of social anxiety disorder is unknown, it may be brought on by a combination of factors. According to scientists, physical, biological, and genetic variables are probably involved. Unbalances in the hormones serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate may result from issues with neurotransmitter systems. These brain substances support mood regulation.

According to some specialists, environmental influences might play a role, but only as a component of a complicated interaction that also includes biological and genetic traits.  One or more of the following factors may be responsible:

• Peer pressure and unfavorable peer interactions
• Strict parenting
• Abuse that is either emotional, physical, or in another way
• Having an insecure attachment style
• Negative experiences may lead to a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where Social anxiety is a symptom.
• There may be a family history of anxiety problems, but it’s not obvious whether this is related to hereditary or environmental causes.

Complications

Social anxiety disorder can  overrun your life if it is not treated. Anxiety can prevent one from enjoying life, relationships, job, or school. This condition may result in:

• Inadequate social skills
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of assertiveness
• drug abuse, such as abusing alcohol by consuming too much of it
• Suicide or attempted suicide
• Isolation and challenging social interactions
• Self-critical thoughts
• Being overly sensitive to criticism
• Low success in school and at work

Possible Ways to Prevent Social Anxiety Disorder

It is impossible to foretell what will lead someone to develop an anxiety disorder, but there are things you can do if you’re uneasy to lessen the severity of the symptoms:

1. Get assistance right away: If you wait, it could be more difficult to cure anxiety, like many other mental health issues.
2. Make a list of your top priorities: Being mindful of how you spend your time and energy can help you feel less anxious. Verify that you spend time engaging in activities you enjoy.
3. Keep away from using drugs and alcohol: Use of coffee or nicotine, along with alcohol and other drugs, can contribute to or exacerbate anxiety.
4. Keep a journal: A mental health professional and yourself can pinpoint what’s stressing you out and what makes you feel better by keeping track of your personal life.

Social Anxiety Disorder Management

Social anxiety disorder can benefit from a variety of treatments. The effectiveness of a therapy will differ from person to person. Some patients only require one kind of treatment, while others can require a combination. Your primary care physician may recommend therapy or refer you to a psychologist or other mental health professional.

The following are some options:

Medication

Medication can help you deal with your symptoms and carry on with regular activities. For the correct and ideal medication, seek medical advice. Refrain from self-medicating.