Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety Disorder, sometimes called social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by extreme fear or anxiety in one or more social settings. Going to a party or even having a one-on-one conversation with a new person can result in increased heart rate, sweating, and racing thoughts for someone with social anxiety. When social anxiety gets significant, it’s common for individuals to isolate and feel very alone, making recovery more difficult.

While social anxiety is commonly thought of as a fear of "socializing", it is more accurately recognized as a fear of "negative judgment" across situations, in general.  Social anxiety may affect people at school, at their jobs, in public settings like shopping malls or at restaurants, and even within their own homes during gatherings with family or neighbors.  Indeed, social anxiety disorder can produce significant discomfort really anywhere an individual might feel observed and judged by others.  Social anxiety is like "stage fright" and, for sufferers, often all the world can feel like a stage!

Ultimately, social anxiety disorder can make it difficult for a person to live the life they want. The excessive fear of humiliation and rejection can limit them in work, school, and relationships. While most people have concerns about acceptance and embarrassment, the extreme anxiety and dread that accompany social anxiety disorder are so overwhelming that a person may find it hard to function in daily life and may avoid the anxiety-inducing situations altogether.

Fifteen million, or seven percent, of American adults have Social Anxiety Disorder.  More than 75% of people experience their first symptoms during childhood or early adolescence.  People with social anxiety are also at increased risk for substance use disorder and major depressive disorder. 

While it does not have one specific cause, there are a number of risk factors that can increase a person’s likelihood of developing Social Anxiety Disorder. People who are naturally more reserved and those who have experienced trauma like childhood abuse or neglect are more likely to develop the disorder. Additionally, those with a first-degree blood relative who has the disorder are anywhere from two to six times more likely to experience Social Anxiety Disorder.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used in treating Social Anxiety Disorder and can be helpful in managing the thoughts and physical symptoms associated with the disorder. Exposure therapy is an especially effective form of treatment in Social Anxiety Disorder, as it focuses on directly facing a fear or phobia. It involves learning coping skills and participating in gradually more challenging social exercises.  These exercises may include include things like calling a friend, talking to a stranger, applying for a job, or public speaking. Exposure therapy is highly successful, as overtime, an individual learns that he or she is able to handle the fear-inducing situations.

                                                                               --M. William Futtersak, Ph.D.