Social anxiety is one of several types of anxiety disorders. WebMD lists the following anxiety and panic disorders. Panic disorder strikes suddenly and repeatedly with no warning and often includes physical symptoms such as sweating and chest pain; and specific phobias such as fear of heights, snakes, flying and others. Generalized anxiety disorder presents excessive, unrealistic worry and tension even when there is little or nothing to trigger the anxiety. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) manifests overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. Worries center on fear of being judged and/or fear of behaving in a way that might cause ridicule or embarrassment.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults (18%) in a given year causing them to be filled with fear and uncertainty. Anxiety disorders lasting 6 months or more can get worse without treatment. Often anxiety disorders occur with other mental/physical illnesses such as alcohol or substance abuse. Among the related anxiety disorders discussed in a National Institute of Mental Health 26- page booklet “Anxiety Disorders” are panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia (social anxiety disorder) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
According to “Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia” social anxiety triggers include meeting new people, being the center of attention, being watched doing something, making small talk, public speaking, performing on stage, being teased or criticized, talking with important people, being called on in class, going on a date, making a phone call, using public restrooms, taking tests, eating or drinking in public, speaking at a meeting and attending parties. Social anxiety is triggered when you become an object to others and therefore lose control of your selfhood to others. Emotional symptoms include excessive self-consciousness and anxiety, intense worry, extreme fear, and general nervousness. Physical symptoms include red face, shortness of breath, upset stomach, nausea, trembling, racing heart, tightness of chest, sweating, hot flashes, feeling faint and dizziness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is social anxiety disorder?
- Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. People with this disorder fear being judged or behaving in ways that might cause ridicule or embarrassment.
- What are common triggers for social anxiety?
- Common triggers include meeting new people, being the center of attention, making small talk, public speaking, performing, being teased or criticized, interacting with important people, and social activities such as eating or drinking in public.
- What are the symptoms of social anxiety?
- Emotional symptoms include excessive self-consciousness, intense worry, and extreme fear. Physical symptoms can be a red face, shortness of breath, nausea, trembling, racing heart, sweating, dizziness, and feeling faint.
- How common are anxiety disorders in the United States?
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults, which is approximately 18% of the population in a given year.
- Can anxiety disorders get worse if not treated?
- Yes, anxiety disorders lasting six months or more can worsen without treatment and are often associated with other mental and physical illnesses, such as substance abuse.
Sources
- Social anxiety disorder - Signs, symptoms and treatment | healthdirect (healthdirect.gov.au)Social anxiety or phobia is a fear of social situations. People with social phobia can feel anxiety and fear even over every day social outings.
- The Hidden Suffering of Social Anxiety Disorder (psychiatrictimes.com)Aug 16, 2024 ... Dr Chaudhry is a graduate of and research associate at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr Moukaddam is a professor of psychiatry ...
- Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just a Little Shyness - PMC (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)Social anxiety is defined as a marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations and includes such symptoms as sweating, palpitations, shaking, ...
- How Anxiety Affects Teenagers - Child Mind Institute (childmind.org)“That's just part of the adolescent process, but some kids have that on steroids.” The result can be debilitating social anxiety. “They're going to be really ...