Social Anxiety Disorder

Individuals with social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, experience a chronic, intense fear of becoming humiliated in social situations, of being humiliated by their own actions.  The National Institute of Mental Health reports that, in any given year, approximately 5.3 million Americans have social anxiety and it affects twice as many women as men.  The disorder often runs in families, usually appears in childhood or early adolescence, and may be accompanied by depression and/or an addiction disorder.

Although this disorder is often viewed as shyness, the two are not the same.  Shy people may feel uneasy around people, but they do not feel the same dread and anxiety in anticipation of a social event.  The phobia may be centered around one specific situation, such as public speaking or eating in front of other people, or may be so all-encompassing that symptoms are triggered by almost any social situation.      Social anxiety creates a vicious cycle; while those affected realize their fears are out of proportion to the situation, the symptoms are so unpleasant that they go out of their way to avoid situations that trigger them.  And just worrying about the possible onset of symptoms can make them worse.  The avoidance makes it difficult for the affected individual to stay in school, keep a job and maintain relationships.      Physical symptoms of social anxiety include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, digestive upset, shaky voice, heart palpitations, cold and clammy hands, muscle tension and confusion.  Social anxiety disorder is also associated with other troublesome traits:  low self-esteem, lack of assertiveness, negative self-talk, poor social skills and hypersensitivity to criticism.      Researchers believe that social phobia, like many other mental health conditions, is likely caused by a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors.  About 80 percent of people who suffer from social anxiety find significant relief of symptoms when treated with therapy, medication or both.  Cognitive behavior therapy is the only type of therapy proven to be effective; it is based on the premise that your own thoughts – not other people or situations – determine how you behave or react.  This therapy may also include learning social and anxiety -reduction skills.      Although the disorder generally requires help from mental health professionals, the following self-help tips may be helpful: Develop realistic expectations.  What a boring world it would be if we all walked around like perfect little robots!  The unrealistic expectation that you must behave perfectly in all social situations sets you up for failure – no one can achieve this impossible goal.  Replace critical self-talk with more positive messages.  No one is perfect and you don’t have to be, either. Put yourself in perspective.  Adolescence is marked by a certain period of believing that “all the world is a stage and I am in the center of it.”  Everyone else scrutinizes you for the slightest imperfection – a pimple or a mispronounced word can elicit intense disapproval from others.  Well, it wasn’t true in adolescence and it isn’t true in adulthood.  The truth is,  people have other things to occupy their thoughts.  The blemish or mispronunciation may be briefly noted, but rest assured, it does not loom large in others’ minds nor does it cause others to scorn you. Take baby steps.  Practice mild versions of the social situations that cause the most anxiety.  Make eye contact and be the first one to say hello.  Prepare for an interesting conversation by reading newspapers or magazines.  Put the “spotlight” on your conversation partner by asking open-ended questions about his or her family, home or hobbies.  Set realistic goals and a timetable to accomplish them.  Overcoming and managing social anxiety is a gradual process; be patient and honor yourself for each achievement. Accept yourself.  Our imperfections give us character and may actually contribute to our successes.  In his book, “Lincoln’s Melancholy,” Joshua Shenk Wolf describes how Abraham Lincoln’s depression caused him to limit his energy and focus to the most important issues facing the nation and fueled his compassion for downtrodden people.  Many of our great thinkers had dyslexia, including Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.  Their need to focus less on traditional learning methods and instead to think more creatively and employ hands-on learning may have been pivotal to their accomplishments.      Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions and among the most successfully treated ones.  Many websites offer information and coping tips, including: www.social-anxiety-disorder-resources.com www.socialanxietysupport.com Effective treatment and self-help techniques can greatly improve affected individuals’ quality of life.