Welcome to your way-point for everything related to social phobia / social anxiety disorder. The purpose of this website (http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/) is to educate, inform, promote self-help, and provide a way to facilitate dialogue between those who suffer from social phobia.
What is social anxiety disorder?
Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder in which people fear social situations where they might be embarrassed or judged. When put in a social situation where they might become anxious sufferers have symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, blushing or even sweating. This anxiety disorder is not uncommon by any stretch of the imagination, because it affects more than five million Americans any given year.
Is This You
Do you always feel like others are judging you? Do you find it difficult meeting new people or doing public speaking? Maybe you feel uneasy about eating in public. If you have ever felt this way then you may have social anxiety disorder.
Social phobia is not to be confused with shyness. Social anxiety is far more intense than shyness, and can keep you from functioning in everyday life. People with social anxiety want to interact with others, but are overcome with fear.
Others like yourselfYou are not online. Social anxiety affects millions in the United States alone and even more world wide. Myself and others, who know what you're going through, have developed a self-help community called Anxiety Forum. At the Anxiety Forum you can talk to others who have social anxiety, like yourself. You can share coping techniques, experiences, or just find companionship.
Click Here to continue to the talk forum
Symptoms of social anxiety disorder
There are a wide range of physical symptoms a social phobia sufferer could experience if a person anticipates or are in a social anxiety provoking situation. The severity of anxiety a person could experience might vary depending on the number of people the anxiety sufferer sees and the type of social situation.
Here is a list of common social situations that could induce an anxiety in someone who social anxiety disorder:
Public speaking
Eating in public
Being interviewed by a stranger
Writing in public
Shopping
Speaking with strangers
Using the phone
Attending social events (e.g., parties, concerts)
Using public restrooms
Talking with important people or authority figures
Crowds
Doing any sort of activity where the person might be watched
If put in one of the above social anxiety provoking situations, a sufferers heart might start beating more rapidly and their palms maybe begin sweating The person soon exhibiting all the signs of an anxiety attack; the response to flee the situation begins. The feelings or anxiety or panic don't ease until after that person has left the anxiety causing situation.
Physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder vary from person to person but below is a common list of symptoms associated with this mental disorder. Keep in mind that these symptoms could occur before (steadily increasing in severity before the event) or during the social anxiety causing event/situation:
Rapid heartbeat
Involuntary twitching
Shaky voice
Dry mouth
Sweating
Muscle tension
Ticks
Upset stomach
Confusion
Trembling or shaking
Blushing
Remember that the above list is just a "common" list of physical symptoms a person with social anxiety disorder could have. We will continue to update our list.
Frequently Asked Questions for Social Anxiety Disorder
This article was formed to ask those questions everyone wants answers to has concerning social anxiety. If you have a question that is not found here, then we encourage you to send your question to us by using our contact form. You can find a link to this page in the bottom navigation bar.
Q: What is social anxiety disorder?
A: It is the intense fear of social situations where the sufferer feels he or she might be watched, judged, embarrassed, or criticized. Example social situations include public speaking, dating, and eating in public. This irrational fear is signified by physical symptoms such as sweating, rapid heart beat, and shaking. These combined symptoms are also known as anxiety attacks.
Keep in mind that this list of frequently asked questions is constantly updated to answer important questions.
Q: When is the onset of social phobia?
A: Social anxiety usually begins in childhood or adolescence.
Q: Is there a silver bullet cure for social anxiety disorder?
A: No, but you can gradually overcome social anxiety with treatment so you can lead a normal life without fear.
Q: I think I have social anxiety disorder what should I do?
A: First you should take the SPIN test, and take the results to a qualified mental health professional such as a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
Q: What causes social anxiety disorder?
A: Researchers and scientists do not have a definitive answer, but some think it maybe because of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Others think that social phobia is a result of heredity. Some other researchers suggest that social phobia in some people might be the result of conditioned fear.
Q: How many people suffer from social anxiety disorder?
A: The National Institute of Mental Health reports that close to five million people in the United States have social phobia.
Q: What medications are commonly used to treat social anxiety disorder?
A: Neorontin, Paxil (an SSRI).
Q: Is there a link between social anxiety disorder and depression?
A: Yes, anxiety sufferers usually develop depression as a result of social anxiety disorder. This is commonly called a spill-over effect.
Q: Who suffers from social anxiety disorder?
A: Social phobia develops in women twice as frequently as men. This trend is about the same throughout mental health. Also a greater proportion of males with social anxiety disorder seek treatment than females.
Q: Are there any silver bullet cures for social anxiety disorder?
A: No, but you can overcome it with treatment so you can lead a normal life without fear.
Life with Social Phobia
Without doing research first, a person would probably deduce that shyness is the same as social anxiety disorder; the two are worlds away from each other. People with social anxiety want to have friends and lead normal lives, but they fear rejection or embarrassment in particular social situations.
This article will look at different social situations and give you an insight into what the socially anxious person feels in those situations. We will look at social anxiety in the classroom, dating, and eating in public.
Social Anxiety Disorder in the Classroom
We all know it is important to ask for help in a classroom setting if you have concerns, if you have a question, or do not understand something. For a person with social anxiety disorder, the fear of "asking a stupid question" might be enough to keep them from asking at all. In some other cases, they might not ask a teacher for help because they fear that the educator will think they are "dumb" or "stupid." In some cases this will lead to poor grades on the side of the anxiety sufferer.
Individuals with social anxiety disorder are often overlooked or "invisible" in the classroom. They will appear to be uninterested by teachers because they fail to ask for help when their grades continue to fall. Sometimes the fear that comes along with social anxiety is so great that many will choose to drop out of school.
Dating With Social Anxiety
Did you know social phobia sufferers are far less likely to get married or even date for that matter? Dating is one of the social interactions that people with social anxiety disorder fear. It is the fear of rejection that will keep people from dating. Statements such as "I won't or don't know what to say" or "He or She won't like me" are common from those who suffer from this debilitating anxiety disorder. Men with social anxiety will tend to worst end as far as dating goes because of social norms, because it is usually expected that a male will approach a female to initiate courting.
Eating and Writing in Public
Most people eat out at restaurants, but for the person with social anxiety it is a dreaded thing. A person with social phobia will fear that when they're eating out that other people will think he or she is not following proper eating manners. If with social anxiety does choose to "eat out" they will endure it with extreme distress.
Lastly, we look at sufferers who fear writing in public. Signing forms or other documents in public is a trivial act to most people. For those with social anxiety, blushing, sweating, and trembling are all too common physical symptoms that occur when trying to write something in front of others. The person with social phobia will think the person in front of them or behind him or her is criticizing their penmanship. Sometimes the person who suffers from social anxiety will think the person watching him/her thinks the sufferer is taking too much time to write or sign something.
From this article alone, a person could deduce that social anxiety disorder can limit a person socially, financially, and academically.
Herbal Remedies for Anxiety
It is well known that for hundreds of years that people have used herbs for treating many ailments that plague the body, but did you know herbs can also be used to treat anxiety?
There are many anxiety sufferers who are actively seeking a safer alternative to modern medicine. This article will overview some of the well known herbs used for treating anxiety.
Kava Kava
Kava Kava is starting to become more well known as a safer way to treat anxiety symptoms. The plant itself is called piper methysticum which is indigenous to Hawaii; the plant can be used as a local anaestetic.
St. Johns Wart
St. Johns Wart is one of the more well known of the herbs that are used to treat anxiety. Known by its scientific name, hypericum perforatum, it it's a wild plant native to Asia and Europe.
This herb can be purchased at most department stores that offer a vitamin section.
Rosemary
Rosemary,other wise known as rosmarinus officinalis, is well known for its use by cooks, but did you know it can aid in relieving depression? The herb itself is native to the Mediterranean coast.
Skullcap
Scientifically known as Scutellaria galericulata, Skullcap is a perennial plant from North America. The plant itself is used for tension headaches and anxiety.
Lavender
Lavender is another well known herb that is native to Europe The flowers of the plant (which are purple in color) can be used to make an herbal tea which has the effect of reducing stress.
Social anxiety disorder treatment
Treatment is the only option for an anxiety disorder that will become worse overtime. Social anxiety can keep you from living a happy successful life by hindering your ability to work or have interpersonal relationships. Life with social phobia may feel like it's without hope, but there are treatment options available to treat social anxiety. With time, most people will be able to live productive lives, fear free. This article will overview treatment options available for social anxiety disorder.
Finding treatment
Before you can get treatment for social anxiety disorder you have to find treatment. You will know which health care professional is right for you, what questions to ask him or her, and much more.
Which treatment option(s) are best for me?
Treatment that best helps someone with social phobia varies from person to person. For example, some people might respond to well to medications, but others maybe require behavior therapy plus medication. You should consult with your mental health professional to help you decide what is best for you.
Home Treatment
There are many things an anxiety sufferer can do by themselves that can help alievate some of the anxiety. Firstly, a person should get plenty of sleep, have a balanced diet, and exercise. Some people use alcohol or illicit drugs to help them gain confidence in feared social situations; it only leads to addictions such as alcoholism or substance abuse.
You can check of simple things you can do to relieve anxiety that is plaguing you.
Tips for Reducing Anxiety, Stress, and Depression in Your Life
This mini article has tips you can use to reduce the amount of stress, depression, and anxiety that maybe plaguing your life. We will continue to add new tips in the future.
Reducing Anxiety and Depression
Take slow, deep breaths
Meditate or pray
Avoid alcohol, because this may lead to sleep problems or even trigger panic attacks.
Stop smoking. The nicotine can cause panic attacks in some people.
Stop having caffeine. Caffeine sources include coffee and soft drinks.
Exercise burns up stress causing chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol, and this will help you to relax. Exercise also boosts serontin, which is an feel-good endorphin, it'll also help reduce sleep abnormalities, a factor in stress brain. If your depression is linked to the way you look, then exercise will positively help boost self-esteem by reshaping the way you look at yourself.
Create small, obtainable goals for yourself then once you reach your goal, reward yourself.
Reducing Stress
Get a massage or backrub
Learn and practice various relaxation techniques
Seek social support from friends
Manage your time more effectively; keep a daily planner
Exercise regularly
Get a proper amount of sleep
Eat regular, balanced meals
Treatment by Medication
Medications are usually on the front lines in the battle against social phobia, but there are many different classes of drugs that help alleviate symptoms of social anxiety.
SSRI (SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. A class of antidepressants (as fluoxetine or sertraline) that inhibit the inactivation of serotonin by blocking its reuptake by presynaptic nerve cell endings.) are usually the first class of drugs that are prescribed to help combat social anxiety. Paxil, a widely used and publicized drug, also belongs to the SSRI drug class.
There are other drug classes such as benzodiapines, MAOI's and beta-blockers which are used to treatment social anxiety.
Social Anxiety Disorder Medications
This article defines and lists pharmological drugs that are used to treat anxiety. Also this article guides you with questions you should ask your doctor before you take any drugs, you're prescribed for social phobia.
Questions for your Mental Health Professional
It is important to know about the medication prescribed to you so you know of any potential side effects, any drug interactions, and if the medication will properly treat your anxiety. With all the aforementioned being said, the following are questions you should ask your doctor before taking any medication for anxiety:
What is the function of the medication?
What are the side effects of taking this medication?
When do I take this medication?
Is it safe to drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this medication?
Are there any drug interactions that I should know about?
How long will I be taking this medication?
Knowing Your Anti-Anxiety Medications
All medications used to treatment are not the same, but there are six different drug anti anxiety drug classes. The six anti anxiety drug classes are beta-blockers, tricylic antid-depressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), anticonvulsant, and benzodiazepines tranquilizers.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
A popular class of drugs used to treat social phobia are the SSRI's, better known as selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This class of drugs is an antidepressant that affects one type of neurotransmitter called serotonin. Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Zoloft are household names in this drug class.
Tricylic AntiDepressants
In the late 1990s the world was introduced to another class of drugs called tricyclics. The late 1990s ushered in new medications that, like the tricyclics, affect both norepinephrine and serotonin but have fewer side effects. These new medications include venlafaxine (Effexor) and nefazadone (Serzone).
Behavior Therapy
When medication doesn't take care of the job alone or when a person prefers therapy only, cognitive-behavior therapy is used. This type of therapy replaces negative self-thoughts with positive ones. Therapy through exposure, skills training, or support is often used to help an individual with social phobia build confidence and eventually overcome social anxiety.
Helping family members with social anxiety
Living and coping with social anxiety disorder is hard, but it's even harder when an anxiety sufferer feels that his or her family doesn't understand. The strain that social anxiety disorder puts on family relationships can have a very negative impact. For example if a relative wants to go out to eat at a restaurant, the socially anxious person maybe be extremely reluctant to participate because of the fear of eating in public. It's not the fear of just eating in public its the fear that he/she might not be displaying the proper etiquette. This form of anxiety is commonly referred to performance anxiety by some.
If you're a family member of someone who has social anxiety disorder, then you first need to realize that social phobia is a SERIOUS medical condition that affects millions of people every and every year.
Steps to helping your family member cope successfully
Learn about the social anxiety disorder as much as you can, and even read case stories if available. If your family member has made some achievements in the fight against anxiety, then praise him or her for their accomplishments.
Don't try to force your family member into social situations they are not comfortable with, but rather try to be flexible while sticking to a normal routine.
Lastly, do not treat them differently, but act normally as usual.
On a personal note
I truly hope that the information above might help you determine and deal with this very real issue.
You see, I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder. I wished I had recognized and worked on this illness of mine long ago. I always knew that there was something wrong, but was afraid to ask others why I had these feelings of great stress. When I did I was told I was just being silly. Others had no idea how I was feeling including my parents. They did force me to do things I did not want to do. Maybe this is why I don't remember a lot about my childhood.
I had to go through a major emotional / mental breakdown before I accepted my illness and began to really identify and work on my issues. I consulted a drug and talk therapist and they allowed me to decide that I needed medication. I am currently on medication (Effexor XR) which helps me to focus and understand the feelings I have and why.
Do not allow others to FORCE you to do or experience anything you do not want too. Only YOU control YOUR life. Experience things when YOU are comfortable. Your friends and family who truly love you will understand and help you if you begin to feel signs of anxiety. Those who do not understand or continue to push or pull you do not care about your feelings. These people are lacking self-esteem and feel that controlling you gives them strength. Do not spend time with these people until you regain your confidence within yourself to be strong enough to say NO and mean it.
God loves you. God will only give you as much as you can handle. People will play with you.
There is nothing wrong with walking away from a person who is trying to "push your buttons" and gain control of you.
I love and care for all of you who have supported me in life.
Thank you. God bless and keep you all.
SSB
