Social Phobia - Detail About Social Anxiety, You Should Know.

    Social anxiety or social phobia is a strong fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed. This fear can be so strong that it gets in the way of going to work or school or doing other everyday things.

   

Everyone has felt anxious or embarrassed at one time or another. For example, meeting new people or giving a public speech can make anyone nervous. But people with social phobia worry about these and other things for weeks before they happen.

    People with social phobia are afraid of doing common things in front of other people. For example, they might be afraid to sign a check in front of cashier at the grocery store, or they might be afraid to eat or drink in front of other people, or use a public restroom. Most people who have social phobia know that they shouldn't be as afraid as they are, but they can't control their fear. Sometimes, they end  up staying away from places or events where they think they might have to do something that will embarrass them. For some people, social phobia is a problem only in certain situations, while others have symptoms in almost any social situation.

Causes Of Social Anxiety Disorder

    Social phobia sometimes runs in families, but no one knows for sure why some people have it while others don't. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. By learning more about fear and anxiety in the brain, scientists may be able to create better treatments. Researchers are also looking for ways in which stress and environmental factors may play a role.

Signs & Symptoms

People with social phobia tend to:

• Be very anxious about being with other people and have a hard time talking to them, even though they wish they could
• Be very self conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed
• Be very afraid that other people will judge them
• Worry for days or weeks before an event where other people will be
• Stay away from places where there are other people
• Have a hard time making friends and keeping friends
• Blush, sweat, or tremble around other people
• Feel nauseous or sick to their stomach when with other people

Who is at risk?

    Social phobia affects about 15 million American adults. Women and men are equally likely to develop to disorder, which usually begins in childhood or early adolescence. There is some evidence that genetic factors are involved. Social phobia is often accompanied by other anxiety disorders or depression. Substance abuse may develop if people try to self medicate their anxiety.

Diagnosis

    Social phobia usually starts during youth. A doctor can tell that a person has social phobia if the person has had symptoms for at least 6 months. Without treatment, social phobia can last for many years or a lifetime.

    Social  phobia can be limited to one situation such as talking to people, eating or drinking, or writing on a blackboard in front of others or may be so broad such as in generalized social phobia that the person experiences anxiety around almost anyone other than the family.

    First, talk to your doctor about symptoms. Your doctor should do an exam to make sure that another physical problem isn't causing the symptoms. The doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist.

Treatments

Social phobia is generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both

Psychotherapy :

    A type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is especially useful for treating social phobia. It teaches a person different ways of thinking, behaving, and reaching to situations that help him or her feel less anxious and fearful. It can also help people learn and practice social skills.

Medication:

    Doctors also may prescribe medication to help treat social phobia. The most commonly prescribed medications for social phobia are anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants. Anti-anxiety medications are powerful and there are different types. Many types begin working right away, but they generally should not be taken for long periods.

    Anti depressants are used to treat depression, but they are also helpful for social phobia. They are probably more commonly prescribed for social phobia than anti-anxiety medications.

    Anti depressants may take several weeks to start working. Some may cause side effects such as headache, nausea, or difficulty sleeping. These side effects are usually not a problem for most people, especially if the dose starts off low and is increased  slowly over time. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you may have.

    I have already wrote about some anti-depressants and their effects in my post here in the blog. You can read them for help.