Scared of Everything! (Social Phobia Disorder)

Member Name: cyberem78

Product:	Social Phobia Disorder
Date:	20/11/08 (433 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of support available.

Disadvantages: Can be a long term recovery.

~What is it?~

Social Phobia, now commonly called Social Anxiety Disorder(SA or SAD for short) is a condition where sufferers feel intense fear when engaged in a social situation or when interacting with people, especially strangers.

People with this disorder will generally feel deep dread and fear when faced with a social situation. In it's most severe form, constant prolonged anxiety results and can affect a person as soon as they leave their own home, for instance. SA is like a severe form of shyness or timidity but with an extra dose of mental anguish thrown in!

There are two types of SA: Performance and Generalised. Performance anxiety only occurs in specific situations like in a job interview or if you have to speak in public. Generalised is the more common type, affecting 70% of those diagnosed with the condition, and the anxiety occurs in any social situation.

~Symptoms~

The physical symptoms of this disorder can include blushing, excessive sweating, trembling, difficulty swallowing, passing out, panic attacks, racing heart, inability to speak, stuttering and others. These symptoms will occur when the person is involved in an interaction or social situation. Common related experiences include hands shaking when writing a cheque in front of a cashier or not being able to eat in a cafe.

Long term symptoms can include hypersensitivity, inability to form personal relationships, isolation and depression.

~Related Conditions~

Avoidant Personality Disorder is often considered to be the severe form of SA and many of the symptoms overlap. Although with APD the anxiety is caused by inbedded beliefs and thought processes. With APD the sufferer presents themselves as a loner and with SA the person tends to want social integration to be their goal.

As someone with experience with this disorder I also find that many fellow sufferers tend to have other problems such as depression, sleeplessness or agoraphobia. Childhood conditions like selective mutism can also be associated with SA.

~Treatment~

Although it depends on the severity of the SA typical treaments include being prescribed an anti-depressant drug. This is not always because the patient is depressed but the medication can help encourage sufferers to persevere with difficult treatment.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is another common treatment. This involves gradual and repeated exposure to the situation causing the anxiety.

Counselling or therapy can also be treatments for this disorder.

~Help and Information~

Your GP should be your first port of call. Support is essential with this condition.

There are also many great websites online. I love this UK based discussion board where you can talk to like-mided people:

http://www.social-anxiety-community.org/db/

There are also more general websites which can explain the disorder in greater detail:

http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/social.asp

http://www.socialphobia.org/

Summary: Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of social situations.