What is Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)?
Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, involves
overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in
everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a
persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and
judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their
own actions.
Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or
school, and other ordinary activities. While many people with
social phobia recognize that their fear of being around people
may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome
it. They often worry for days or weeks in advance of a dreaded
situation.
Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation-
such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or
eating, drinking, or writing in front of others-or, in its most
severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms
almost anytime they are around other people. Social phobia can
be very debilitating-it may even keep people from going to work
or school on some days. Many people with this illness have a
hard time making and keeping friends.
Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social
phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling,
nausea, and difficulty talking. If you suffer from social
phobia, you may be painfully embarrassed by these symptoms and
feel as though all eyes are focused on you. You may be afraid of
being with people other than your family.
People with social phobia are aware that their feelings are
irrational. Even if they manage to confront what they fear, they
usually feel very anxious beforehand and are intensely
uncomfortable throughout. Afterward, the unpleasant feelings may
linger, as they worry about how they may have been judged or
what others may have thought or observed about them.
Social phobia affects about 5.3 million adult Americans.1 Women
and men are equally likely to develop social phobia. The
disorder usually begins in childhood or early adolescence, and
there is some evidence that genetic factors are involved.11
Social phobia often co-occurs with other anxiety disorders or
depression. Substance abuse or dependence may develop in
individuals who attempt to “self-medicate” their social phobia
by drinking or using drugs. Social phobia can be treated
successfully with carefully targeted psychotherapy or
medications.
