Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a physiological disorder that affects 15 million adult Americans, it is defined by an intense fear of being judged or scrutinized by people within society. This fear leads to the affected person experiencing such an intense fear it is extremely hard or nearly impossible to partake in public situations. This age generally is diagnosed around age thirteen but may affect people of all ages. This condition has a variety of symptoms, causes and treatments.

Since this condition is often confused with people just being shy it is very important to know the proper symptoms. A person with social anxiety disorder will experience a intense fear or avoidance of social situations. Such as, instead of going out to be with friends a person with social anxiety disorder will pretend to be sick so they can avoid leaving the house. In addition to avoiding social situations people with social anxiety disorder experience physical symptoms such as; confusion, pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach, and diarrhea. These symptoms add to the tension these people feel within social situations, these physical symptoms intensify the fear that others are judging and watching their every move. Many people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from drug abuse, alcohol abuse and depression; this is because they are trying to self medicate to ease the extreme anguish they feel.

Though research has yet to point out an exact cause of social anxiety disorder research has shown that many circumstances may lead to this condition. If a child has at least one parent with social anxiety disorder, they are fifty percent more likely to have the aliment themselves; supporting the theory that this disorder may be hereditary. In addition to heredity brain chemicals may also play a role in social anxiety disorder if the serotonin levels in the brain are low a person will be more likely to be emotionally unstable and paranoid. Also brain structure plays a role in the intense fear felt by sufferers of this disorder; the amygdale regulates fear within the body. When this gland is over active extra fear hormones will be leaked into the brain causing intense over whelming feelings of fear. Lastly, a traumatic experience in childhood may lead to social anxiety disorder. Much like PTSD it may be caused by intense flash backs to a time or place where they felt humiliated, judged or like an outsider. These intense flash backs leave the victim feeling as if everyone in every situation is judging them. In conclusion, there are many reasons for why social anxiety disorder would develop.

Though this condition never truly vanishes the symptoms can be managed through different treatments and medications. Psychotherapy is among the most popular treatments for social anxiety disorder, in this treatment patients are taught to first recognize than alter negative