Social anxiety disorder, which is also known as social phobia, is one of the most common anxiety disorders. In fact, it is estimated that some 15 million adults in America alone struggle with this disorder, or some 6.8% of the general adult population. With social anxiety disorder, patients are commonly prone to a fear of being negatively judged by others or of experiencing public embarrassment due to their own impulsive actions.
What Are the Symptoms?
Social anxiety disorder can have a wide range of symptoms. Typical manifestations of the disorder include stage fright and a fear of intimacy and humiliation. With this disorder, patients typically desire social interaction, but fear imagined repercussions and failures.
It is important to realize that the degree of social phobia or anxiety differs between individuals. While some people may experience mild to moderate signs of anxiety, for others it can be a disabling condition. Some people even refuse to leave their homes due to a crippling fear of interacting with others.
Physical symptoms of this disorder can vary greatly from one patient to the next. They can include the following:
- Tightness in the chest
- A pounding heart
- A shaky voice
- The inability to speak
- Rapid breathing
- Sweating or hot flashes
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Shaking or trembling
- Muscle tension
- Dry mouth
- Blushing
- Dizziness or a faint feeling
- Twitching
- Clammy hands
- Panic attacks
Social anxiety disorder can also present with a number of psychological symptoms. These symptoms are considerably more internalized than physical symptoms, but are no less real or important for those who experience them. The degree of severity of these symptoms often varies from one patient to the next.
- Intense worry prior to an event or social situation that can occur hours, days, weeks, or even months before the situation occurs.
- Extreme fear of being watched and judged by others, especially strangers.
- Fear of acting in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating.
- Fear that others can sense your nervousness and apprehension.
- Excessive anxiety and self consciousness in everyday social settings.
- Avoiding social situations to a degree that life is disrupted or activities are limited.
It is important to distinguish that social anxiety disorder or social phobia is different from normal shyness or nervousness. While becoming nervous before giving a big speech is normal, people with social anxiety disorder will likely worry about the event for days or even weeks before it occurs. They may also go to great lengths to avoid the situation, including calling in sick or simply not showing up. People with this disorder may also develop symptoms of nervousness so severe that they are unable to speak or to function in front of a large crowd.
It is also crucial to understand that social anxiety disorder doesn’t just happen when an interaction in front of a large crowd is expected or required. In fact, many people with the disorder experience great difficulty even in intimate encounters, such as one on one interactions. There are many situations that can trigger social anxiety. What follows is a listing of some of the most common situational triggers for people with this disorder.
- Meeting new people
- Being watched while doing something
- Making small talk with others
- Being at the center of attention
- Public speaking
- Performing onstage
- Being called on in a classroom
- Talking with authority figures or important people
- Being criticized, critiqued, or teased
- Making phone calls
- Using public restrooms
- Going on a date
- Taking a test or exam
- Eating or drinking in front of others
- Attending parties or social event
- Speaking or being asked to speak in a meeting
What Causes Social Anxiety or Social Phobia?
When looking at social anxiety disorder and social phobias, it can be hard to identify the causes. Heredity and chemical imbalances can often play a role for people who develop this condition. Negative experiences can also be a major factor, including bullying, embarrassing experiences, teasing, and the like. These negative experiences can be traumatic for some individuals, creating a sense of anxiety and fear in future social settings.
Environment can also play a role in the development of social anxiety disorder. People who grow up or who spend a great deal of time in an environment with little positive social interaction are much more likely to become apprehensive in social settings. Children who are very shy or who are not allowed or encouraged to express their opinions are much more likely to develop the condition. While there is no environment that will definitively cause or prevent the development of social anxiety, encouraging communication and socialization can certainly help decrease the chances.
Who Develops Social Anxiety Disorder?
While we have already looked at how prevalent social anxiety disorder is, we should also look at who is commonly diagnosed with the disorder. While most anxiety disorders are not commonly diagnosed until adulthood, social anxiety often presents itself between the ages of five and twenty. Adolescents are frequently diagnosed with this condition. Studies indicate that those who develop the condition before the age of fifteen are at a higher risk of developing depression, though diagnosis of social anxiety does not guarantee a diagnosis of depression at any point.