Social Anxiety Disorder
(Social Phobia)
Social anxiety disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. People with this condition
experience persistent unease, anxiety, and fear in social situations, leading to a strong desire to escape.
It differs from simply being withdrawn. People with social anxiety disorder are often aware that their fear is excessive, yet struggle to control it, and may resort to avoidance.
PAD often manifests in adolescence, but it can also appear earlier than childhood or in adulthood.
Do you have the following symptoms?
Social phobics may just be afraid of a specific social context, or a variety of them.
The followings are the symptom of social phobia:
Emotional Symptoms
．A cycle of negative thoughts and feelings
．Worry about the transformation of body parts (mostly face)
．Extreme fear of being watched or judged
．Fear that parts of the body (most often the face) appear distorted
．Worried that others will notice of being very nervous
Behavioural Symptoms
．Scared to be awkward or be in the spotlight
．Avoid social context
．Become withdrawal, may drop out from school or resign from work
．Speech becomes hesitant or blocked
．Avoid making eye contact
．Involuntary movement of the body and limbs
Physical Symptoms
．Flushing
．Shortness of breath
．Nausea
．Shivering (including trembling voice)
．Heart racing
．Excessive sweat
．Dry throat and mouth
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Treatment
Social phobia is a very common disorder in the range of 15-18. It is important to let go and have a positive mind, in order to get rid of the phobia. If you suspect that you or someone close to you is suffering from social phobia, you should seek help from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist as soon as possible.
Medications
The most commonly used medications at present are serotonin regulators (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine regulators (SNRIs), which can restore the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine, effectively improve symptoms, treat social anxiety disorder, and have fewer side effects.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: The professional will build up the mutual trust relationship with the patient first. Through talking and analytics to help patients correct the fallacy in thinking, thereby changing avoidance behaviour and reducing anxiety.
Group Session Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:Have the participants communicate without criticism to have real and unbiased feedback, and change the previous thinking. During the sessions, patients can also observe and learn how other people overcome anxiety in social context.
Exposure Therapy: Encourage patients to confront the source of their anxiety rather than avoiding them.