Social Anxiety Disorder Help

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), or its psychopathological counterpart, Social Phobia, is centuries old but only  relatively recently was it included in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision (DSM-IV TR),  the handbook used by mental health professionals for diagnosing mental illness.  Another term for excessive shyness, social anxiety is thought to affect between 2 – 13% of the population with three times more women than men being affected. It usually develops in childhood or early adolescence, but some it can develop in adulthood as well particularly when that person is faced with a new situation.

 

A lot of people are shy and could be said to suffer from social anxiety. However, having Social Anxiety Disorder is more than just being shy. It means that shyness is present to such a degree that quality of lifestyle is affected. It results in avoidance behavior similar to that of agoraphobia, but in this case it is not fear of crowds that is the incentive but rather fear of embarrassment in situations involving people.

 

For some, the predominance of this phobia particularly in the western world begs a philosophical question of why this is so. What is it in western culture that leads to one in twenty people being so afraid of embarrassment and ridicule, of being judged negatively, that they shun all but the most necessary social contact?

 

There are two main environmental factors thought to be responsible for Social Anxiety. The first is that a key role model, usually a parent, was inhibited or very shy and the second is a deeply traumatic event that was experienced in a public place. The fear of such an event happening to them again results in that person avoiding any possible similar situation.  

 

In addition, there do seem to be genetic factors as well as a different neurobiological function in people who suffer from Social Anxiety. Tests have shown that excessively shy people show increased activity in the amygdala and insula – two parts of the brain that are associated with anxiety and processing the emotions.  Studies have shown that there is an increased sensitivity to faces and emotional tones.

 

However, not everyone with this sensitivity goes on to develop Social Anxiety Disorder. If very shy children are encouraged in their interpersonal relationships by successful parenting, then they can go on to become, if not exactly extrovert, then at least not pathologically shy. Should something humiliating occur before they have had the chance to develop adequate social skills, or should those social skills fail to develop at all through lack of encouragement, then that child is at risk to develop Social Phobia or any of the other Anxiety Disorders.

 

In order to diagnose SAD, some or all of the following criteria must be met –

 

  • Marked and Persistent Fear.
  • Anxiety Response: This may take the form of a panic attack
  • Recognition That Fear is Irrational: Adults can recognise that their response is inappropriate.
  • Avoidance or Distress: Either the situation is avoided or suffered under acute distress.
  • Life-Limiting: The sufferer experiences a decrease in quality of life.
  • Six Months Duration: In children and teens, the phobia has lasted at least six months.
  • Not Related to a Physical Disorder.
  • Not Caused by another Disorder.