What is Social Anxiety?

Social Anxiety is the third largest mental health care problem in the world today. The Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Social Phobia Disorder, is a mental disorder which is expressed through anxiety attack symptoms during social contacts and performance. Speaking in public, going on a job interview or even asking for a date can make anyone feel shy or anxious.

Most people feel shy or self-conscious in public situations . Patients fear being humiliated or embarrassed by their actions in front of others. Rates of social phobia were highest among women and persons who were younger, less educated, single, and of lower socioeconomic class. 

Situations Provoking Anxiety:

• Eating, drinking in front of others.
• Talking to someone.
• Interaction with people.
• Working in front of others.
• Social meetings.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder:

• Confusion.
• Pounding heart.
• Upset stomach.
• Sweating.
• Trembling, shaking.
• Shaky voice.
• Blushing.
• Tense muscles.

Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder:

• Neurological : If the neurotransmitters are out of order, messages cannot get through the brain properly. This can affect the way the brain reacts to stressful situations, leading to anxiety.
• Psychological : The development of social anxiety disorder occurs from an embarrassing or humiliating experience at a social event in the past.
• Environmental : People may develop their fear from observing the behavior of others or seeing what happened to someone else.

How Is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): It is a type of "talk" therapy that teaches people with social anxiety disorder to react differently to the situations that provoke their anxiety symptoms. Therapy may include systematic desensitization or real life exposure to the feared situation but with the support of the therapist.

Medications: There are several types of medication used for social anxiety disorder.

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
• Benzodiazepines.
• Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
• Gabapentin.
• Beta-blockers.