Social Anxiety Disorder in a Snapshot
Kali A. Milhoan
Social Anxiety Disorder
Kali Milhoan
November 27,2017
Social anxiety disorder (SAD), which can also be called social phobia, is high anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social situation. Persons living with social anxiety disorder are sometimes perceived as withdrawn, shy, standoffish, aloof, and unapproachable. Many people across the globe suffer from social anxiety disorder. Just like any other disorder, there are symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Social anxiety disorder is the second most diagnosed social disorder. People living with social anxiety disorder may worry about acting or appearing visibly anxious, or being viewed as subpar, stupid, awkward, boring and more. Therefore, many usually avoid social interactions or situations, and they experience significant anxiety and distress when they are put into a social situations. This disorder affects more than fifteen million American adults. Teenage years are the most common time for social anxiety disorder to onset, however, fewer than five percent of people seek assistance in the first year after the initial onset, and more than a third of people suffering from social anxiety disorder trudge through symptoms for ten or more years before seeking treatment (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, n.d.). Recently, it has been estimated that between four and eight percent of adults in the population suffer from SAD. In a community study, it was found that more than nine percent of women and almost five percent of men, ages fourteen to twenty-four, had lifetime DSM-IV social anxiety disorder (Stein, 2001).
Social anxiety disorder comes with a plethora of symptoms, both mental and physical. Some symptoms people face everyday in social situations include anxiety, high levels of fear, nervousness, racing heart, blushing, excessive sweating, dry throat and mouth, trembling, and muscle twitches. Constant and intense anxiety is the most common symptom of all. The symptoms begin due to several different triggers. These triggers include meeting strangers, being teased, being the center of attention, being watched completing a task, speaking publicly, feeling out of place in social situations, and making eye contact. When a person encounters these situational triggers, the symptoms begin to kick in (Social Anxiety Association, n.d.).
Debates are carried out on social anxiety disorder often. A common and typical debate is whether or not social anxiety disorder should even be classified as a disorder, and if so, should people receive treatment. SAD affects people of all ages, including young children. Early acknowledgement and interference are highly advocated in other conditions and disorders, so those suffering with social anxiety disorder deserve just as much consideration. SAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder. According to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, “ In a sample of 190 parents, only 31% of the children who suffered from current anxiety disorder had received any treatment, compared with 40% of those with depression and 79% of those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.” The most common phobia, with the exception of a specific phobia, was social phobia. In a study led by Stein and colleagues, an experiment involving thirty-six people and different treatments, astounding results stemmed. Along with proving more helpful than no treatment, the medications reduced comorbid depression and disabilities commonly associated with social anxiety disorder (Swinson, 2005).
Many effective treatments have been actualized to alleviate some symptoms and effects of social anxiety disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of therapy very successful for treating social anxiety disorder. Strenuous research has been conducted to come to the conclusion that a person with social anxiety disorder will change if they complete cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medication is also used to treat social anxiety disorder, but it is not always very effective. Although there are multiple ways of treatment, according to the Social Anxiety Association, “Only CBT can change the neural pathway associations in the brain permanently (2017).” As every person is different, there is no typical case of social anxiety disorder therefore one treatment is hard to conform to everyone ( Social Anxiety Association, n.d.).
Comorbidity is an effect of social anxiety disorder. Comorbidity is when a patient simultaneously has two chronic diseases or conditions. Social anxiety disorder is most commonly comorbid with other anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders (Swinson, 2004). When, and if, comorbidity occurs, SAD usually occurs first, often several years before another disorder sets in. Due to this occurrence, social anxiety disorder has become a hot topic as to whether or not it is a possible high-risk factor for major depression. Data drawn from the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Disorders Research Program, a study of adults with a current or past history of anxiety disorders, depicted the presence of certain comorbid psychiatric disorders notably lowered the likelihood of an anxiety disorder recovery and increased the likelihood of disorder recurrence (Bruce, 2005).
There are many factors to social phobia. They range from probable, to unlikely, to extreme to minuscule and mundane. Regardless, different factors occur to different people. These factors increase the risk of social anxiety development. Social anxiety is much for prevalent in females than males, so a female has a higher chance if suffering from SAD. Genetics can play a large role. If someone’s parent(s) or sibling(s) has the disorder, they are more likely to develop the condition compared to others. Some suggest that a link between an over-protective parent and the disorder may exist, heightening the risk for social anxiety disorder. Certain life experiences, such as bullying, humiliation, rejection, sexual abuse, family conflict or other negative experiences put up a higher risk. Another factor is an individual’s personality that is timid, withdrawn, or restrained when confronted with a new situation (Nordqvist, 2015).
Experts agree that social anxiety disorder occurs from both environmental and genetic causes. Scientists are constantly undergoing research to identify which natural body chemicals could be playing a role in social anxiety disorder development. Serotonin may be a key piece in the puzzle scientists are trying to solve. Some experts think SAD could be caused by the role of fear response in an overactive amygdala. According to Christian Nordqvist of Medical News Today, “Mediterranean countries have lower rates of social anxiety disorder compared to Scandinavian countries. This could be due to warmer weather as well as a higher population density in the Mediterranean countries. Warmer weather may reduce avoidance and increase interpersonal contact.” Other people believe that it is not necessarily the environmental differences, but cultural differences (Nordqvist, 2015).
Social anxiety disorder withholds success and pursuit in everyday life. Adults living with social anxiety disorder are more likely to poorly perform at work and have a higher risk of being unemployed. They also experience the discontenting feeling of dissatisfaction when spending time with friends and family, and when participating in leisurely activities (Spielman, 2016). Social anxiety disorder affects people of all ages and can occur at any time. This disorder changes lives and holds back opportunity for growth in future.
Many people confuse shyness with social anxiety. There is an immense difference. Shyness is not the same as social anxiety disorder. Shyness is a personality trait that includes being a bit awkward or tense at first, but shortly after, warming up and becoming more open. Shy people typically do not hold the negative thoughts and feelings that someone who has social anxiety disorder would. People with social anxiety disorder carry negativity and anxiety at all times and are always fearful of judgement and humiliation (Quon, 2016).
Social anxiety disorder is high anxiety due to the fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social situation. Those who live with social anxiety disorder are often seen as indifferent, shy, awkward, aloof, and uninterested. Many people throughout out the world experience social anxiety disorder due to many different factors and causes. In similarity to other disorders, symptoms, causes, and treatments are seen. Living with moderate to severe social anxiety disorder is difficult for anyone and needs to be addressed more often considering it is the second highest ranking diagnosed anxiety disorder. It is much more than being shy, and needs to be taken seriously. This affects a multitude of people.
Bibliography
Bruce, S. E., Yonkers, K. A., Otto, M. W., Eisen, J. L., Weisberg, R. B., Pagano, M., . . . Keller, M. B. (2005). Influence of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Recovery and Recurrence in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder: A 12-Year Prospective Study [Abstract]. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(6), 1179-1187. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.6.1179
Nordqvist, C. (2015, December 03). Social Anxiety Disorder: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. Retrieved November 27, 2017, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176891.php
Social Anxiety Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2017, from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder
Social Anxiety Fact Sheet: What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Symptoms, Treatment, Prevalence, Medications, Insight, Prognosis. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2017, from http://socialphobia.org/social-anxiety-disorder-definition-symptoms-treatment-therapy-medications-insight-prognosis
Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2016). Psychology. Houston, TX: OpenStax, Rice University.
Stein, M. B., MD. (2001). Social Anxiety Disorder and the Risk of Depression. JAMA Psychiatry. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/481732.
Swinson, R. P., MD. (2005). Social Anxiety Disorder. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674370505000601
Quon, V. (2016, December 18). Are You Introverted, Shy, Or Suffering From Social Anxiety? Here Is How To Find Out. Affinity Magazine.