Social Phobia

Presenting in public or having to perform in front of an audience can be nerve-wracking. Even for the best of us, it isn't uncommon to experience anxiety, sweaty palms, a racing heart, or stomach lurches when it's time to face a crowd.

For people with social anxiety disorder (SAD), however, this reaction can apply in everyday social situations — eating in public, interacting at the workplace, or even taking a visit to the local grocers.

Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is a mental health condition that causes an intense or persistent fear of being watched, judged, or negatively evaluated by others.

This condition can become so severe, completing everyday tasks, or going about normal life can become virtually impossible.

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is so much more than that. A person with this condition feels extreme fear or anxiety at certain or all social interactions. This fear is so strong that it becomes difficult or impossible to control.

Routine activities — answering questions at meetings, attending school, or using public restrooms can become activities that a person with this condition can worry about, sometimes for weeks before the slated event is set to occur. This disorder causes an extreme form of self-consciousness.

However, while social anxiety isn't shyness, it is usually birthed from extreme shyness. This condition is fairly common, affecting around seven percent of Americans — the Anxiety and Depression Association estimates that around 15 million American adults live with SAD.

Causes of Social Anxiety

A number of factors may contribute to the emergence of this disorder. They include:

Genetics: Genes may influence the chances of developing social anxiety disorder. Higher incidents of this condition have been found in relatives of people with this condition. This is especially in comparison with families where it is absent.

Likewise, twins — particularly identical twins, are each likely to develop this condition if one of the pair has it.

Underdeveloped social skills: Where a person has poorly developed social skills, there's a chance that they worry about embarrassing themselves when interacting with people. 

It may also cause a misreading of facial expressions. For instance, a person with social anxiety disorder may believe their actions are being frowned or sneered at, when this is simply not the case. This can worsen anxiety when dealing with people.

Domineering parents: where parents are overly controlling towards children, this can increase the risk of said children growing up into reserved, bashful, and shy adults. This upbringing can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder.

Stressful social events while growing up: bullying, physical abuse, public embarrassment, or experiencing a blank mind during a public performance, have all been linked to developing social anxiety disorder.

Closing Off :

Social anxiety disorder can transform even the most mundane social interactions into scenarios that require excessive planning and advance worry.

The origins of this condition may come from overbearing parents, traumatizing events growing up, or it may be the result of a genetic disposition to anxiety disorders.

Despite its comparisons to shyness, social anxiety is much more severe, and may even lead to suicidal thoughts in very serious cases. 

There are however tried and trusted means to manage social anxiety disorder. These include therapy, medications, and the assurance provided by support groups.