Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear, anxiety, or avoidance of social situations. It is a chronic mental health condition that can affect a person's quality of life and daily functioning.

Symptoms

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder can vary in severity and may include:

• Fear of situations in which you may be judged
• Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
• Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
• Fear that others will notice that you look anxious
• Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice
• Avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
• Avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention
• Having anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event
• Enduring a social situation with intense fear or anxiety
• Spending time after a social situation analyzing your performance and identifying flaws in your interactions
• Expecting the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation

Causes

The exact cause of social anxiety disorder is unknown. However, current research supports the idea that it is caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetics. Negative experiences also may contribute to this disorder, including:

• Bullying
• Family conflict
• Sexual abuse

Treatment

Treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy (also known as mental health counseling) and medication.

See also

• Anxiety disorder
• Phobia
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

References

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