Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals
with this condition experience an overwhelming fear of being judged or of doing
something embarrassing in social situations. The disorder can cause disabling
self-consciousness.
What is it?
An individual with social anxiety disorder (also
called social phobia) experiences excessive nerves or dread of social
situations. They may be anxious only in specific circumstances, such as speaking
or performing in public, or experience distress in all social situations.
The
person tends to be extremely self-conscious and worries about others evaluating
them negatively. They dwell on past social incidents, obsessing about how they
might have come across. Social anxiety causes the person to over plan and rehearse
for anticipated situations, which may lead to odd or awkward behavior. Individuals
may then gather evidence to support their fears, because difficult situations often
arise as a result of the person’s anxiety or over-rehearsal.
This disorder
leads to isolation and depression and can seriously affect social relationships.
It can also have a negative impact on performance at work or school.
TREATMENT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (p.125)
to recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Group therapy
for the opportunity to share problems and practice social behavior.
Self-help including
affirmations, rehearsing before social events, disprove negative assumptions.
SYMPTOMS BEFORE SOCIAL INTERACTION
The individual may prepare and rehearse excessively
in advance, planning topics of conversation or how to present themselves in a
specific way.
DURING INTERACTION
Physical symptoms such as trembling, rapid breathing,
racing heart, sweating, or blushing occur as the body’s “fight or flight”
system is activated. In extreme cases, the person may experience a panic
attack.
AFTER INTERACTION
The person conducts a detailed, negative, and
self-critical appraisal of the social
situation, dissecting conversations and body language and giving them a
negative slant.
This is Taken From How Psychology Works
Written by Arshad. A
