What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

A pervasive and excessive or irrational fear of being unfavourably evaluated and/or observed by others is a symptom of social anxiety disorder, once referred to as social phobia.

Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders.

You feel afraid or anxious in some or all social situations if you have social anxiety disorder, such as:

• Becoming acquainted with new people.
• Performing before others.
• Speaking or listening on the phone.
• Using public restrooms.
• Calling for help in a public setting, such as restaurant or shop.
• Answering a question in public.
• Eating food in public.
• Being interviewed.

The main feature of social anxiety disorder is a fear of being judged, rejected and/or humiliated.

Who is affected with social anxiety?

Any person may suffer from the common mental disorder called social anxiety disorder. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder usually begin before age twenty. Social anxiety is much more common among those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) than those who were assigned male at birth (AMAB).

How many types of social anxiety are there?

There are three different levels of social anxiety disorder: mild, moderate, and severe. Some people with social anxiety have symptoms only in one setting, such as while eating or performing in public, while others have symptoms both when they are in several different types of social interactions or in all of them. On average, the different levels of social anxiety include:

• Mild social anxiety: A sufferer of mild social anxiety may still act in or endure social scenarios even though they show symptoms of social anxiety, both psychologically and physically. They can also show signs in particular social conditions.
• Mild social anxiety: Even though a sufferer of mild social anxiety may portray psychological as well as physiological symptoms, he is still in a position to carry out certain social activities while steering clear of others.
• Extreme social anxiety: A person who suffers from extreme social anxiety can experience more extreme symptoms of the condition, like a panic attack, in a social situation. Those suffering from extreme social anxiety will generally avoid social situations as much as possible because of this. Extreme social anxiety will most certainly be present in all or most types of social situations.

Anticipatory anxiety is a normal reaction to these situations. In most of your life, you would find yourself experiencing different levels of social anxiety. Social anxiety affects the quality of your life. For this reason, it is necessary that you seek therapy no matter what nature it has.

What is the cause of social anxiety disorder?

Researchers and medical experts still cannot find the reason of social anxiety disorder. Researchers cannot figure out why some members of a family develop social anxiety disorder while others in the same family do not, even though it sometimes does run in families. Studying social anxiety disorder is difficult because fear and anxiety are controlled by many areas of the brain. Researchers are also examining the role of environmental factors and stress in social anxiety.

What are the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder?

Some symptoms, behaviors, and thoughts are common among people with social anxiety when they are required to perform in front of others or are in their presence. A person who suffers from social anxiety disorder may exhibit these symptoms in a variety of social contexts or in all or some of them.

The following are physical and physiological signs of social anxiety disorder:

• Blushing, perspiring, trembling, or getting a pounding heart in the social setting.
• Feeling so anxious in social settings that it makes me ill.
• Not keeping much eye contact with other people.
• Maintaining your posture rigid whenever you are among other people.

Among the concepts and behaviors that may point towards social anxiety disorder include;

• Experiencing intense self-consciousness in social circumstances.
• Experiencing embarrassment or awkwardness in public.
• Experiencing a "go blank" moment and being at a loss for words when speaking with others.
• Experiencing a strong fear or anxiety of being rejected or judged too harshly by others.
• Feeling that being around others, especially strangers, is frightening and difficult.
• Avoiding areas that are populated by people.

How is a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder made?

Your doctor will want to know if you have social anxiety disorder in addition to another medical or mental health problem, or if there are other conditions that could be causing your anxiety.

A diagnosis may be made by your healthcare practitioner based on:

• A physical examination to determine whether a medication or medical condition could exacerbate anxiety symptoms
• Talk about your symptoms, how often you get them, and the context in which you tend to experience them.
• Reviewing a group of situations to determine whether they trigger an anxious response
• Self-rated measures to rate the severity of social anxiety symptoms

Some of the DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder are:

• An ongoing, severe fear or anxiety about specific social situations because you believe that you may be humiliated, embarrassed, or publicly maligned
• Avoidance or tolerance of social situations where you fear anxiety is provoked by the situation
• An anxiety that is excessive and not justified by what's going on
• Distress or anxiety that interferes with your everyday life
• Fear or anxiety that is not explained by another condition, medication, or substance use

Is there a test for diagnosing social anxiety disorder?

Most commonly, healthcare professionals and psychologists use some sort of test usually a series of questions to find out a bit more about what you may be experiencing in order to give judgment on whether or not you could have social anxiety disorder.

You healthcare provider will then render diagnosis based on your responses.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?

One of the forms of psychological therapy is cognitive behavioural therapy, also known as CBT. Your therapist or psychologist collaborates with you to change undesirable or inefficient thought and behavioral patterns.

CBT typically takes several sessions. Questioning and communicating with your therapist or psychologist makes you look at things in a different light. In return, you become more competent at managing stress, anxiety, and other difficult situations.

Which drugs are prescribed to treat social anxiety disorder?

First-line treatments for social anxiety disorders include antidepressants. Antidepressants are effective for depression and a variety of anxiety disorders. Generally, anti-anxiety drugs are used for less time than antidepressants. Other drugs in this class that may help include beta-blockers. These are medications to lower high blood pressure but may help with symptoms of social anxiety disorder. The following specific medications are prescribed for the treatment of social anxiety disorder:

• SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): One type of antidepressant includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. For example, fluoxetine (Prozac®), sertraline (Zoloft®), and paroxetine are commonly used to treat social anxiety disorder. Citalopram, and escitalopram are also prescribed.
• SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors): Another major type of antidepressant drug is serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs. Duloxetine (Cymbalta®), and venlafaxine for example are used to often treat social anxiety disorder.
• Benzodiazepines: These medications are used as needed in anxiety-provoking situations or for short periods of time while antidepressants begin to work. They are not to be used long-term. Examples of benzodiazepines include alprazolam and lorazepam.
• Beta-blockers: One of the physical symptoms of anxiety is a rapid heart rate, which some beta-blockers are designed to prevent or alleviate. Examples of beta-blockers include metoprolol and propranolol.

Finding the appropriate drug type and dosage for you might take time. Understand that taking that first step towards recovery from your social anxiety disorder is a step in the right direction.

Do drugs used to treat social anxiety have any negative side effects?

Yes, medications used to treat social anxiety disorder, such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, and anxiety medications, have side effects. The drug and how your body reacts to it determine the kind of side effects. Ask your psychiatrist or healthcare practitioner what to expect once you start taking medication.

How long does it take for medicine to start working for social anxiety?

Weeks may pass before antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) begin taking effect. It can be difficult to wait until you feel better, but if you suffer from social anxiety disorder, you must begin and continue the treatment. Ask your psychiatrist or healthcare provider when you should expect to begin feeling better once you've started an antidepressant.

Anti-anxiety drugs typically start working right away. Because they can cause tolerance, they are typically not taken for extended periods of time. To have the same result, increasing dosages are required over time. While the antidepressant takes effect, short-term prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs may be issued.

Moreover, beta-blockers quickly alleviate some of the anxiety symptoms, like shakiness or palpitations. They cannot reverse the depressive symptoms that may accompany social anxiety disorder, however, just like anti-anxiety medications.

Which factors increase the risk for developing social anxiety?

Scientists and doctors are still trying to find out what causes social anxiety disorder. So far, they have found that the following are risk factors for social anxiety disorder:

• Social anxiety disorder is genetic when it runs in your family.
• If you were raised by parents who have been unduly intrusive or controlling.
• If you have had experiences that involved tense or scary moments in your life.

What is social anxiety disorder's outcome or prognosis?

For individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder, treatment involving medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two is quite effective. Some people with social anxiety disorder may need to continue taking medication in order to manage their social anxiety throughout their lives. Others might just require some period of psychological therapy or medicines.

Left untreated, social anxiety disorder can have devastating effects, including poor academic performance, deteriorating work performance, strained relationships, and a general decline in quality of life. Major depression and/or alcohol use disorder can develop in a significant portion of individuals with social anxiety disorder who do not receive therapy. Thus, if you have signs of social anxiety, it's important to contact your healthcare professional and seek therapy.

How can I get out of my fear of social situation?

Social anxiety is virtually impossible to overcome without treatment. Social anxiety disorder is a medical condition. It needs to be treated, like any other medical problem. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and drugs such as antidepressants can treat social anxiety disorder effectively, based on research. You can substantially or even completely conquer your social anxiety and symptoms with the right treatment.

When should I seek my doctor?

Do not think twice before visiting your treating doctor if you are experiencing signs of social anxiety disorder. To feel better and get the best out of yourself, you need to have treatment for social anxiety.

If you already have a diagnosis for social anxiety disorder, be sure to see your doctor on a regular basis. Contact your health care practitioner immediately if your symptoms worsen or are becoming frightening, or if you think your treatment isn't effective. Don't stop prescription drugs without speaking to your doctor first.

Which questions should I ask my physician?

Talking about your mental health or asking for support may be uncomfortable. But you need to talk about your symptoms with your healthcare practitioner because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you think you might have social anxiety disorder, you may want to ask your healthcare professional the following questions:

• Is a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist someone I should see?
• Do you have any psychologists, psychiatrists, or therapists you would recommend I see?
• Is there medicine that can be taken to treat social anxiety disorder?
• Do you know of any social anxiety disorder support groups?
• Do you have any book recommendations about social anxiety disorder?
• What happens after a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder?

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Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. Our experts provide accurate diagnoses and offer personalized medical care, including advanced treatment plans such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, stress management techniques, and long-term psychological monitoring and support. Our Psychiatry and Mental Health team has decades of experience in successfully treating Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders treatment in Lucknow, India:

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