Worry and fear that interfere with everyday situations can be defined as anxiety disorder. Depression, anxiety, panic and trauma are all part of an anxiety disorder (Social Phobia). There are multiple types of anxiety disorders but for this paper the focus will be on social anxiety disorder also known as social phobia. Social anxiety disorder can disrupt your everyday life and impede your relationships both socially and professionally. The individuals that suffer from social anxiety disorder typically do not have any self-confidence, and they believe that others are much more competent in social situations.
This disorder can be defined as severe fear of humiliation in a large group or in front of peers. These people feel that they are always being watched or judged which creates anxiety for them and they tend to over exaggerate the smallest mistakes (Social Phobia). Social anxiety disorder can easily be confused with shy people because they are also very uncomfortable in social situation as well. However, shy people do not experience the same anxiety prior to events. Shy people also do not typically try to avoid social functions.
Adults and teenagers who suffer from social anxiety disorder know that their fears are unreasonable which creates additional anxiety for them. However, children who suffer from social anxiety disorder often do not understand their irrational feelings and are unable to manage the fearful situation. Children are not able to identify the root of their anxiety. Situations are avoided by many of the individuals that suffer from social anxiety disorders because their fear of facing the situation is so severe. The individuals affected by social anxiety disorder tend to isolate themselves avoiding any situation that creates a fearful response.
These individuals will avoid situations where they will be forced to speak in public or even meet new people because of the anxiety that is brought about from these situations. Individuals who suffer from social anxiety disorder realize that things are not normal but do not recognize these feelings as an illness. Social anxiety disorder can include severe anxiety in social situations, evading of social situations, pounding heart, blushing, sweating, muscle tension, upset stomach and diarrhea are all part of the signs and symptoms of this disorder.
Crying, clinging to parents, or throwing a tantrum is all ways that children with social anxiety disorder express their anxiety (Anxiety & Panic Disorders Guide). Children have no other way to express themselves when they are experiencing this anxiety and they do not know how to handle the fearful situation. Social anxiety disorder occurs in most individuals at a very early age while many others it becomes evident during adolescents when social anxieties are more prominent. However, many others live with this disorder being undetected until they are faced with a new job, college or other public arena that overwhelms them.
It is important to seek help from your primary care physician when you suspect that you may have social anxiety disorder. It is important to rule out any other potential medical conditions that could come from these signs and symptoms. After a thorough medical exam has determined that there is no other underlying medical condition then a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist will be made for further diagnosis. Individual interviews are used by mental health professionals along with observation to define the severity of the social anxiety disorder.
There will be many questions ask to aid in diagnosis. Some examples of these questions are: Do you have any physical symptoms present? What is the intensity feeling of this anxiety? When does this anxiety occur? Can you describe your social anxiety experience (Little)? These questions will be used by the mental health professional to help determine the severity of an individual’s social anxiety disorder. This will determine the proper treatment options to ease the symptoms whether medication or other treatment options. Biological factors can be contributors to mental illness.
The central and peripheral nervous system store produce and release neurotransmitter from nerve cells. Neurotransmitter activities regulate voluntary and involuntary actions such as heart rate, blood pressure, emotions, mood and behavior. Mental illness is linked with areas of the brain that have insufficient regulation of neurotransmitters or excess neurotransmitter movement. The neurotransmitter regulatory action norepinephrine is revealed to directly affect an individual’s heart rate, anxiety, blood pressure and one’s mood (Zelman, Tompary, Raymond, Holdaway, & Mulvihill, 2010).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors help to regulate the body’s neurotransmitters and help to alleviate anxiety. An individual’s susceptibility to mental illness can be altered by many things such as gender, age, or race. Socioeconomic status can also alter an individual’s biological and psychological vulnerability to mental illness. The acceptance of mental illness and the capability to pursue medical care differs among cultures, races and socioeconomic groups (Zelman, Tompary, Raymond, Holdaway, & Mulvihill, 2010).
The history of social anxiety can be thought of as a list of events that have led to the diagnosis we now know as social anxiety disorder. “The concept of social fear dates back as early as 400 B. C. During this time, Hippocrates described the overly shy person as someone who “loves darkness as life” and “thinks every man observes him. ” (Cuncic). During the early part of the 20th century psychiatrist referred to shy patients with such terms as social phobia or social neurosis.
While during the 1960s, a British psychiatrist, Isaac Marks recommended that social phobias be considered until a different group from other phobias (Cuncic). The second edition of the Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association in 1968 describes social phobia as a phobia of social situations or a face of being scrutinized by others (Cuncic). It was not until the publication of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of Mental Disorders that social phobia received an official diagnosis.
In this edition, social phobia was determined as the fear to perform and did not include any less formal situations. It was not until 1994 when the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of Mental Disorders was released that social phobia was replaced with the term social anxiety disorder. The change in this term changed the generalization of fears that included fear of social performance situations as well as other social situations where individuals would be exposed to people whom they are unfamiliar with (Cuncic).
Treatment for social anxiety disorder can include both methods of medication along with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are antidepressants that cause fewer side effects than the previous anxiety medications. With fewer side effects the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have become the medications of choice. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has many areas that can include social skills teachings, psycho-education as well as symptoms management skills and progressive muscle relaxation. The emphasis for cognitive-behavioral therapy is present situation for the patient.
Technology in today’s society makes it easy for a social phobic person to avoid the social situations that create their anxiety. Technology has made it to a point where these individuals do not have to face their mental conditions if they choice to overlook them and avoid them. We can now work, shop and entertain ourselves all via the Internet without ever leaving the privacy of our own home which allows the social phobic to avoid contact in social situations that cause them the anxiety. However, this can hinder the treatment of the social anxiety disorder which can lead to more severe issues or other disorders.
This is why it is very important for each individual to seek proper treatment and diagnosis so that they can be treated appropriately for their disorder. Proper treatment provides these individuals an opportunity to deal with their disorder and be able to led normal, happy lives that are free from fear.
References Anxiety & Panic Disorders Guide. (n. d. ).Retrieved October 26, 2012, from Web M. D. : http://www. webmd. com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety-disorder Cuncic, A. (n. d. ). Social Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from About. com: http://socialanxietydisorder.about. com/od/overviewofsad/a/history. htm Little, N. (n. d. ). Insight journal.
Retrieved October 26, 2012, from National Center for Health and Wellness, Co. : http://www. anxiety-and-depression-solutions. com/wellness_concerns/social_anxiety/how_is_social_anxiety_disorder_diagnosed. php Social Phobia. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 26, 2012, from Psych Central: http://psychcentral. com/disorders/sx35. htm Zelman, M. , Tompary, E. , Raymond, J. , Holdaway, P. , & Mulvihill, M. (2010). In Human disease: A systemic approach (7th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.