Social Phobia

Social Phobia, also called Social Anxiety Disorder, is characterized by an intense fear of experiencing humiliation in social situations.

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Social Phobia

2. Social Phobia, also called Social Anxiety
Disorder, is characterized by an intense fear of
experiencing humiliation in social situations.
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This disorder affects around 13.3 percent of the
population and seems to affect women more
often than men at a ratio of 1.5:1.
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It can be hereditary and may subsequently result
in depression or alcoholism, particularly if it goes
undiagnosed.
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Social anxiety disorder generally appears in
adolescence, but can occur at a younger age.
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The most common form of the disorder is a fear
of public speaking.
While often thought of as simple shyness, the two differ completely.
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Someone who is shy does not usually experience
the extreme anxiety or panic attacks that a social
phobic does.
Shy people also don’t generally seek to avoid social situations that
make them feel uncomfortable, as phobics tend to do.
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Social phobics may be totally comfortable with
strangers most of the time, but there may be
specific circumstances that trigger their anxiety
and panic.
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Social anxiety disrupts the
patients’ normal life and can
interfere with their work and
social relationships.
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The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:
•Persistent fear of social situations where the patient is
exposed to unfamiliar people or to scrutiny.
•Feelings of anxiety invariably result from exposure to a
social situation, often producing a panic attack.
•Recognition that the fear is unreasonable.
•Avoidance of the feared situation, or endurance with
intense anxiety.
•Reactions interfere significantly with patient’s normal
routine or relationships.
•Reactions are not due to a medication, a medical condition
or other mental disorder.

11. Social anxiety disorder can be diagnosed as either
specific, if only very particular situations trigger the
phobia, or general, if the patient experiences a chronic,
persistent and intense fear of being judged by others.
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12. Treatment can include medication or psychotherapy,
but in the long run, psychotherapy has shown more
consistent results.
At any rate, psychotherapy should be the first option, but do not
appear to block the underlying cause of panic attacks.
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Disorder.jpg

13. The best treatment option is usually
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
With the cognitive component, the therapist can help the
patient question how he or she can be certain that others are
watching and judging.
With the behavioral component, the therapist tries to change
reactions to the anxiety-provoking situations, often through
systematic desensitization.
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14. In this process of desensitization, the therapist
exposes the patient to the social situation, either
in fantasy or in real life.
The patient must bear the situation for as long as possible each
time, and repeat this exposure two to three times a week.
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Phobia_full_article_vertical.jpg

15. As the patient experiences less discomfort with the
situation, the therapist increases the level of
exposure until the patient reaches the point of
accepting the situation and is able to cope without
the prior crippling anxiety.
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