Social Anxiety Disorder
Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations.
People with social phobia have an intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things that will embarrass them.
They can worry for days or weeks before a dreaded situation. This fear may become so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities, and can make it hard to make and keep friends.
While many people with social phobia realize that their fears about being with people are excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome them.
Even if they manage to confront their fears and be around others, they are usually very anxious beforehand, are intensely uncomfortable throughout the encounter, and worry about how they were judged for hours afterward.
Social phobia can be limited to one situation (such as talking to people, eating or drinking, or writing on a blackboard in front of others) or may be so broad (such as in generalized social phobia) that the person experiences anxiety around almost anyone other than the family.
Physical symptoms that often accompany social phobia include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. When these symptoms occur, people with PTSD feel as though all eyes are focused on them.
Social phobia affects about 15 million American adults. Women and men are equally likely to develop the disorder, which usually begins in childhood or early adolescence. There is some evidence that genetic factors are involved. Social phobia is often accompanied by other anxiety disorders or depression, and substance abuse may develop if people try to self-medicate their anxiety.
Social phobia can be successfully treated with certain kinds of psychotherapy or medications.
Jenny Hoyle Says:
I grew up in a very structured family. My mother had severe depression and social anxiety. When I was in my twenties, after a long heartbreaking existance, she took her life.
I was sexually abused by my father and verbally/emotionally abused by my mother. I am a Christian but I have a real problem with trust. Because of my fear of being around people ( even my own family ) I learned to pretend. I am 60 now and pretending doesn’t work anymore.
I have two sisters and one brother and they all suffer from PTSD, depression and a variety of anxiety disorders. My husband is a Viet Nam veteren and is sometimes loving but for the most part, very controlling. He thinks that I can just stop. If it were only that easy! I have been to many counselors including one that was for Viet Nam veterans wives.
I do better in the summer because it is bright and sunny outside and I can loose myself in gardening. When winter comes, it is a different story. It has been suggested that I get a therapy light.
I have been on so many medications ( that my husband refers to as drugs ); he sees this as another unecessary expense. I won’t ever give up but I get so discouraged. I get so cynical at times, I don’t even like myself. I get very embarrased if I cry especially in front of my two young grand children.
I take two different sleep aids because I am afraid to go to sleep. It is crazy because the person that sexually abused me is no longer living but the memories and vivid dreams are still there.
I don’t want to take medication anymore and have to deal with the side effects. I also don’t want to go to anymore pschiatrist and see their pompos attitudes and to be told that I need to just let go.
It sounds like very good advice if I only knew how to do it. All of this has caused medical conditions. I don’t want the rest of my life to be like this.