Social Anxiety Facts
What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety, also called social phobia, is a disorder characterized by overwhelming levels of anxiety and excessive self-consciousness and worry in everyday social situations. People with social anxiety have an intense and chronic fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed by their own actions.
For people with social anxiety, the fear may be so debilitating that it interferes with work or school—and other daily activities. While many people with social anxiety recognize that their fears may be irrational or excessive, they are unable to overcome them.
How common is social anxiety disorder?
About 3.7 percent of Americans (approximately 5 million Americans) between the ages of 18 to 54 experiences social anxiety in any given year. Women often experience this condition more often than men, although a larger proportion of men seeks treatment for the disorder. Social anxiety typically begins in childhood and rarely develops after the age of 25.
What causes social anxiety?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Social Anxiety Disorder has multiple factors.
- Some research has implicated a small structure in the brain called the amygdala in the symptoms of social phobia. The amygdala is believed to be a central site in the brain that controls fear responses.
- Other evidence supports a biochemical basis for the disorder. Scientists are exploring the idea that heightened sensitivity to disapproval may be physiologically or hormonally based.
- Animal studies are adding to the evidence that suggests social phobia can be inherited. In fact, researchers supported by theNIMH recently identified the site of a gene in mice that affects learned fearfulness.
- Other researchers are investigating the environment's influence on the development of social anxiety. People with social anxiety may acquire their fear from observing the behavior and consequences of others, a process called observational learning or social modeling.
How is social anxiety treated?
Research shows that there are at least two effective types of treatment available for social anxiety. Certain medications and a specific form of short-term psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy have been shown to help most sufferers find long-term treatment.
The central component of this cognitive behavior therapy is exposure therapy, which involves helping patients gradually become more comfortable with situations that frighten them. Cognitive-behavior therapy for social phobia also includes anxiety management training like teaching people techniques such as deep breathing to control their levels of anxiety.
Speaking with a qualified medical professional about social anxiety is the first step to finding treatment. On a medical practitioner such as a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist is qualified to diagnose and treat social anxiety disorder.
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Emotional Wellness Resources on the Web:
123 Feel Better Life Change System [123FeelBetter.net]
The Wellness Channel [TheWellnessChannel.us]
Health and Wellness Articles, Tips and Resources [InsightJournal.com]
Herbs and Vitamins for Anxiety [InsightJournal.com]
Alternative Medicines That Can Help [TheHealthCenter.info]
Anxiety Resource Center [InsightJournal.com]
Stress Resource Center [InsightJournal.com]
Depression Resource Center [InsightJournal.com]
Social Anxiety Guide to Emotional Wellness [NCHW]
Adapted with permission from The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH is a component of the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The resources in this section of our website are provided for informational purposes only. The Clarocet brand of products consists of nutritional dietary supplements that are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease or disorder.
