Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

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Social Anxiety Disorder (social phobia) is the third largest mental

health care problem in the world.

Latest government epidemiological data show social phobia affects over

7% of the population at any given time. The lifetime prevalence rate

(i.e., the chances of developing social anxiety disorder at any time

during the lifespan) stands at above 13%.

Definition: Social anxiety is the fear of social situations that

involve interaction with other people. Put another way, social anxiety

is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated by other people.

If a person usually becomes anxious in social situations, but seems

fine when they are alone, then "social anxiety" may be the problem.

Perceptions: People with social anxiety are many times seen by others

as being shy, quiet, backward, withdrawn, inhibited, unfriendly,

nervous, aloof, and disinterested. People with social anxiety want to

be "normal" socially, they want to make friends and they want to be

involved and engaged in social interactions.

Having social anxiety prevents people from being able to do the things

they want, however.

Triggering Symptoms: People with social anxiety usually experience

significant distress in the following situations:

Being introduced to other people

Being teased or criticized

Being the center of attention

Social situations where the person exhibits excessive

self-consciousness

Being watched or observed while doing something

Having to say something in a formal, public situation

Meeting people in authority ("important people/authority figures")

Feeling insecure and out of place in social situations ("I don't ...

... middle of paper ...

... hospital emergency rooms

after an anxiety problem. People with panic disorder many times go to

hospital emergency rooms, because they feel there is something

medically and physically wrong with them.

High rates of alcoholism and other substance abuse, family

difficulties and problems, lack of personal relationships, and

difficulty in obtaining and continuing with employment are among the

everyday problems experienced by many people with social anxiety

disorder.

Lack of professional and knowledgeable therapists is the biggest and

most relevant problem to overcoming social anxiety. While we know it

can be done, and a vast amount of clinical and research evidence

supports this, overcoming social anxiety is difficult because of the

scarcity of treatment options for people with this persistent anxiety

disorder.

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