Informative Paper On Social Anxiety

Social media is out of control with all the “likes” and “comments” posted! Wanting and needing to feel accepted, special, and popular everyday puts tremendous amounts of pressure on people. Adolescents especially feel the stress over these comments and the need to feel cared about, but even adults succumb to this pressure. Social anxiety can become a natural consequence of social media. This stress can lead to a chronic form of anxiety. It is no wonder it is estimated “that 7% of the population at any given time have some form of social anxiety” which is about one in thirteen people and has become “the third largest mental health problem in the world today” (Richards 1). With this information in mind, social anxiety can be seen as a disorder

It tends to be chronic because it doesn’t go away on its own” (Richards 1). In this informative paper, the causes, symptoms, and treatments of social anxiety will be explored. Treatment options will be elaborated upon and will include cognitive-behavioral therapy and the role that antidepressant medications play. Recognizing the fact that social anxiety is a mental illness and that it is treatable will bring insight into this devastating condition. Most of us know of someone who is afflicted or we may be suffering in silence

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) “is a form of psychotherapy that treats problems and boosts happiness by modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. CBT focuses on solutions, encouraging patients to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behavior” (According to Psychology Today). CBT tries to change the way a person thinks by substituting a negative thought for a positive one. Once a positive thought replaces a negative thought, the person is asked to keep substituting those positive thoughts every time a negative one arises. When this habit has been established, the person is asked to have patience that their behavior will change for the better, but they must be persistent at keeping the bad thoughts away. This is known as the three P’s, (Positive, Patience, and Persistence) suggested by Seth