Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear, anxiety, or avoidance of social situations. It is a chronic mental health condition that can affect a person's quality of life and daily functioning.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder can vary in severity and may include:

Fear of situations in which you may be judged
Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
Fear that others will notice that you look anxious
Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice
Avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
Avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention
Having anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event
Enduring a social situation with intense fear or anxiety
Spending time after a social situation analyzing your performance and identifying flaws in your interactions
Expecting the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation

Causes[edit | edit source]

The exact cause of social anxiety disorder is unknown. However, current research supports the idea that it is caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetics. Negative experiences also may contribute to this disorder, including:

Bullying
Family conflict
Sexual abuse

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy (also known as mental health counseling) and medication.

References[edit | edit source]

Social anxiety disorder Resources
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