Social Anxiety Disorder

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterised by a strong fear of being embarrassed in social situations or public places. People with social anxiety disorder often keep themselves away from social situations in order to avoid public embarrassments. This suggests that people with social anxiety disorders mostly anticipate social inadequacy for themselves.

What are the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder?

People with social anxiety disorder can experience 2 or more of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact in public places

• Feeling inadequate in social situations

• Anticipating embarrassments in social situations

• Trembling when in social situations

• Pounding heartbeat when in social situations

• Self-condemnation

• Lack of concentration during social appearances

• Body aches

• Uncoordinated speech during social appearances

Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder

According to research, social anxiety disorder is caused by 3 main factors

1. Biological factors such as genetics can cause social anxiety disorder

2. Psychological factors such as personality differences, personal experiences, or personal expectations

3. Social factors such as the implied or actual presence of people around us

What are the treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder?

The treatment can be broadly grouped as follows:

Use of anti-anxiety medications, which are often prescribed by psychiatrists

Psychotherapy (e.g., relaxation training, exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, etc.)

A combination of the two (2) groups of treatments is often the best form of treatment for people with social anxiety disorder