Social Anxiety--Debilitating Fear of Social Situations

Social Anxiety disorder is an intense and extreme fear of social situations. People who have this disorder are very shy, but it goes far beyond shyness. It is normal for everyone to be shy at times and not want to appear in public for fear of embarrassing oneself.

However, those with this disorder shy away from all social situations because this fear is so intense. It can interfere with their daily life and cause them to avoid social situations that they feel will be unbearable for them.

Although a person with social anxiety disorder knows that the fear is irrational, they still don\'t want to take part in activities where they will be in the company of a group of people, whether this includes strangers or those that they know well. If the person forces himself/herself to attend the function, they are uncomfortable all through it because they are extremely worried and tense, considering it an ordeal.

There are generally two types of social anxiety. One of these is performance anxiety, which involves being in situations where others will observe them in some kind of performance, such as public speaking or even eating in front of others.

The other is anxiety about social interaction, which involves engaging or interacting with others. It can involve talking to strangers, going to new places and even talking on the phone. A person with this disorder will usually have intense fears involving both of these types.

Several causes have been identified for social anxiety. Researchers have found that in some people experience increased activity in the brain that brings about an intense reaction to events that they perceive as being threatening. At the same time, the part of the brain that interprets these events and controls emotional responses decreases in its activity.

The brain also transmits chemicals called serotonin and dopamine. In those suffering from this extreme anxiety, there is an imbalance of these chemicals resulting in an increase in the level of dopamine. Genetics plays a part in extreme anxiety in social situations, with generalized social anxiety disorders tending to run in families.

This disorder is also due to psychological factors. A person who has been embarrassed in social situations learns from the negative experiences and then generalizes that all social interaction will bring about the same result.

If a person has been exposed to the fears of another sufferer by growing up with a person with this disorder, then he/she may learn to fear social situations merely by observing how this person acts in such cases. A person may have extreme worries and attach more negativity to a situation than a person who does not have the disorder will.

The use of antidepressants has been proven successful as a treatment option for social anxiety disorder. As well, several types of behavior modification have been used with success. Cognitive therapy, for example, involves helping people learn to identify the fearful thoughts they have about social situations and help them become more realistic about the situation.

When people are exposed to situations they fear with no adverse effects, they see that there is nothing to be afraid of. This needs to be done on a frequent basis, at least two or three times a week, in order for this person to get over the fear. If there is more than one fear associated with such situations, then each one of them has to be tackled individually in this manner.

The brain also transmits chemicals called serotonin and dopamine. In those suffering from this extreme anxiety, there is an imbalance of these chemicals resulting in an increase in the level of dopamine.