SOCIAL ANXIETY

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Perceptions: People with social anxiety are many times seen by others as being shy, quiet, backward, withdrawn, inhibited, unfriendly, nervous, aloof, and disinterested.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.

Join now!

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 know what to say.")

Embarrassing easily (e.g., blushing)

Meeting other peoples’ eyes

Swallowing, writing, talking, making phone calls if in public

This list is not a complete list of symptoms -- ...

This is a preview of the whole essay