General Knowledge

What is Social Phobia? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia, in general, is a phobia of being in a social setting or the fear of being judged by others. The people who suffer from this disorder tend to abstain from themselves that involves being at a place where there are many people.

They tend to get uncomfortable when they have to face the general public be at social gatherings such as Events, Marriages, etc or they face trouble while going up on stage to speak on a topic.  These will tend to make them anxious and sweaty which in turn makes a person with Social Anxiety Disorder to avoid all social contacts.

Social Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common phobias and it can be treated, however, the tough part is that you need to overcome your fear by consulting with a doctor and getting to know people which will help you to overcome your fear gradually.

Some of the common situations where people might face Social Anxiety Disorder tend to experience are:

  1. Speaking in Public
  2. Going to Parties/Events/Workshops
  3. Going to School/Work
  4. Starting conversations
  5. Making Eye contact with an unknown person

It is also noted that some people exhibit symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder where they have witnessed that they tend to not mingle with the public but are good at speeches, or some people might have a good one-to-one conversation but they cannot speak well in crowded places.

So, these people have a fear of being judged, or they feel embarrassed or humiliated which makes them shake, sweat or any other way that they tend to show their anxiety.

Common Symptoms of Social Phobia


A person with social anxiety may have physical symptoms like

  • Rapid Heartbeat
  • Muscle Tension
  • Stomach issues
  • Out-of-the body sensation
  • Light-headedness

There is no general evidence of Social Anxiety Disorder being genetic but if you have a family member who has this phobia you might experience this disorder. It is to be noted that this might have been caused due to amygdala being overactive which might have been the reason as amygdala controls the brain’s fear response.

Causes


A person may experience this disorder if he may have been bullied, abused or teased during the early years, or the kid’s parents who may have been controlling might become prone to this disorder in their later years.

Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder


The treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder is similar to the rest of other disorders where it might differ from person to person. The treatment may include such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which involves you to meditate, take deep breaths and concentrate on turning negative thoughts to positive.

Other forms of treatment include Group Therapy this involves you learning social skills and techniques by participating in therapy sessions which may involve you to acquire a new skill via interactive sessions. Exposure Therapy involves you to gradually face social situations rather than avoiding them.

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