SOCIAL PHOBIA

Social phobia is a mental health condition that causes someone to experience intense and persistent fear and anxiety in specific or all social situations, as well as sometimes everyday tasks like eating or drinking in front of others. The anxiety is caused by a fear of being judged or humiliated by others.

According to some estimates, social phobia affects up to 12% of the United States population at some point in their lifetime. About 7% of adults are affected in any given year.

Some people may not have anxiety in social situations, but they experience it when they need perform or do something in front of a group. This is called performance anxiety, and it can occur when giving a speech, dancing, playing an instrument, etc.

SYMPTOMS

People with social anxiety disorder experience physical and mental signs and symptoms when in social situations or performing in front of others.

Physicals signs and symptoms include:

1. Pounding or faster heart rate
2. Sweating
3. Tremors or shaking
4. Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
5. Nausea or diarreah
6. frequent urination

Emotional and mental symptoms include:

1. Feeling apprehension or dread
2. Feeling tense or jumpy
3. Restlessness
4. Irritability
5. Anticipating the worst 
6. Watching for signs of danger

Diagnosis

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to discuss them with a doctor or other healthcare professional. They will perform a physical exam and take a history to determine if it is caused by a physical problem. Once this is ruled out, they likely will refer you to a mental health professional who has more training in diagnosing mental health conditions, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist.

DSM-5 Diagnosis Criteria

To diagnose someone with social phobia, they must exhibit the features in the DSM-5. The diagnostic criteria for social phobia are:

 

1. Severe fear or anxiety about at least one social situation 
2. Fear of acting in a way or display the symptoms of anxiety and be seen negatively 
3. Symptoms of anxiety are almost always caused by the social situations 
4. Avoidance of social situations that cause anxiety 
5. Feelings are out of proportion to the actual threat of the social situation 
6. Symptoms are not caused by drugs, medication, or another medical or mental health condition

The symptoms must be persistent and present for at least 6 months and cause impairment in the person's ability to function in daily life. In children, the social setting must also be with peers and not just adults to classify as social anxiety.

Treatment

Social phobia is treated with psychotherapy, also called “talk” therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Often psychotherapy is started first, with medications added if needed.5 Research has shown that while there is typically a more immediate effect of medication, the effects of therapy last longer.