Most people experience some uneasiness and stress when meeting new people, for example during job interviews, or performing in front of an audience. But this anxiety is quite normal. However, for some people, these feelings are excessive, intense, and chronic.
Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is a very common anxiety disorder. It is characterized by the following features.
Social anxiety tends to interfere significantly with one’s functioning in school, workplace, and social situations. This condition is associated with decreased levels of quality of life and well-being. People suffering from social anxiety often come across as shy, withdrawn, unassertive, avoidant of eye contact, and rigid in body posture. They may choose vocations that do not require significant social contact. Usually, the fear is about being negatively evaluated by others or making a fool of oneself in public.
Social situations that are avoided could include using a public bathroom, addressing a meeting, giving presentations, striking conversations with relatively lesser-known people or strangers, forming new romantic relationships, etc. Past childhood negative experiences such as bullying, negative temperament, and family heredity are some of the risk factors associated with this disorder. Adolescents and young adults are more susceptible to developing this condition. Both males and females are diagnosed with this condition with equal frequency.
The assessment and diagnosis of social phobia is done by trained professionals such as psychiatrists and clinical psychologists . In-depth clinical history including current issues and the development of symptoms is key to a reliable diagnosis.
Treatment Models
Psychosocial Interventions: Psychosocial interventions for social phobia are based on the cognitive-behavioral perspective. In this model, intense fear and anxiety are believed to be rooted in maladaptive patterns of thought and action that have developed over time. The following strategies are suggested treatment methods:
Pharmacological Treatments: Currently applied modes of pharmacological management of social anxiety include the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors amongst other medications. Prescribed only under medical supervision, such management of social phobia has been found to be successful in symptom relief.
Social phobia is one of the most successfully treated anxiety disorders. At HopeQure you can get easily accessibleOnline Counselling for social phobia. It has been found to respond well to psychosocial and pharmacological treatment.
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