What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia is a condition that results in a person being scared of being watched or judged by others, the fear of interacting with people, speaking or performing in front of an audience, or embarrassing themselves. Their fear becomes so overwhelming that it lasts for weeks or months, and affects their daily activities like going to school, work, or maintaining a social life.

Research shows that social anxiety disorder may result from the abnormal production of certain types of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released by the brain that causes a person to have feelings. Different neurotransmitters correspond to different feelings. The production of these neurotransmitters does not occur immediately: a person needs to be exposed to certain situations before the chemicals in the brain are released. Other research also show that social anxiety disorder can also be inherited genetically or though the behavior of others.

Social anxiety disorder symptoms include: experiencing performance anxiety (experiencing uncontrollable fear when doing something, being watched or meeting people), profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, blushing, irritability, having difficulty in concentrating and worrying that something wrong will happen.

Because social anxiety disorder symptoms are fairly similar to panic disorder symptoms and symptoms for generalized anxiety disorder, they are often mistaken as one condition.

A panic anxiety disorder results in experiencing fear for no apparent reason. Panic anxiety disorder symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, nausea, stomach distress, chills, shakiness, hot flashes and the feeling that you are going crazy or about to die.

Generalized anxiety disorder on the other hand, is experiencing tension and anxiety towards certain everyday situations, no matter how minor it is. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include muscle tension, difficulty in sleeping, restlessness, being easily exhausted, irritability and difficulty in concentrating.

Social anxiety disorders, like the other types of disorders can be treated. One type of treatment that can help cure a social anxiety disorder is through cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps one understand why their fears exist, and eventually confront them. There is also an array of prescriptive medication that is helpful in treating this condition.

One can also resort to alternative medicine or herbal remedies. Certain vitamins taken in high dosages, consumption of fish oils and herbal supplements can help cure social anxiety disorders. Regularly practicing tai chi, yoga, or reiki or even going for yoga, color therapy, hypnosis, light therapy or acupuncture can also help relieve your condition.


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