Anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) are thought to impact approximately 7% of adult Americans. People with social anxiety exhibit symptoms of extreme self-consciousness and fear of social scrutiny in social settings. Social anxiety is a societal phenomenon. Social contacts can be completely avoided by people with SAD, or they might be hardened with noticeable fear or anxiety. Because this illness may make it difficult for them to maintain social interactions, job, or school, it can have a considerable influence on their everyday lives. A competent healthcare provider is the only one who can accurately diagnose social anxiety disorder; yet, an individual may be able to determine whether it's time to seek support for their symptoms by being aware of the generally used diagnostic criteria included in the DSM-5.

Do you have signs of social anxiety?

A counselor can assist you in addressing them.

diagnostic standards

A manual of mental diseases, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is issued by the American Psychiatric Association. Since the guide's initial publication in the 1950s, when new knowledge and insights into mental health have surfaced, its material has undergone multiple updates. (For instance, the term "social phobia," which was originally used to describe social anxiety disorder, is no longer in use.) The DSM-5, which was published in 2013, is the most recent edition. In order to diagnose and treat their patients, mental health practitioners can utilize this list of precise criteria, which covers all currently recognized clinical mental health problems.

According to the DSM-5, some essential criteria for diagnosing SAD are as follows:

Excessive dread of being looked down upon and/or humiliated in public

When in social circumstances, physical symptoms of anxiety disorder   including blushing, shaking, sweating, and a beating heart can occur.

Restricting gestures, speaking softly, and avoiding eye contact while in social circumstances

Fear that appears excessive for the circumstances at hand

Overly self-conscious and critical of oneself

Low self-worth or self-perception

Anxiety-related difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships avoidance of social interactions, even those that are necessary to achieving one's objectives in life, such significant job, school, or family occasions worrying for days or weeks in advance about social interactions The handbook also states that these symptoms must continue for at least six months in order for them to possibly be classified as social anxiety disorder. They must interfere with day-to-day functioning, be unrelated to circumstances in which the person must speak or perform in front of an audience, and cannot be explained by any other physical or mental health issue. Once more, only a licensed healthcare provider can accurately diagnose any mental health issue, but comparing a person's symptoms to the aforementioned criteria may assist them in making the decision to seek therapy. People who are suffering with anxiety disorder are generally regarded as curable with the right assistance.

Factors at risk

Who is susceptible to social anxiety disorder? The exact origins of social anxiety disorder are unknown, but they are believed to be complicated, as is the case with many mental health issues. Various elements could be involved, such as: genetics. Heritability for social anxiety disorder is thought to be "significant," which means that if you have a biological relative who has the illness, you may be more likely to get it yourself. This is according to research on the subject. Chemistry of the brain. SAD may also arise as a result of abnormalities in a person's levels of specific neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain. Life encounters. Being bullied or abused, among other painful or challenging life events, may increase a person's chance of having social anxiety disorder. temperament. Individuals with introverted or shy personalities may be more likely to acquire SAD. Individuality. Perfectionists and self-critical people may be more likely to develop SAD since these traits can lead them to be hard on themselves for every aspect of their social relationships. environmental elements. Prolonged stress, stemming from various sources like financial hardships or interpersonal issues, might potentially exacerbate Major Depressive Disorder (SAD) or other psychological disorders. Make contact with the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) if you or a loved one is being abused. Assistance is offered around-the-clock.

Options for treatment

It is important to emphasize that social anxiety disorder is seen as a curable illness. Depending on a patient's unique situation, including the intensity of their symptoms and any co-occurring physical or mental health issues, the suggested course of treatment may change. However, psychotherapy of some kind is usually a fundamental component of treatment, occasionally in conjunction with medicines.

One form of therapy that is frequently suggested for people with SAD is exposure therapy. Typically, it involves teaching the client relaxation skills and introducing them to the fear item progressively until the client no longer has symptoms from it. A therapist might advise a client to gradually progress to attending social events, for instance, by leaving a comment on a stranger's social media post, recording themselves speaking, praising an unknown person, or placing an order at a restaurant. This would all depend on the particular cause of the client's social anxiety. A popular kind of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on teaching a patient to identify faulty thought processes and then reframe them. For instance, a therapist could assist a client in challenging the truth or probability of the belief that everyone will laugh at them if they stutter during their self-introduction and replacing this belief with a more positive, realistic one.