Social Anxiety Disorder
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia) is a fear of social encounters or situations. When faced with the prospect of a social situation, the individual experiences anxiety and will usually avoid the situation. Social situations may or may not cause panic attacks. Individuals with social anxiety are concerned that they will feel embarrassed or that others will judge their behavior or appearance negatively. While many people may be uncomfortable in social situations, individuals with social phobia experience excessive distress and the fear interferes with their normal everyday functioning either socially, occupationally, or in other important areas of functioning.
Common fears include:
How is Social Anxiety Disorder treated?
The most effective treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment typically begins with education about the disorder and the treatment. Then the patient and the therapist build an anxiety hierarchy, in which social situations are identified and ranked from least to most anxiety provoking. Cognitive therapy is used to challenge those beliefs that support the social phobia and help the patient prepare themselves for beginning the exposure. With the therapist's support, and at a pace that is comfortable for the patient, the patient is exposed to each situation on the anxiety hierarchy so that the patient can engage in each situation successfully. Examples of sessions might be going into a store and asking for assistance, calling an acquaintance and making plans, or going to a happy-hour, all with the therapist's assistance. The patient learns both to successfully engage in social interactions and that social faux-pas are not catastrophic and can be tolerated. The therapist also teaches social skills as appropriate to the situation. For example, the therapist might train the patient in basic conversational skills, assertiveness skills, or public speaking techniques to facilitate more successful social interactions. Homework of self-monitoring to keep track of symptoms and at-home exposure is assigned to further facilitated symptom improvement.
Social Anxiety Links
National Institute for Mental Health - Social Anxiety Disorder page.
American Academy of Family Physicians article "Social Anxiety Disorder: A Common, Underrecognized Mental Disorder".
Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Association website.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists - Social Anxiety Disorder Site.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America - Social Anxiety Disorder Site.
Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia) is a fear of social encounters or situations. When faced with the prospect of a social situation, the individual experiences anxiety and will usually avoid the situation. Social situations may or may not cause panic attacks. Individuals with social anxiety are concerned that they will feel embarrassed or that others will judge their behavior or appearance negatively. While many people may be uncomfortable in social situations, individuals with social phobia experience excessive distress and the fear interferes with their normal everyday functioning either socially, occupationally, or in other important areas of functioning.
Common fears include:
- Fear of social gatherings, parties or events
- Fear of public speaking
- Fear of talking to strangers
- Fear of initiating conversations
- Fear of answering or talking on the phone
- Fear of eating, drinking or writing in public
- Fear of dating
How is Social Anxiety Disorder treated?
The most effective treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment typically begins with education about the disorder and the treatment. Then the patient and the therapist build an anxiety hierarchy, in which social situations are identified and ranked from least to most anxiety provoking. Cognitive therapy is used to challenge those beliefs that support the social phobia and help the patient prepare themselves for beginning the exposure. With the therapist's support, and at a pace that is comfortable for the patient, the patient is exposed to each situation on the anxiety hierarchy so that the patient can engage in each situation successfully. Examples of sessions might be going into a store and asking for assistance, calling an acquaintance and making plans, or going to a happy-hour, all with the therapist's assistance. The patient learns both to successfully engage in social interactions and that social faux-pas are not catastrophic and can be tolerated. The therapist also teaches social skills as appropriate to the situation. For example, the therapist might train the patient in basic conversational skills, assertiveness skills, or public speaking techniques to facilitate more successful social interactions. Homework of self-monitoring to keep track of symptoms and at-home exposure is assigned to further facilitated symptom improvement.
Social Anxiety Links
National Institute for Mental Health - Social Anxiety Disorder page.
American Academy of Family Physicians article "Social Anxiety Disorder: A Common, Underrecognized Mental Disorder".
Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Association website.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists - Social Anxiety Disorder Site.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America - Social Anxiety Disorder Site.