Social Anxiety-What Is It?


by Robert Byrnes - Date: 2007-03-30 - Word Count: 763 Share This!

Having done considerable research concerning anxiety-related disorders, I was quite surprised at some of the information concerning social phobia, or social anxiety as it is often labeled. This surprise information spurred me on to share this knowledge with those who have social anxiety or are attempting to deal with a loved one who has this affliction. My purpose, in addition to sharing what I will call "secret" knowledge, is to briefly describe social anxiety, its symptoms, treatments and to offer encouragement to victims of this regrettable disorder.

I understand that millions of Americans are suffering with this social anxiety disorder and that psychologists claim it ranks as the third largest of all psychological problems in our country; and that panic attacks rank pretty high also. It is understandable with all the great advances in every area of life taking place in the U.S. at speeds faster than a speeding bullet, and with the great expectations placed on the average citizen to master each of these advances in one way or another, that at least 15 million of us have some kind of anxiety disorder.

Perhaps not a great segment of our public domain understand much about this social anxiety disorder which is not too difficult to understand; but what I do not understand and what really surprises me, is the high, almost unbelievable, percentage of professionals in the fields of mental and medical health that misdiagnose this particular social anxiety or phobia. Reports vary, but some have reported as high as 90% of those with social anxiety as being misdiagnosed with panic disorder, manic depressive, schizophrenic and other disorders. This is a tragedy that those dealing with this anxiety disorder should not have to endure. So what is this social anxiety disorder?

Let us say you have social anxiety and you go to your favorite fast food place. You are dying for your favorite combo. You sit in the car, afraid to go up to the door. You are sweating and wishing you hadn't come. But you are hungry so you get out of the car and you awkwardly open the door and go in, wondering if the waiter will see your mouth tremble when you give your order and your shaking hand when you pay; and you know you will probably drop your change. You hate standing at the counter waiting for your order because people are looking at you, thinking you are dressed like a dodo; and you will probably be so nervous you will spill your drink carrying it to your seat. So you hurry back to the car and hope you can make it through the drive thru process. So much for social anxiety and a trip to the fast food market!

This scenario could be multiplied over and over with numerous situations: having a job interview; attending church; meeting new neighbors; shopping for clothes; getting your driver's license. The big stuff, like knowing all the answers; being able to sing; doing the job right, choosing great clothes; you are great at those things, but you can't handle dealing with the people. People, concentrating on you (or so you imagine), make you nervous; the anxiety is just too overwhelming. The sad part is that social anxiety symptoms extend into most social functions in practically every avenue of life. Equally sad is that you and your fellow sufferers are fully aware that your thoughts are irrational because people are not actually concentrating on you but you feel that they are.

However, the most discouraging part to the one suffering with this disorder must be that high percentage of misdiagnosis: realizing that the treatment is geared to an erroneous diagnosis; the time and effort are for naught; so more havoc has been unleashed into your life. It would benefit the individual struggling with social anxiety, which is not a sporadic happening but a daily reality of your life, to make sure the professional you select for your treatment is well-versed in the differences between the various anxiety/panic disorders. It is not long-term counseling sessions you are looking for, it is a program focused on the root of the social phobia/anxiety disorder.

In researching the various approaches for treatment, pay particular attention to the ones offering long-lasting, permanent relief from this debilitating social anxiety disorder in contrast to other programs which offer ways to manage the anxiety/phobia or ways to cope with it. So we urge you to have renewed hope; and we encourage you to take the initiative, commit to persevering in your chosen treatment, and return to the euphoria of a world free from social anxiety.


Related Tags: panic disorder, social anxiety, panic away

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