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Social Anxiety Disorder

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A person with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) possesses an irrational and excessive fear of being in social situations. The disorder leads people to be afraid that they will do something to embarrass or humiliate themselves in public. This fear is accompanied by intense anxiety and feelings that strangers are watching, judging and being critical of their actions.

This unreasonable fear can be made worse if a person is lacking in life experience and social skills. The anxiety caused by SAD can lead to panic attacks, which may cause a person to completely avoid social occasions, or when he or she does participate, it may cause tremendous emotional stress.

For some people, Social Anxiety Disorder may only occur in certain types of social circumstances. But in most cases a variety of situations can cause the anxiety. Examples are:

· Being the center of attention
· Working or writing while others are watching
· Eating or drinking in front of others
· Using public toilets
· Interacting with people in social situations

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), SAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder in the U.S. Over 15 million adults suffer from this disorder, making it one of the most common mental disorders along with depression and alcoholism.

Symptoms
People with this disorder may feel that something is wrong but generally don’t recognize that their anxiety is due to an illness. The symptoms of SAD include:

· Avoiding certain or all social situations
· Excessive anxiety in a social situation
· Physical symptoms of anxiety like pounding or racing heart, sweating, shaking, tension in the muscles, blushing, stomach upset and diarrhea

Diagnosis
When someone experiences symptoms of SAD, a doctor will first do a complete physical exam and look at the patient’s complete medical history. After a physical problem is ruled out, the patient will likely be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist who is trained specifically to diagnose and treat mental disorders. Mental health professionals use interview techniques and other tools to do an assessment for Social Anxiety Disorder. The evaluation is based on the patient’s description of the intensity and length of the symptoms, as well as what problems they may have functioning as a result of the symptoms.

Treatment
The treatment that works best for Social Anxiety Disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). With this type of therapy the patient is taught how to think more rationally and react differently when in social situations. He or she is also encouraged to stop avoiding the types of situations that cause anxiety.

Medication is often used with CBT to treat the symptoms of SAD, but it can be used alone as well. There are several different medications that may be prescribed that include antidepressants, tranquilizers or even drugs that are used for heart conditions. These are beta-blockers and can ease the physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat or shaking.

People who suffer from SAD should know that there are treatments that can help them get control over the disorder. Learning the things that can help them cope as well as medications to control the symptoms provide a better chance of stopping anxiety attacks in the future.


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