Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is a condition where the person feels an intense shyness or fear. People affected with this disorder are constantly anxious and worried about what others might think of them or how they might be judged by others. These constant thoughts of how other people percieve them may result in affecting one’s daily work and activities.
.jpg "Image Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock")
Image Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock
Initial diagnosis
For all mental disorders, the basic assessments include analyzing the person’s medical history to look for any physical cause for the anxiety. Sometimes, social anxiety may occur along with a few other health disorders.
Apart from the medical history, a full-body examination is done to identify any other physical causes that could have paved the way for anxiety. Also, the healthcare provider should provide an environment in which the patient feels comfortable describing the symptoms and their duration.
Sometimes, a list of situations is provided as a questionnaire to ensure that the type and severity of the symptoms is captured correctly. These criteria are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which are recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as the standardized criteria for the diagnosis of mental conditions.
General diagnosis
The mental healthcare provider, at the time of diagnosis, must search for the major symptoms to conclude whether the person is suffering from social anxiety or any other mental health condition. The following queries may be posed over a period of time:
- Have you ever worried about a situation in which you think you will be judged?
- Have you ever had a constant thought that is humiliating to yourself?
- Have you ever worried about being offended by someone?
- Have you ever felt insecure or fearful about talking to a stranger?
- Have you ever felt that someone may notice when you look anxious?
- Have you ever felt physical symptoms like sweating, shaky voice, or even blushing in public?
- Have you ever stopped doing things, like stopping yourself from talking to people, out of fear?
- Have you ever avoided situations where you have been the center of attention?
- Have you ever felt anxious about any event or activity where you were scheduled to perform?
- Have you ever analyzed the performance you made and identified the mistakes you committed?
- Have you ever expected the worst results in a social situation?
In the case of young children, a child who suffers from anxiety may present with frequent crying, clinging, or refusing to speak with strangers.
Some people may have social anxiety that is related to performance. They feel intense shyness or fear while performing or speaking in public or in any type of gathering.
7 Signs And Symptoms Of Social Anxiety Disorder
Eliciting the physical symptoms
The next step in the diagnosis is based on the physical behavior of the patient. The following are some of the symptoms about which the patient may be asked:
- Have you ever felt your heart beating faster than usual when you were not exercising?
- Do you often experience an upset stomach or stomach pains?
- Have you ever had a hard time catching your breath?
- Do you experience frequent dizziness?
- Do you often feel confused or dissociated from the world?
- Have you ever had frequent diarrhea?
- Have you ever had constant muscle tension?
Behavioral symptoms suggestive of social anxiety
Every condition or disorder has a mild or extreme behavioral sign to represent it. The behaviors that can be indicative of social anxiety include:
- Being afraid to use public toilets
- Being afraid to make eye contact with a person or start a conversation
- Being afraid to return purchased items to a store
- Being afraid to eat in front of other people, even with friends
- Being afraid to go to school or work
- Being afraid to take part in public gatherings, functions, and even parties
- Being afraid of walking into a room full of seated people
Complications
Patients who suffer from extreme social anxiety are likely to be school or college dropouts. They often fail to sustain durable relationships or marriage and therefore are at a greater risk of divorce.
These individuals also have issues in keeping their jobs or, conversely, may be unduly devoted to their work. All these factors may be present in a person with self-confirmation of anxiety symptoms, which shows the huge impact of social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder may change over time. Overly anxious thoughts may emerge or become controlling at a certain point when one is facing a huge amount of stress. People may avoid anxiety-occurring situations to avoid feeling bad. If proper treatment is not provided, the person remains anxious for a longer period of time.
Self-diagnoses for social anxiety disorder are known to be inaccurate. For a clear diagnosis, an assessment is required from a qualified healthcare provider who is well trained in evidence-based treatment or psychiatric diagnosis. Social anxiety might arise along with other disorders like substance abuse, depression, as well as other anxiety disorders like, panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders. Appropriate tests should be ordered to rule out these conditions as well.
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