Social anxiety disorder

From Drug Rehab Wiki

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia) is a condition characterized by an individual’s overwhelming sense of self-consciousness and anxiety regarding normal social activities or situations. Those afflicted have an immense fear of embarrassing situations in which they believe others will ridicule or judge them, or an intense fear of being watched as if “all eyes” were on them.

Social phobia is accompanied by such physical symptoms as perspiration, blushing, trembling, nausea, and an inability to think or speak clearly in social situations. The disorder can be restricted to just one social activity, or it can be classified as a generalized phobia of social interaction in which the sufferer fears social situations in general.

Affected individuals are usually aware of their fear’s irrationality or spontaneity but are unable to prevent its onset. These individuals can dread a social encounter immediately before the event or even much farther in advance. They also tend to experience fear not only before and during the situation, but afterwards as well, finding themselves anxious about how they were perceived by others.

This condition can debilitate an individual’s ability to function in work, school, and relationships as well as during everyday activities. Social phobia can also lead to the development of other anxiety conditions such as depression and substance abuse. People suffering from social phobia can be properly treated with psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy and prescribed medication if necessary.