Social Anxiety Disorder
When someone has social anxiety disorder, commonly referred to as social phobia, they have excessive dread or worry in typical social interactions. Fears that the person will be judged or criticized by others frequently cause this worry. People with social anxiety disorder could be afraid when conversing, meeting new people, giving a speech or performance, or even eating or drinking in public. To be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, a person must repeatedly experience fear or worry in specific settings; in other words, the individual must fear the social context as a whole rather than a particular person or subject.
People with social anxiety disorder may try many different anxiety management methods. They may altogether avoid the fearful interactions when possible. When this is not possible, they may take precautions to reduce the possibility of criticism, such as practicing their lines of speech excessively or avoiding direct eye contact. These techniques might lessen anxiety temporarily. However, over time, fear and the dread of criticism grow, making it even more challenging to interact with others.
What Social Anxiety Looks Like Disorders can vary from person to person, but one or more of the following may be present:
- Feelings of dread, shame, or embarrassment in typically social situations
- Feeling overwhelmed with dread or unable to communicate when seen or “put on the spot.”
- Panic attacks triggered by social circumstances
- Stuttering, trembling, or sobbing in public
- Avoidance of activities such as going to class, looking for a job, shopping, using the restroom in public, attending parties, and dating
- When in a social setting, freezing or shrinking
- Undervaluing one’s interpersonal abilities
- Overestimating the probability that others will be judgmental or critical
- Keeping eye contact to a minimum in social circumstances
- Using low or infrequent speech in talks
We at Connected Care Behavioral Health are experts in treating anxiety disorders, including Social Anxiety Disorder. We have the skills and resources required to provide Social Anxiety Disorder patients of all ages with evidence-based care. We utilize Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) to treat social anxiety disorder since it is the most successful therapy for treating various anxiety disorders. Through ERP, people gradually learn how to handle social situations, which helps them develop their social skills. We also employ cognitive behavioral therapy, which aids people with social anxiety disorder to determine how accurate their anxieties related to being judged by others are. We can assist if you or a loved one has social anxiety disorder. Please call us at (443)-219-9236 to get started today.