When a person feels a lot of fear in the presence of other people it is known as social anxiety disorder that is a condition in which fear is an overriding feature. Being in the presence of others should not normally give rise to such fears though social anxiety disorder sufferers are constantly fearing negative criticism as well as being evaluated by other people at social gatherings, parties as well as in other forms of interactions.
Americans Are Often Afflicted With Anxiety Disorders
Americans in general are greatly afflicted by social anxiety disorders though the intensity may not be as high as is found in cases of panic, obsessive compulsive as well as post-traumatic stress. There is also seen the presence of many phobias as well as other general anxiety disorders. It is also common for social anxiety disorder sufferers to fear being humiliated or embarrassed as well as has reduced adaptive functioning and also signs of clinical distress.
A person with a social anxiety disorder condition will find the mere thought of a social situation triggering immediate as well as intense anxiety reactions, and cause the sufferer to blush as well as may be break out in a sweat. It can also occur as a response to a heightened state in the course of social interactions of which public speaking is a good example.
Social anxiety disorders also have a long-term effect that can cause high psychological impairment and there is indeed a very fine line dividing social anxiety disorders from normally shy and reticent persons, which have often given rise to much controversy as to how to divide these two conditions in a proper manner. It is also seen that a person suffering from social anxiety disorder to be also suffering at the same time from depression, substance abuse as well as contemplating suicide and having other anxiety conditions.
It is also normal for people with social anxiety disorder to be unemployed, underemployed as well as are divorced, and even disabled and are found to be earning less money than the other normal and healthy peers. Social anxiety disorders can often also be misdiagnosed by being mistaken for schizophrenia as well as bi-polar and personality disorders. In addition, social anxiety disorders are known to appear during the teenage years though it may even be present earlier, and are seen to be present more in the case of women than in men, and it may also be hereditary as well.
There are treatments available for this condition though progress made by patients may often be very slow as well as treatment is rather ineffective. One good treatment employed for treating such a condition is using cognitive behavioral therapy that promises much in effectively overcoming this disorder.
