Overcoming Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety Disorder is a diagnostic category within the psychology text DSM-IV. DSM-V stands for ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Four. Mental health professionals in numerous fields use the book to diagnose mental and emotions problems.

Social anxiety itself does not refer to an actual disorder. Social anxiety instead refers to a cluster of symptoms that are triggered by social situations. Symptoms of social anxiety should be distressing enough to impair normal functioning in more than one area in order for it to be diagnosed as a disorder.

Social anxiety disorder is sometimes known as social anxiety or social phobia. Symptoms of social anxiety disorder could be triggered by a very narrow set of circumstances. Other people may experience symptoms of social anxiety under much more general conditions and may have a tougher time managing symptoms.

Ladies are diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder about twice as often as men. The higher rate of diagnosis in ladies might be due to the tendency of ladies to seek treatment more readily for all illnesses. Social anxiety disorder symptoms affect the general population at the rate of about 13.three%.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder can be physical, mental, or emotional. Symptoms of Social Anxiety disorder include:

• Sever panic.

• Bad dreams and insomnia.

• Worry of any social situation.

• Fear of only certain social situations.

• Avoidance of the feared scenario causes problems in daily life. Friendships might be lost or job performance may suffer.

• Blushing and copious sweating.

• Racing heart and pulse.

• Issues catching one’s breath.

• Vomiting and nauseous feelings.

• IBS and digestive problems.

• Feeling numb or tingly in the face, feet, or hands.

• Uncontrollable stuttering.

• Abusing drugs or alcohol.

Diagnosis

Social anxiety disorder is much more serious than shyness or dislike of parties. In order to diagnose Social Anxiety Disorder, all of the following seven criteria must be present:

1. Intense and persistent worry of social situations where the client is subject to scrutiny by other people.

2. Expose to the feared situation leads to an almost immediate anxiety response. Panic attack is the most common 1st response.

3. Awareness that that the fear is irrational and excessive is present.

4. Avoiding the feared scenario significantly impairs normal functioning.

5. Avoidance and worry of the situation has been ongoing for a minimum of six months.

6. No different medical or psychiatric condition has been found as a reason behind the fear.

7. Fear and avoidance of social situations isn't a secondary problem to another primary condition.

In order for a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder to be made, all seven of those diagnostic criteria must be present.

Treatment

Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder is often treated with medication and psychotherapy. Social Anxiety disorder is also treated with hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Social Anxiety Disorder seems to respond best to Cognitive Behavior Therapy. During short-term Cognitive Behavior Therapy the patient learns to ‘re-frame’ social situations. CBT changes the way anxious people understand and relate to social situations so as to make them less threatening. Reducing fear of the fear itself through therapy helps break the cycle of anxiety and panic.

Antidepressants are the most common drugs prescribed for Social Anxiety Disorder. SSRI and MAOI antidepressant medications are most often used.

SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that work by keeping the naturally calming substance seratonin circulating within the bloodstream. MAOI pharmaceuticals work on another brain chemical called norephinphrine. A 3rd antidepressant category of drug regulates both of these substances in the brain.

Other medicine sometimes prescribed for Social Anxiety Disorder include beta-blockers and benzodiazepines. One natural treatment that shows promise is Kava, an herbal drink.