Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) refers to a condition where a person feels intensely anxious about everyday life public interactions (Antony & Rowa, 2008). People with this disorder understand that they have excessive fear towards public confrontations, but are unable to overcome it. People suffering from SAD feel that other people are watching their actions and judging them negatively. To avoid feeling insecure and uncomfortable, these people prefer reaming indoors or with their family members. As people suffering from SAD try to avoid social situations, they find themselves lonely. Social anxiety will make difficult for people to date and will limit their career opportunities. Social anxiety is a common disorder and affects 7% to 14% of people during a certain time in their lives (Soravia, 2005). First, I will discuss the causes and symptoms of SAD. Secondly, I will take a closer look at common anxiety-causing situations, and thirdly, I will point out some possible remedies to this disorder. SAD arises from interactions of genes and the environment. One possible cause is inherited traits (Soravia, 2005). Studies have shown that certain families are associated with this disorder hence the conclusion that it is inherited. The studies, however, do not show the extent to which the SAD causes its inherited trait. There is a possibility of contraction to this that to some extent, it is caused by learned behavior. Another likely cause is brain chemistry. Natural chemicals in the body may have a role to play in causing SAD. One example of a brain chemical whose imbalance may cause social anxiety disorder is serotonin. One of the roles or functions of serotonin is to regulate emotions and moods.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) refers to a condition where a person feels intensely anxious about everyday life public interactions (Antony & Rowa, 2008). People with this disorder understand that they have excessive fear towards public confrontations, but are unable to overcome it. People suffering from SAD feel that other people are watching their actions and judging them negatively. To avoid feeling insecure and uncomfortable, these people prefer reaming indoors or with their family members. As people suffering from SAD try to avoid social situations, they find themselves lonely. Social anxiety will make difficult for people to date and will limit their career opportunities. Social anxiety is a common disorder and affects 7% to 14% of people during a certain time in their lives (Soravia, 2005). First, I will discuss the causes and symptoms of SAD. Secondly, I will take a closer look at common anxiety-causing situations, and thirdly, I will point out some possible remedies to this disorder. SAD arises from interactions of genes and the environment. One possible cause is inherited traits (Soravia, 2005). Studies have shown that certain families are associated with this disorder hence the conclusion that it is inherited. The studies, however, do not show the extent to which the SAD causes its inherited trait. There is a possibility of contraction to this that to some extent, it is caused by learned behavior. Another likely cause is brain chemistry. Natural chemicals in the body may have a role to play in causing SAD. One example of a brain chemical whose imbalance may cause social anxiety disorder is serotonin. One of the roles or functions of serotonin is to regulate emotions and moods.
References: Antony, M. M., & Rowa, K. (2008). Social anxiety disorder. Cambridge: Hogrefe & Huber. Axelby, C. P. (2009). Social phobia: Etiology, diagnosis and treatment. New York: Nova Biomedical Books. Bandelow, B., & Stein, D. J. (2004). Social anxiety disorder. New York: Marcel Dekker. Heimberg, R. G. (1995). Social phobia: Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. New York: Guilford Press. Soravia, L. M. (2005). Effects of Cortisone treatment in social anxiety disorder. Göttingen: Cuvillier.