Literature Review : Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is a feeling of fear and discomfort of being judged badly by other people. Anyone can experience this at work, school, special events, and even at doing everyday things. Many people have experienced a feeling like this and that is normal. But having a social anxiety disorder can have a huge affect in someone’s life style. The effects of having disorder can lead to bad results in life.

Social anxiety is “a fear of humiliation or of being judged by others, and an avoidance of social situations where attention centers on the individual” (Martis). According to the Social Anxiety Institute, social anxiety has become the third largest psychological disorder, following depression and alcoholism (Richards). Commonly, victims of this social phobia have problems pursuing social environments, interactions, and relationships (“Social Anxiety Disorder”). The failure to fulfill daily requirements in jobs, social settings, and relationships often leaves them feeling “powerless, alone, or even ashamed” (“Social Anxiety Disorder”). Today in America,“15 million [people] suffer[from] the disorder” (“Social Anxiety Disorder”). Of the 15 million American adults affected, women and men are equally prone to develop the phobia (“Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)”). Currently, the prevalence rate for acquiring social anxiety disorder is “13-14% of all Americans” and continues to rise (Richards). As the number of people affected by social anxiety continues to rise, the understanding of social anxiety’s causes, effects, and treatments is crucial.

Many changes happen in the body when a person becomes anxious. One of the first changes is that the individual experiences an increased breathing rate. Breathing rapidly throws off the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body thereby, triggering additional physical anxiety symptoms such as dizziness, a feeling of suffocation, increased heart rate, and muscle tension. Learning to slow down breathing can help bring physical symptoms of anxiety back under control. In addition to

The diagnosis of social phobia has seen substantial changes in the last 25 years, from its first appearance in the DSM-III published in 1980 to the DSM-IV. In DSM-III, phobic disorders and anxiety states were regarded as two types of anxiety disorders, and social phobia was considered a phobic disorder. What do you think of when you hear the words Social Anxiety? Is it a mental illness or is it just a phobia? While there are many feelings tied with social anxiety, social anxiety is a mental illness that people go through in their lives. From personally struggling with this I have always wanted to know what are the causes and how can I deal with this issue. I decided this would be a great topic to do my future research paper on. While researching information I came across a source I believe will help me write my paper. I found this source by using the Tacoma Community College library search. I then typed ‘Social Anxiety Disorders’and found the article “Social Anxiety Disorder: Questions for the DSM-V. The article ‘Social Anxiety Disorder: Questions for the DSM-V by Susan M. Bögels is a credible source based on the author’s educational background, other pieces of work from the author, and a distinguished publishing company.

My topic is Social Anxiety Disorder. One of the most broadly researched and applied treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Wersebe, Sijbrandij & Cuijpers, 2013). Cognitive Behavioral Therapies typically include a vast range of techniques, such as exposure to social stimuli, tasks, and cognitive restructuring (Wersebe, Sijbrandij & Cuijpers, 2013). During exposure, the client is exposed to feared social situations despite experiencing distress (Wersebe, Sijbrandij & Cuijpers, 2013). Several aspects of social anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder are linked to the concept of shame (Hedman, Strom, Stunkel & Mortberg, 2013). Shame and social anxiety have common features, but this association is stronger for external than internal shame (Hedman, Strom, Stunkel & Mortberg, 2013).

When people hear the word mental disorder most times their minds are turned towards people who are different or they automatically think of somebody pretending something is wrong. The term social anxiety is overlooked and seen as just severe shyness. The people that view it this way are heartless people who view mental health illnesses as diseases that are made up and shouldn’t even exist. However mental illnesses do exist and they should not be overlooked. Similar to diabetes, Social Anxiety Disorder is a disease that is very significant and plays a huge role in someone's health, but can often be overlooked. Nonetheless just because something isn’t seen doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Social Anxiety Disorder is a mental illnesses and it needs to be recognized that Social Anxiety Disorder isn't just extreme shyness.

Social anxiety disorder is a mental disorder that many people struggle with each and every day. Social anxiety disorder, according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is defined and categorized as “a marked and persistent fear of one or more social/performance situations” (Vanin, Helsey &Morgan,2008). It is the fear of being, or interacting, in social situations, which bring on feelings of self-consciousness and judgement from others. Social anxiety disorder, and many other anxiety disorders for that matter, go undetected, and therefore, unresolved. This leads to many people struggling with it their whole lives, which, in turn, causes problems when trying to achieve goals and being successful.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a very real psychiatric disorder. People are often misinformed about SAD; they dismiss it as being shy. Even though social anxiety disorder and shyness have similar symptoms such as blushing and red face, sweating, and heart rate changes. Shyness can be overcome whereas social anxiety disorder is considers chronic because it has to be treated for it to go away. There are several different treatment options for SAD cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, group therapy, and lastly medication. Medication will work, however it is not a permanent treatment. If left

Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder, which is characterized by feelings of fear or anxiety there are many types of anxiety one is such being social anxiety disorder also known as social phobia.

Social Anxiety Disorder known as Social Phobia according to the DSM-V is, A persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be embarrassing and humiliating (Social Anxiety Institute, 2015). Social phobia, which is the third most common mental health disorder; beginning in childhood and adolescents. The causes of SAD is not fully known but is said to came from family history. However, according to the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) continue to investigate a small structure in the brain called the amygdala. Amygdala is a central site in the

One of the most common mental disorders in the United States that goes unseen is social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. Many times parents tend to mistake it for pure shyness. If gone uncured it may cause children, young adults, and adults to not be able to participate in social activities. Even though there is a great diversity in all people when it comes to their personalities the quitter people tend to develop social anxiety due to how society tends to favor bolder personalities. That may cause neglect and that is the main cause of social anxiety disorder.

Phil Topham and Gram Russell once asked whether social anxiety disorder constitutes a hidden disability. In an article [Social Anxiety in Higher Education], they have said “although anxiety is accepted as part of the learning process, there is little thought given to the impact of social anxiety.” It is understandable to that many people have many different kinds of fears, but with those with social anxiety disorder (or social phobia), that fear is intensified (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1994). Numerous of people still do not fully understand when someone has social anxiety disorder, but then again it is not easy to identify it or many mistaken them being shy rather than someone with an actually disorder (Topham & Russell, 2008; Anderson,

It’s the very first day of highschool and as the bell rings, signaling it’s time for the first hour to start, the teacher of the class thinks it’s a great opportunity for everyone to walk around and introduce themselves to their new classmates who would be spending the rest of the school year all together. However as everyone stands up from their desk to indulge in the activity assigned, there’s one kid who wishes he had not come to school today. He wishes he could sit there for the rest of the next ten minutes, not having to stand around awkwardly; just to wait for someone to approach him. He cares not if he gets in trouble for choosing to not participate along with everyone. He just can’t stand the thought of having to talk to another human being who he has never met before in his life until

Imagine being 17 and the whole school administration thinking that you are a drug addict because of some ridiculous dark-humored tweets you posted on Twitter. Well, that is exactly what happened to my good friend, Josh. He has always had a dry sense of humor about things, meaning, he said or found things funny that were not funny to most people. Basically he tweeted about selling his medications, Klonopin and Topamax, because they were not working; I replied and said something about Xanax, I believe (we both take medication to help our depression so we just laugh about all the drugs that are prescribed to keep us somewhat sane). The next day, he was called in to the office to discuss these tweets. Soon enough, everyone thought he was a drug

This literature review is conducted to explore the social anxiety disorder, its Etiology, prevalence and finally putting focus on the need of a special treatment for adolescent with social anxiety disorder. Anxiety problems are the most common and widespread mental issues and are an area of interest for the medical as well as psychology researchers. These disorders are related to excess fear and anxiety and associated behavioural problems, where an