What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder causes the debilitating fear of publicly being judged or humiliated. Those who are suffering from this condition will try to avoid or restrict encounters with other people which can affect your routine activities. The physical symptoms associated with this condition include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, tightness of the chest etc.

Overwhelming fear and anxiety is caused while undertaking activities such as public speaking, writing before someone, eating out etc when a person is afflicted with this condition. More than the actual fear ridden situation, you will be more scared of people noticing your anxiety. You may also start avoiding social events which involves speaking in public or interacting with others because you may be scared of some one judging you in a bad way. Hence you may avoid or limit contact with other people.

The symptoms of social anxiety disorder vary among adults and children. The fears of being judged or humiliated may be recognized by adults while children may not be able to recognize this fear. Anxiety feelings in adolescents include having unreasonable fear of a situation that involves strangers or being humiliated by others. Panic attacks and severe anxiety can also result. They can also avoid social situations that you fear and this can hamper with daily activities and relationships. Feelings of anxiety in children include worrying about being embarrassed in front of their friends, frequent crying, throwing tantrums, shrinking back or freezing among strangers etc.

Those suffering from this condition can underachieve at school or work and may avoid group activities or chances of getting a promotion. They may have fewer friendships and get into problems with close relatives. They may also in the longer run develop psychological conditions such as substance abuse and depression. Social anxiety disorder is just one of the various phobias such as hydrophobia which people experience. But they can be easily helped to overcome this condition.