Social phobia: symptoms, causes and treatment

Being nervous in some social situations can be normal, as it is sometimes a natural response when speaking in public, dating someone, or undergoing similar situations. However, when everyday interactions cause a lot of anxiety, embarrassment, insecurity, and intense fear for the opinion of others, the person may suffer from social phobia (anxiety disorder Social).

In this article we will see how to recognize social phobia, and what to do.

• Related article: "Types of Phobias: Exploring Fear Disorders"

How to detect social phobia?

Social phobia affects us physically and mentally, being fear and anxiety disabling for the person, since it affects them in different areas of their life (work, social, personal).

There is talk of phobia when the intensity with which the person experiences fear is unjustified, excessive and reduces the capacity for action causing the emotional blockage of the person.

Marta Garrido González, specialist psychologist in Psychologists Málaga Psicoabreu, points out that people who suffer from social phobia are aware that their feelings are irrational but, despite this, they do their best to avoid facing the dreaded situation as a result of anxiety anticipatory.

Thus, long before the person has to face the feared situation, they already begin to suffer from anxiety because he can't stop thinking about it.

Anticipation can cause the subject to act inappropriately, entering a vicious circle, as it will cause greater fear for future situations. This fear has to significantly interfere with your life in order to make this diagnosis.

Difference between social phobia and shyness

Social anxiety disorder is different from shyness in that shy people are able to participate in social situations (even if they are ashamed or nervous), and people who have social phobia are incapable, reaching in most cases to isolate themselves from the people around them.

Thus, the characteristics of shyness are the following:

• Intensity and duration is proportional to the stimulus that caused it.
• The anxiety gradually disappears.
• Acceptance and learning.

Here is an example:

A student has to present a work that she has done in front of all her classmates. This situation generates stress and nerves, since he is afraid that it will go wrong, that he will forget what he had to expose, etc. It is a rational and expected fear, since it is a situation that the person does not perform normally, and has no practice (a cause that generates more nervousness).

The characteristics of social phobia, on the other hand, are as follows:

• Worry about becoming the center of attention.
• Fear of eating and drinking in public.
• Fear of speaking to the public, of speaking with a friend.
• Fear of being embarrassed in situations in front of an audience.
• Intensity and duration in time.
• It affects areas of your life.

An example of social phobia can be the following:

In the previous case; Imagine that the person maintains his negative thoughts for longer, leading him to lose self-confidence, have the feeling of failure and constant discomfort.

The fear is excessive and irrational and the person tends to avoid social interactions (anxious anticipation infers in the normal functioning of the individual). The anxiety response of the persoba can lead him to a panic attack, so that he avoids the feared situation or even blocks himself (not being able to develop the exposure).

Symptoms

People with social phobia show extreme anxiety in social situations. It is a persistent and chronic fear that causes symptoms on a physical, cognitive and behavioral level. This phobia can appear due to a certain situation or it can arise in the interaction with all those people who do not know.

Physical symptoms of anxiety

These are a common feature in people with social phobia. A high percentage of patients present palpitations, dizziness, fainting spells, heart attacks, tremors of the hands, feet, or voice, dry mouth, stuttering, sweaty hands and body, and flushing (anguish and embarrassment). Having very high levels of anxiety can lead to panic attacks.

The psychologists of the Psicoabreu team affirm that the physical symptoms They are the ones that lead people to go to consultations in search of psychological therapy.

Cognitive symptoms

They are recurring thoughts that one will not be able to speak, of inferiority, shame, deconcentration (forgetting what we wanted to say). Anticipation (imagining what is going to happen), self-critical thoughts (I seem silly, I am making a fool of myself, etc.).

Emotional and behavioral symptoms

The most notable are loss of self confidence, social isolation, inability to participate in social situations, and avoid dreaded situations.

Causes

People with social phobia feel irrational fear in situations in which they may be judged by others, so they avoid them. This anxiety disorder can begin in adolescence and usually affects men and women in the same proportion.

As with many mental disorders, social phobia arises from the interaction of biological and environmental factors.

Inheritance

Anxiety disorders are usually inherited, at least in part (both genetic and acquired behaviors)

Brain structure

The tonsillar nucleus can influence the fear response. Thus, people who have this hyperactive nucleus can suffer an exaggerated response to fear (which causes an increase in anxiety in social situations).

• You may be interested: "Brain amygdala: structure and functions"

Environment

Social phobia it may be an acquired behavior. There may be a relationship between the learning of children who copy episodes of anxiety suffered by their parents. Also, some people have anxiety after going through unpleasant and uncomfortable social situations.

Risk factor's

Several factors can increase your risk for social anxiety disorder:

1. Family background

If your parents or biological siblings have social anxiety disorder, you are more likely to have it

2. Negative experiences

Children who experience rejection, ridicule, or humiliation may be more likely to develop social anxiety disorder.

3. Character

Shy, introverted people when faced with situations they may be at greater risk.

4. Have an eye-catching appearance

For example, stuttering or facial disfigurement can increase shyness and lead to social anxiety disorder in some people.

Types of social phobia

There are two types of this anxiety disorder.

Generalized social phobia

It is suffered by those who experience high levels of anxiety in the vast majority of social situations and in interaction with people.

Specific social phobia

It develops when anxiety situations only appear at certain times (fear of being watched while eating or drinking, speaking in public, writing in front of others, ...)

Psychological treatment

The team of psychologists from the psychology cabinets Psychologists Málaga PsicoAbreu specializes in the psychological treatment of social anxiety and social phobia disorders. Psychological therapy is aimed at that the patient lose fear of certain situations and regain his social life.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify, understand, and change the thoughts that cause the phobia. In some situations, drug treatment (anxiolytics or antidepressants) is necessary to relieve symptoms of anxiety along with psychological treatment.

Bibliographic references:

• Chambless, D. L.; Fydrich, T.; Rodebaugh, T. L. (2008). "Generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder: Meaningful distinction or useless duplication?". Depression and Anxiety. 25 (1): 8 - 19.