Social Anxiety Disorder

Physical Reactions of Anxiety  

© 2011 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Definition  

Social anxiety disorder is the intense fear of social situations. People with social anxiety disorder:

• Avoid interactions with other people
• Are extremely afraid of being judged negatively by others
• Feel humiliated, embarrassed, and inadequate more easily than others

Social anxiety may be:

• Generalized to all social interactions
• Specific to certain social situations, such as public speaking

Social anxiety disorder is much more severe than shyness. It can interfere with work, school, or other situations, as well as cause physical symptoms.

Causes  

The exact cause is unknown. Possible causes include:

• Genetic factors
• Problems with the regulation of chemicals in the brain
• Past emotional trauma in social situations

Risk Factors  

Factors that increase your chance for social anxiety disorder include:

• Age: adolescence and early adulthood
• Other psychiatric disorders (such as anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, or drug abuse)

Symptoms  

Symptoms during social interactions may include:

• Blushing
• Excessive sweating
• Trembling
• Dry throat and mouth
• Muscle twitches
• Intense anxiety
• Rapid heart beat
• Lightheadness (feeling like you are going to faint)

Symptoms may begin in any