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- What is Social Anxiety?
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is more than just shyness. It’s a persistent fear of social situations where one might face scrutiny and reacts in different psychological and physical ways: emotional arousal, increase of the heartbeat rate, increased sweating, trembling, anticipatory anxiety before social events, unreasonable worry about being negatively judged, negative thoughts about oneself and so on.
Commonly the triggers are public speaking, meeting new people, group activities.
Obviously, it’s not restricted to a single episode but to talk about this disorder symptoms must last for 6 months and interfere with daily life.
- Risk factors:
Several factors can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder, including:
- Family history. You’re more likely to develop social anxiety disorder if your biological parents or siblings have the condition.
- Negative experiences. Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule or humiliation may be more prone to social anxiety disorder. In addition, other negative events in life, such as family conflict, trauma or abuse, may be associated with this disorder.
- Temperament. Children who are shy, timid, withdrawn or restrained when facing new situations or people may be at greater risk.
- New social or work demands. Social anxiety disorder symptoms typically start in the teenage years, but meeting new people, giving a speech in public or making an important work presentation may trigger symptoms for the first time.
- Having an appearance or condition that draws attention. For example, facial disfigurement, stuttering or tremors due to Parkinson’s disease can increase feelings of self-consciousness and may trigger social anxiety disorder in some people.
Most individuals with SAD report the onset of symptoms before 20 years old when obtaining a history. Many report symptoms beginning in early childhood and adolescence, with about 75% of severe cases starting by mid-adolescence, typically around age 13-14. Statistics indicate that SAD has a worldwide prevalence of 5 to 10% and a lifetime prevalence of 8.4 to 15% of the population at any given time, with varying prevalence across different age groups and demographics.
- Causes of Social Anxiety
Like everything in psychology, the onset of this disorder can be explained by the overlapping of biological, environmental and psychological factors, therefore we have not discovered an ultimate cause (probably because it doesn’t exist).
We know that genetics is relevant, a family history of anxiety disorders increases the likelihood of developing social anxiety, with genetic predispositions playing a significant role.
Also neurological elements play an important role, in fact an abnormal brain functioning, particularly hyperactivity in the amygdala, which regulates fear responses, can contribute to heightened anxiety along with an imbalance of serotonin, a neurotransmitter affecting mood.
So, one can present a biological predisposition that might be exacerbated by the environmental and psychological cues such as negative childhood experiences, such as bullying, trauma, or overprotective parenting (growing up observing anxious tendencies.), can foster feelings of inadequacy and fear in social situations.
Unfortunately, this process can lead to develop and worsen cognitive distortions like rumination and overthinking.
- Impact on Daily Life
The consequences on daily life can be devastating, because the person have severe difficulties on forming and maintaining relationship but social relationship are viewed as a such burden that the person literally prepare extensively for simple interactions often using drugs to ease the anxiety.
This led to a waterfall effect by which the person avoid a wide range of events from simple family gatherings to job interviews. Thus, the chances of suffering from job insecurity are much higher.
- Treatment
First and foremost, asking for help to a clinician is necessary. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is the gold standard for treatment, focusing on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with anxiety. Techniques may include exposure therapy, role-playing, and relaxation exercises to manage symptoms.
Psychotherapy enhances its efficacy when accompanied with psychopharmacological therapy. Commonly prescribed medications include:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Such as escitalopram and sertraline, effective for reducing anxiety symptoms.
- Beta-blockers: Useful for managing physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat during performance situations.
- Benzodiazepines: Fast-acting anti-anxiety medications though typically used short-term due to addiction risks.
Obviously lifestyle changes like regular exercise, proper sleep, and reducing caffeine can support treatment efforts. Also gradually exposing to the social situations beginning from the less intimidating ones and celebrating these small successes can positively impact on self esteem.
Di Luigi Costantini
costantiniluigi3@gmail.com
Sitography
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353561
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness
A.P.E. 
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