Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsDiagnosisCauses and Risk FactorsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes and Risk Factors
Treatment
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According to some estimates, social phobia affects up to 12% of the United States population at some point in their lifetime. About 7% of adults are affected in any given year.
Some people may not have anxiety in social situations, but they experience it when they need perform or do something in front of a group. This is calledperformance anxiety, and it can occur when giving a speech, dancing, playing an instrument, etc.
People with social anxiety disorder experience physical and mental signs and symptoms when in social situations or performing in front of others.
Physicals signs and symptoms include:
Emotional and mental symptoms include:
DSM-5 Diagnosis Criteria
To diagnose someone with social phobia, they must exhibit the features in the DSM-5. The diagnostic criteria for social phobia are:
The symptoms must be persistent and present for at least 6 months and cause impairment in the person’s ability to function in daily life. In children, the social setting must also be with peers and not just adults to classify as social anxiety.
A person with social phobia is also an increased risk for other mental illnesses, such asdepressionandsubstance use disorders. It often begins early in life, with an average age of onset of 13 years, and also lasts a long time.
Causes and Risk Factors of Anxiety
Social phobia is treated withpsychotherapy, also called “talk” therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Often psychotherapy is started first, with medications added if needed.Research has shown that while there is typically a more immediate effect of medication, the effects of therapy last longer.
What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Psychotherapy
Typically, the form of therapy used for social phobia is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Someone being treated with CBT will learn different ways of thinking, reacting, and behaving in situations that cause distress, ideally leading to an improvement in anxiety and fear. It can also help them learn and develop better social skills. CBT is often done in individual sessions, but it can also be helpful in the group setting.
While not an official form of psychotherapy, sometimes people with social phobia utilize support groups, which provides them a way to encourage and learn from each other.This should not replace the standard treatment of therapy and/or medications, but they are a good supplement.
Choosing the Right Therapist
Medications
The most commonly used medications for social phobia that are considered first-line treatment are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).This class of medications is considered an antidepressant, but they are used for many other conditions, including social phobia.The selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine (Effexor) has also been shown to help in social phobia.
SSRI MedicationsExamples of SSRIs include:Prozac (fluoxetine)Celexa (citalopram)Zoloft (sertraline)Paxil (paroxetine)Lexapro (escitalopram)
SSRI Medications
Examples of SSRIs include:Prozac (fluoxetine)Celexa (citalopram)Zoloft (sertraline)Paxil (paroxetine)Lexapro (escitalopram)
Examples of SSRIs include:
Occasionally, benzodiazepines may be used, which are anti-anxiety medications that work quickly to reduce anxiety.However, they can also cause dependency and withdrawal, so they are used in situations when symptoms are disabling and require rapid relief.
For performance anxiety specifically,beta-blockers, like Inderal (propranolol), are often utilized. These are often used for heart conditions and blood pressure, but in this case, they are helpful in reducing specific physical symptoms like fast heart rate, sweating, and tremors.
A Word from Verywell
It is difficult to live with anxiety, especially when it is in social situations. However, if you are experiencing symptoms that seem like social phobia, it is important to discuss them with your doctor or healthcare provider. They will be able to rule out any physical causes, get more information about your symptoms, and provide you with resources and referrals, allowing you to live your life the way you would like.
What You Should Know About an Anxiety Attack
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(23):2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701National Alliance on Mental Illness.Anxiety disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.MedlinePlus.Social anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Mental Health Medications.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(23):2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701National Alliance on Mental Illness.Anxiety disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.MedlinePlus.Social anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Mental Health Medications.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(23):2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701National Alliance on Mental Illness.Anxiety disorders.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.MedlinePlus.Social anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Mental Health Medications.
National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.
Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(23):2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Anxiety disorders.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
MedlinePlus.Social anxiety disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health.Mental Health Medications.
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