Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a condition in which a man loses his/her confidence and fears facing anybody without any explained reasons. He/she doesn’t even take part in any type of activity with anybody.

Even if a person suffering from social anxiety disorder is forced to meet someone, he/she remains very nervous, fearful and self conscious.

In general, almost everyone experiences nervousness to some extent while facing a social gathering or present a demonstration to a large number of people. But this kind of nervousness lasts just for few seconds or minutes.

Once you face those people, your nervousness vanishes. This type of nervousness doesn’t fall under the category of social anxiety disorder. But patients suffering from social anxiety disorder continue to remain nervous till the end.

Social anxiety disorder is a common problem and makes one’s life miserable. He/she fears to socialize and avoid attending social gatherings such as parties, picnics etc. Thus, such persons have to live an isolated life.

Social anxiety disorder affects the patient’s school life, career or family life. People start misunderstanding him/her and consider him/her as self centered person. Thus, other people too do not want to be in the company of such persons. Hence, day by day the patient gets isolated.

Persons suffering from social anxiety disorder always fear that others are judging him/her. They think about other people what they might be thinking about them. They avoid situations where they can be the centre of attention.

If anyone knocks at the door, people affected with social anxiety disorder don’t want to open the door so that they could avoid the visitor. When a phone bell rings, they don’t want to receive the phone (except in the case of cell phones where they can identify the caller).

If anyone finds difficulty in making eye contact, trembles while trying to deliver a speech, profusely sweats, finds his stomach upset while meeting any stranger, he may be afflicted with social anxiety disorder.

Though social anxiety disorder does not seem to be a serious problem physically but in reality, it is a serious problem and disrupts one’s life. Therefore, it needs to be treated.

There are different types of medications and therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be very helpful in curing patients with social anxiety disorder.