S O C I A L P H O B I A

Symptoms:

Social phobia is different from shyness. Shy people are able to participate in social functions. People with social

phobia are constrained by their condition to the point that it affects their ability to function in work and

relationships.Some of the most common fears of people with social phobia include:

• Attending parties and other social occasions

• Eating, drinking, and writing in public

• Meeting new people• Speaking in public When to contact a doctor

Call your health care provider or mental health professional if fear is affecting your

work and relationships with others.If at any time your condition is causing

you to feel suicidal, immediately call 911, or the National Suicide Prevention

Hotline: 1.800.273.8255

Social phobia is a persistent and irrational fear of situations

that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others, such as

parties and other social events.

A C R A S H C O U R S E I N Y O U R P H O B I ATreatment:The goal of treatment is to help you function effectively. The success of

the treatment usually depends on the severity of the phobia.

Systematic desensitization is a technique used to treat phobias. You are asked to relax, then imagine the components of the phobia, working

from the least fearful to the most fearful. Gradual exposure to real-life

situations has also been used with success to help people overcome their

fears.Social skills training may involve social contact in a group therapy

situation to practice social skills. Role playing and modeling are techniques

used to help you become more comfortable relating to others in a

social situation.Anti-anxiety and antidepressant

medications are sometimes used to help relieve the symptoms associated

with phobias.

Many people get nervous or self-conscious on occasion, like when giving a speech or interviewing for a new job. But social anxiety disorder is more than just shyness or occasional nerves. If you have social anxiety disorder, your fear of embarrassing yourself is intense — so intense, in fact,

that you may go to great lengths to avoid situations that would trigger it. The good news is that many effective treatments and self-help strategies can help you overcome the symptoms of social

anxiety and reclaim your life.

C A U S E S!

People with social phobias fear and avoid situations in which they may be subject to the scrutiny of others. It may begin in adolescence and may be associated with overprotective parents or limited social opportunities. Males and females are affected equally with this disorder. People with social phobia are at high risk for alcohol or other drug dependence, because they may come to rely on drinks or drugs to relax in social situations.

P H Y S I C A L S Y M P T O M S

• Trembling or shaking• Muscle tension• Blushing• Pounding heart or tight chest• Shaky voice• Rapid breathing• Sweating or hot flashes• Upset stomach, nausea

P S Y C H O L O G I C A L S Y M P T O M S!

• Intense worry for days, weeks, or even months before an upcoming social situation

• Extreme fear of being watched or judged by others,

especially people you don’t know• Fear that you’ll act in ways that will embarrass or

humiliate yourself

A G E O F O N S E T!

The onset of social phobia generally occurs early in childhood or in adolescence, between five and 20 years. In an epidemiological sample, the mean age at onset for social phobia is reported as being between 11 and 15 years, and onset after the age of 25 years is rare.

P R O G N O S I S

The outcome is generally good with treatment, and antidepressant medications have been shown to be very effective. About 80 percent of people who suffer from social phobia find relief from their symptoms when treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy or medications or a combination of the two.

T H E FA C T S

• Approximately 15 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 6.8 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have social phobia

• Social phobia can be successfully treated with certain kinds of psychotherapy or medications

• It is the third most common psychiatric condition after depression and alcoholism

• About 53% of patients diagnosed with social phobia are treated with medications