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Social Anxiety Disorder – It Has A Devastating Effect On People

April 20th, 2010

Social anxiety disorder is not uncommon. It’s estimated that as many as 10% of the population suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives. Some suffer from the disorder when they experience any kind of social situations, while some only suffer from it during certain social situations, such as presenting at an event, speaking in public, or when performing in front of an audience. Overcoming social anxiety is not simple to do since it interferes with your daily routine. Each individual is different, but there are normally common themes in their behavior and symptoms. Feeling extreme fear or anxiety can be caused by simple things such as the ringing of the door bell, answering the phone or the idea or going to the mall with other people. No one knows the exact cause of social anxiety disorder. It is thought that it’s more a case of nurture than nature though, and that past events, or maybe even just one event, in which a person was made to feel extremely uncomfortable in front of others haunts them, and they are constantly in fear of a repeat occurrence. Some research has suggested that it could be due to imbalances in chemicals in the brain, but studies have not proved to be conclusive. There are many different approaches that can help in overcoming social anxiety these days. The most successful technique that’s used is one called cognitive behavioral therapy, which is carried out by specially trained therapists. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps in overcoming social anxiety by replacing negative thoughts with more pragmatic ones. Alternatives to cognitive behavioral therapy include relaxation therapy, exposure therapy and breathing techniques. All methods of treatment can be done either in one on one sessions with a therapist, or in group sessions. You can also seek medication, such as antidepressants, for overcoming social anxiety. Most of the medications work on brain chemicals, like serotonin, that are responsible for symptoms of anxiety. There are various medications available, and which ones are used will be decided by a doctor after a thorough medical examination. Medications don’t fully treat social anxiety disorder. Psychological therapies like Cognitive behavioral therapy are more effective since they deal with the cause of fear and they also don’t have side effects.

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