by Annamae Wunsch
Published 3 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
Only five percent of those with Social Anxiety Disorder seek treatment within a year of the disorder's onset, and more than a third of those with Social Anxiety Disorder suffer with the disorder for over 10 years before seeking help.
Symptoms
Causes
Prevention
Complications
What percentage of the world suffers from social anxiety?
Types of Anxiety Disorders: By the Numbers Social Anxiety Disorder: According to social anxiety disorder statistics, this condition impacts 7.1 percent of the population, 8 percent of women and 6.1 percent of men.
Can social anxiety be fully cured?
Social anxiety disorder is treatable. Without treatment, however, it can be debilitating.
Is social anxiety permanent?
Prognosis: Untreated social anxiety disorder can become chronic and increasingly life-limiting. Over time, it can become more difficult to fight the phobia and maintain a normal life. With treatment, however, the prognosis is extremely positive.
At what age does social anxiety begin?
Social anxiety disorder typically starts in childhood or adolescence. Among individuals who seek treatment as adults the median age of onset is in the early to mid-teens with most people having developed the condition before they reach their 20s.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Medically reviewed by
Dr Abhimanyu Chandak #MD Psychiatry
Symptoms
Symptoms
If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.
Most commonly observed symptoms include:
Marked fear or anxiety in one or more social situations
Excessive blushing
Rapid speech
Fear of being judged by others
Saying something then feeling embarrassed / humiliated later
Trembling
Palpitations
Uncomfortable to meet new people
Paying very high attention after an activity
Excessive sweating
Causes
Causes
Genetics, environmental factors and experiences in the growing up years might be responsible factors of the condition. The causes may include:
Growing up in a phobic environment
Traumatic/humiliating social event
Adolescents can develop this condition as a result of insecure attachments with their mothers when infants
Growing up with overprotective or hypercritical parents
Some cultures are too diming and can cause one develop this condition
Substance use especially alcohol or benzodiazepines
Prevention
Prevention
Regular exercises
Avoid alcohol intake
Drugs of abuse should be eliminated
Going to social gathering from childhood
Doing what you desire to do without the fear of being judged by others
Parents should have attachments with their children since childhood