Social Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms:

• fear exists in social or performance situations
• the patient fears embarrassment in these situations
• these situations provoke an anxiety response
• the patient will try to avoid these situations
• the avoidance, fear, or anticipation of certain situations interferes with the patient's daily life
• the patient is distressed over their anxiety and avoidance

Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder are often extremely concerned with the impressions that other people have of them.  They fear disapproval and, consequentially, monitor themselves to make sure that they are coming across OK.  Such consciousness of themselves makes them feel awkward and uncomfortable.  They also feel that this awkwardness will be detected by others and that they will be negatively evaluated accordingly.

Onset:

Usually in the teenage years.  Is often associated with childhood shyness or inhibition, although this need not be the case.  This condition can also arise in reaction to a specific humiliating or traumatic experience or may develop gradually over time.  It can also commence with changes in life circumstances or developmental stages.