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Stress |
Get rid of stress (Home) > Stress > Social Phobia SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER/ SOCIAL PHOBIAThe fundamental characteristic of phobic disorders is a clear and relentless fear of object or situations, exposure to which culminates in an instant anxiety reactions. The affected person develops a strong tendency to avoid the stimulus that triggers the phobia. This avoidance generally impairs social and occupational performance. Panic attacks may be activated by the phobic stimulus. Cases are seen where this occurs spontaneously. Unlike patients having other types of anxiety disorders, persons with phobias commonly experience anxiety or stress only in specific situations. Common phobias include fear of closed space (Claustrophobia), fear of open space (Agoraphobia), fear of blood, fear of height, fear of insects, fear of ghost or imaginary substances. Definition of Social phobia-Social phobia is differentiated by the clear-cut fear of social and performance situations. It is seen in the cases where the affected person is exposed to alien situation or individuals or to likely examination and evaluation by others. Causes- There are no specific cause for this disease. A silly matter that is alien to a person can trigger the situation. Symptoms- Examples include having to deliver a lecture in a party, meeting or gathering, to use the public restrooms, to meet the strangers or simply apprehension of something, which is going to take place. In extreme cases, the person will feel anxiety even the situation is somewhat familiar to him. In each of the cases described previously, the affected person is quite aware of the fact that the experienced fear is much more than the normal, which he should feel. It was somewhat difficult to deal with either. The specific content of phobia may be different in gender, ethnic and cultural boundaries. Even the person will feel different magnitude of social phobia in varied circumstances. It makes the condition more complicated that social phobia does not appear and pass like other physical and psychological disorders. If you have social anxiety problem for one day, it is most possible that you will continue to experience it every day for the rest of your life. Social phobia gives us various secondary symptoms. Say for an example, some persons cannot sing in the stage, because they feel that everyone is watching him and he is bound to sing in the wrong tune. Some are very much introverted and find it very difficult to continue in a single job. Diagnosis- Social phobia is very much simple to diagnose unlike other types of psychosocial disorders. Some simple questionnaire relating to his condition will make it extremely easy to diagnose a case of Social phobia. Treatment- Beta blockers (Propranolol, 20-40 mg orally 2 hours before the probable event) are particularly effective in the treatment of Social phobia. MAO inhibitors lessens Social phobia independently through their antidepressant action, and SSRIs come out to be useful also. Benzodiazepines can be helpful in reducing fearful avoidance. Behaviorally focused psychotherapy became the most important piece of treatment. It is because relapse rate is high with the case solely dependent to medication. Prevention- Social Anxiety Disorder cannot be prevented unless you have gone through the tedious process of desensitization. Here you are knowingly exposed to a low grade of the situations and you are educated to cope up with the phobia.
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