What Is Social

Anxiety and How

Does It Impact
Todays Individual?
Diane Dunay EDST 6216
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Is it a real thing?
Just something people say, or a true psychological
disorder?
Referred to as a side effect of social media.
Attributed to mythical impression of perfect
Facebook life, FOMO
A spectrum of diagnosed definitions.
A varying web of treatments.
 Third largest psychological disorder in the nation, after
depression and alcohol
7% of USA deals with some form of diagnosable form of
social anxiety
Lifetime expectancy of developing it is 13-14%
Social Anxiety Association Fact Sheet
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

According to leading researcher Dr. Thomas A. Richards:

Social Anxiety is the fear of interaction with

other people that brings on
self-consciousness, feelings of being
negatively judged and evaluated, and as a
result, leads to avoidance.
Is Victim Aware of Disorder?
Emotional Signs

Victims may understand that their fears are irrational or

unreasonable, but feel powerless to overcome them.
Are There Physical Symptoms?

Manifestations include:

Intense fear Racing heart

Red face or blushing Excessive sweating
Swallowing with Dry mouth or throat
difficulty Muscle twitches,
Trembling (fear of particulary around
picking up a glass of face and neck
water, or using
utensils to eat
Distinguishing Social Anxiety
Disorder
SAD is not Shyness

Shyness is usually short-term and doesnt disrupt ones life. When it comes to
shyness, those who experience symptoms usually have the control to talk
themselves out of the worst symptoms. However, social anxiety is persistent
and debilitating.

SAD is not Panic Attacks

While victims may state they feel panicked, they can usually distinguish if from a
medical problem.People with social anxiety do not go to hospital emergency
rooms after an anxiety situation. People with panic disorder many times go to
hospital emergency rooms, or doctor's offices, at first because they feel there is
something physically wrong with them.
Typical Situations Triggering SAD
symptoms. . .
 Being introduced to other people
Being teased or criticized
Being the center of attention
Being watched while doing something
Meeting people in authority ("important people")
Most social encounters, especially with strangers
Going around the room (or table) in a circle and having to say
something
Interpersonal relationships, whether friendships or romantic
Treatment
SuccessfulTreatment* Includes. .
.Pharmacological
3 types of medications used to help treat social anxiety disorder: anti-anxiety
medications, antidepressants, and beta-blockers.

-Professional Opinions, Narrow Majority holds to limited success.

Cognitive/Behavioral/Talk Therapy

In the last ten years, professional recommendations tend towards this choice.
Treatments include controlling anxiety through relaxation and breathing, and
replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Other nonpharmaceutical
interventions include Exposure Therapy and Group Therapy.

*Barring cognitive disorders: Alzheimers and other forms of dementia

Causes/Development. . .

Researchers cite multiple factors in

both propensity for and protection
from.
These include:
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) runs in families, BUT
There are different schools of thought why this is true.

Some believe that parenting styles is a primary factor

(but then why do some family members have it, some
not?)

Some believe that ones brain is hardwired towards forms

of fear and anxiety.

Others point towards the situational cause of

underdeveloped social skills, which triggers fear and
anxiety.
In Conclusion: Social Anxiety
Disorder is:
Clearly one of the top social issues discussed in 2017.
Widely thought to be exacerbated by the overwhelming presence
of social media and its tendency to portray other individuals
lives as unattainably perfect.

Scientists may be able to create better treatments by learning

more about fear and anxiety in the brain, the bodys reaction to
pharmacological intervention, and the ongoing track record of
cognitive behavioral therapy.