Social Anxiety Disorder

Disease Defination: Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. Intense nervousness and self-consciousness arise from a fear of being closely watched, judged, and criticized by others. Social anxiety disorder also called social phobia. People with social anxiety disorder suffer from distorted thinking, including false beliefs about social situations and the negative opinions of others. Without treatment, social anxiety disorder can negatively interfere with the person's normal daily routine, including school, work, social activities and relationships etc...

Disease Symptoms: Intense anxiety in social situations, Avoidance of social situations and anxiety (including confusion), pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach, and diarrhea. Children with this disorder may express their anxiety by crying, clinging to a parent, or throwing a tantrum.
Disease Treatment:
Physical Treatment: Challenge negative thoughts, learn to control your breath, Face your fears and Build better relationships and Change your lifestyle.
Medication: Beta blockers – Beta blockers are used for relieving performance anxiety. They work by blocking the flow of adrenaline that occurs when you’re anxious. While beta blockers don’t affect the emotional symptoms of anxiety, they can control physical symptoms such as shaking hands or voice, sweating, and rapid heartbeat. Antidepressants – Antidepressants can be helpful when social anxiety disorder is severe and debilitating. Three specific antidepressants—Paxil, Effexor, and Zoloft—have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of social phobia. Benzodiazepines – Benzodiazepines are fast-acting anti-anxiety medications. However, they are sedating and addictive, so they are typically prescribed only when other medications for social phobia have not worked.

Statistics:
GAD affects approximately 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the US population and between 2-5% of the UK population. Of the US figures, 1% are considered to be suffering from the severe form of the disorder. Globally, there is prevalence data for the following countries:Australia – 3%, Canada – Between 3 and 5%, Italy – 2.9%, Taiwan – 0.4% Generalized Anxiety Disorder also affects 3% of US children and in adolescents the is 10.8%.