Clients in the News
Today.com – interview with author Jennifer Shannon, LMFT – More than shyness: What it feels like to have social anxiety
Some people are afraid to leave their homes. Others are stuck in dead-end jobs. Too many are too afraid to participate in the simplest of social encounters. Hearts race and pulses pound from the constant fear of judgement, embarrassment and humiliation.
This is the reality of social anxiety disorder, one of the most common — yet misunderstood — anxiety problems.
Social anxiety disorder affects an estimated 15 million Americans. New evidence shows that a gene that transports serotonin — a brain chemical that helps with stabilizing mood, appetite and sleep — was associated with the disorder, according to a study published in the journal Psychiatric Genetics. Although more work needs to be done, researchers hope ongoing research will help with earlier diagnosis.
More Than Shyness
Most of us have felt some anxiety in a social encounter, whether at work or at a party. But for those with SAD, the anxiety is overwhelming and layered with the constant and irrational thoughts of not being good enough and not being accepted. For a species that needs to connect with others, social anxiety can make life incredibly tough.
“Humans are mammals and by nature we are social creatures who want to belong, so having high levels of distress around social situations can be horribly debilitating,” psychiatrist Dr. Niranjan Karnik of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago told TODAY.
“Very simply, social anxiety disorder is not shyness,” said Dr. Stefan Hofmann, a professor of psychology and director of the Social Anxiety Program at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. “Being shy is a personality trait, not a mental health disorder.”
Indeed the symptoms of SAD are extreme. Minds buzz with self-doubts, and fear of humiliation and embarrassment. People worry about offending others and over-analyze social situations. Some may have panic or anxiety attacks.
These unfounded fears can affect everything from careers to the most common of social interactions like enjoying a meal at restaurant or even returning something to a store.
“They think they are being judged and feel stupid, worthless and powerless,” Hofmann said.
Read the Full Article
Originally Posted by Today.com