Social phobia causes excessive anxiety and terror in social situations. Social phobia peaks around 11–17. Fear, avoidance, and social anxiety degrade adolescents' friendships and social interactions.
Social phobia is a prevalent mental disorder. At least 7–12 per 100 people have social phobia.
In social circumstances like speaking in public, eating with others, and using public restrooms, social phobia sufferers fear being judged.
In this scenario, the person fears rejection or bad evaluation. Socially anxious people shun others or endure great stress when doing so.
It can affect daily life, school, employment, friendships, relationships, and other social settings.
Social phobia is caused by biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Brain chemicals may be imbalanced in social phobics.
Serotonin and dopamine changes can create social phobia. Genetics also contribute to this issue.
Psychologically, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and stress can create social phobia.
Those who have had unfavourable experiences like frequent criticism may be more sensitive to this issue.
Environment can include family pressure, business challenges, and social and individual expectations.
Social phobia can also result from childhood and adolescent trauma.
Social interactions trigger social phobia symptoms. Common social phobia symptoms:
Feeling intense social anxiety and unable to manage it.
Shyness: Avoiding new people or withdrawing.
Overthinking: Constantly assessing one's behaviour, worrying about others' opinions, and worrying about attention.
Physical symptoms include perspiration, elevated heart rate, tremor, nausea, and dizziness.
Avoidance: Avoiding social situations.
Performance anxiety: Major anxiety in performance settings like public speaking.
Stressing about social communication.
These symptoms can distress social phobics and disrupt their daily lives.
A person with social phobia may avoid planning or participating before these symptoms appear.
However, these behaviours lower quality of life and can hinder achievement in work, school, and social life.
Thus, social phobia sufferers should seek expert help.
A person with social phobia feels severe worry, fear, or shame in social situations.
Social activities like public speaking, meeting strangers, and going to parties might cause anxiety.
Socially anxious people compare themselves to others and exaggerate their inadequacies. This increases anxiety and low self-esteem.
Sweating, elevated heart rate, shivering, nausea, and dizziness might result from social phobia.
Social phobia can affect many aspects of life, but treatment can minimise symptoms and make socialising easier.
Social phobia is widespread. Social phobia affects 7%–13% of people worldwide. Rates may vary by country and community.
Age, gender, culture, and environment affect social phobia prevalence.
Social phobia and shyness are similar yet distinct. Being shy is feeling uncomfortable in social situations. Meeting new individuals or speaking in public frequently makes people shy. Temporary situations don't effect daily living.
However, social phobia is a severe dread or anxiety to avoid social situations. Socially anxious people shun social encounters even in daily life. This can profoundly impact daily living.
Although shyness can induce or exacerbate social phobia, it doesn't always do so.