Background to the Disorder: Social Anxiety Disorder - Literature review Example

Social Anxiety Disorder Background to the Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a feeling of discomfort, worry, or fear that isoften centered on personal interactions with other people. It largely emanates from the concern of being judged negatively, looked down upon, or evaluated by other people. SAD may happen during the social exchange or pop up from the anticipation of the social exchange or occasion. Moreover, the disorder may result after the social interaction when one reviews their performance. Previous studies on the subject have shown that SAD, a debilitating chronic illness has a relative lifetime prevalence ranging between 7 and 13 percent in the society. Social anxiety seems overwhelming or even unwieldy to comprehend as a single disorder. It, therefore, is recommendable to view it from three distinct components that are interrelated. The three complement each other leading to an anxiety cycle as shown below. Anxious Sensation in our bodies: This is experienced through feelings such as blushing, racing heart, sweating, tremor or shaking, dry mouth, feeling faint, and shortness of breath. Anxious Thoughts about self, situations or even other people: In this case, one suffers SAD from worries that All people are looking at me I do not belong here They will think I am a loser People will perceive of me as being too nervous I will not have anything to say or defend myself I will still look more foolish They will not want to associate with me any more Anxious Behaviors that may be triggered by anxiety or even make the SAD situation worse on long-term perspective: These are observed when one seems to Avoid social interactions Has a tendency to quit situations Tends to use MP3 players, mobile phones, or other devices to avoid conversations Enters places they are conversant with Often seeks reassurance from other people Apologizing frequently even when not necessary Preparing excessively, for instance memorizing what to say Attempts to divert people’s attention from one’s performance Careful with sign that other people may be watching or judging us Social anxiety disorder, therefore, may emerge from a diverse range of situations. Notably, though, the disorder results from concern over how other people will perceive of us. People will develop the disorder depending on their interaction with other people especially when scared that they may become the focus of other people’s attention (Antony & Swinson, 2008). Although the possibilities of developing SAD may be infinite, below are common situations when people develop and experience SAD to a noticeable extent. Interpersonal Situations Anxiety and hence SAD may be triggered depending on our interactions with other people in settings such as when Going on a date Asking for directions Engaging in a conversation with strangers Sustaining a conversation Attending an interview for a job Attending a party Holding eye contact with others Performance Situations: The disorder may also occur when we are the focus of attention. This is in case of incidences such as when Public speaking Eating at a restaurant Public singing Spilling a drink Dropping something in public Reading in front of other people loudly Voicing, expressing, or defending an opinion during a meeting or class Remarkably, it is evident that social anxiety disorder is a consequence of the worry or concern over how other people perceive of us. It may result from interpersonal performance situations as shown above. Is It a Bad thing? Although, social anxiety is a health concern, it is worth noting that it is desirable in some way. In fact, it is a normal and a healthy element of human living. This is from the perspective that it triggers and mobilizes our bodies to act whenever exposed to some form of danger or unhealthy situation. Anxiety is what sensitizes us to evade dangerous such getting out of the way for an oncoming vehicle. While this may be the case for anxiety from a general perspective, social anxiety is noticeably not different at all. This is because social anxiety keeps us on toes and sensitive to the needs and expectations of other people. Such sensitivity is crucial for the sake of establishing and building relationships. It is also vital for building and sustaining a positive public reputation for self and for acquaintances. Strong social anxiety may be desirable in some cases. For instance, one is likely to be careful with their words and choice of outfit when attending an interview if they are socially anxious. This may lead to better performance in the interview. When social anxiety turns to a disorder Ordinary social disorder becomes a major problem if it causes in our functionality and hence quality of life. In that case, it is considered to be excessive and hence outside the norm. sometimes, social anxiety makes people to consistently avoid social interactions, become distressed when exposed to social situations, to have excess fear of being judged, and/or to avoid things that we need or want to do. Mental health professionals often recommend diagnosis of social phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder whenever these happen (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). There are two categories of SAD identified as Generalized SAD and Non-generalized SAD. In the case of Generalized SAD the subjects avoids and is afraid of judgment hence keeps off all social situations that may subject them to negative judgment by others. People with Non-generalized SAD are usually not excessively anxious. They are only anxious when exposed to specific social situations. For instance, one may have the tendency to become anxious when public speaking or participating in a meeting. It is easy to know when we have SAD. Researchers have indicated that we can know whether we have social phobia from self-assessment. If one finds that their social anxiety exceeds what they would consider as “normal”, then the impression could be that they are suffering from the disorder. This could be confirmed with an evaluation to determine whether the anxiety interferes with ones quality of life. Once the self-diagnosis shows that one could be suffering from the disorder, it is recommendable to consult with a mental health practitioner in time. Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder Essentially, social anxiety and SAD are caused by the same factors behind any other strong emotional experience. These factors include the genetic make-up, culmination of learning experiences, and biological factors (Antony & Swinson, 2008). It is unrealistic to single out one factor as the cause of the disorder in a specific person. Rather, social anxiety disorder results from a combination of several factors that coincide in place, time and occasion. Below is an assessment of how the genetic make-up, life experiences, and brains or mentality contributes towards the development of the disorder in most people. Our Genes: Present research on genetic foundations of both physical and mental health has shown that the tendency towards anxiety and SAD has a considerable level of heritability. Children born top parents with the disorder are vulnerable to the same if not other forms of anxiety disorders. This is largely because of inherited genes. It is not a developed condition. Our Life Experiences: Experiences in life are a major factor leading to the development of social anxiety disorder in most people. This happens especially if one is consistently exposed to situations where they are singled out negatively, exposed to negative judgment by others, or made to feel inferior before other people. In that case, most people understandably develop negative attitude and beliefs about themselves and the world. As these experiences persist, one may start paying attention solely to the parts of the environment that seems to reinforce their negative beliefs (Jin, & Walters, 2005). For instance, a public speaker will start focusing on two people who seem bored and neglect 48 listeners who may be nodding their heads in appreciation of a good speech. The eventual result is social anxiety and hence the disorder. The tendency to act, think, and feel in a social anxious manner dominates as these beliefs are gradually enhanced. With time, these beliefs may lead to helpful assumptions in neutral situations. For instance, a person with undeveloped SAD may assume that anyone who glances at him or her on the sidewalk is surprised by their strange walking style, which may be a deceitful thought. This is because the other person may be astonished in how the subject is dressed. It could also be a way of appreciating for giving way yet the subject is impulsive in making irregular conclusions about the encounter. Read More