Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a condition in which people fear social situations. Most people feel shy or anxious in social situations - asking someone out on a first date, speaking in public, a job interview, or even meeting new people, but social anxiety goes far beyond these normal feelings, and is excessive beyond what is normal.
Extreme fear of certain social situations and doing anything to avoid them is typical for people with social anxiety disorder. People with social anxiety disorder have a huge fear of being judged, embarrassed, or making a mistake in social situations, with overwhelming self awareness and feelings of unsureness and insecurity. Put into a social situation, you could experience symptoms such as sweating, blushing, trembling, racing heart, inability to think clearly, and possibly an obsession with doing anything to remove yourself from the situation, and a fear or dread. For children with this condition, school can be a devastating experience, where they are misunderstood, misjudged, and cause life long issues.
There is not a single cause or link to the root of the cause of social anxiety disorder, but both physiological and biological links have been suggested by studies. People with social anxiety disorder often have first contact with a doctor or seek help for another condition such as panic attacks, anxiety attacks, or depression.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has social anxiety disorder, especially younger children, I would recommend that you seek help as soon as possible to minimize the possibility of developing further conditions or it advancing in seriousness, developing harmful coping habits such as drug and alcohol abuse, and to curb possible further emotional damage.
For tips on what to do and how to handle anxiety, visit Stop Anxiety Attacks Now.