Prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Otherwise known as “social phobia,” social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which normal social interactions frequently lead to severe anxiety. This is typically rooted in fear of criticism or negative judgment from other people,¹ as well as the risk of humiliation, rejection, or causing offense.²

According to the DSM-5, social anxiety disorder can be problematic in the following situations: “Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (e.g., giving a speech).”³

Severe social anxiety disorder, in particular, can be severely disruptive to daily life and functioning, potentially causing problems in relationships, work, school, everyday routines, and more.⁴

Although social anxiety disorder can be chronic – meaning that it lasts or recurs for many years, or even a lifetime – there are techniques to manage this condition and improve your quality of life. Therapy can be helpful, teaching you coping skills and helping you learn to reframe common anxiety-inducing situations, while medication can address the root of the anxiety on a neurochemical level.

How Common Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder may be more common than you expect. In the United States, about 12.1% of adults will experience social anxiety disorder at some point.⁵ To break this statistic down further, about 7.1% of these adults suffered from symptoms of social anxiety disorder in the past year.⁶

Interestingly, the disorder is slightly more common in women than in men, with 8% of women and 6.1% of men experiencing this form of anxiety over the preceding year.⁷

Risk Factors for Social Anxiety Disorder

There are a number of key risk factors that can contribute to the development of social anxiety disorder:⁸

• Genetics and family history: Those who have relatives with social anxiety disorder (especially parents or siblings) are more likely to develop the condition as well.
• Innate temperament: Those who are prone to shyness and who tend to be uncomfortable with novel situations may also be predisposed to social anxiety disorder.
• Bullying, trauma, and other negative experiences: Especially during childhood, experiences of bullying and rejection can increase the risk of social anxiety disorder. Traumas such as abuse, and family conflict can also raise this risk.
• Situational stress: Even if you have never experienced social anxiety disorder symptoms before, having new demands placed on you (e.g., increased responsibility at work) may cause this condition to develop.

Other potential social anxiety disorder causes can include abusing alcohol or other psychoactive substances, as well as changes in brain chemistry and structure.

Signs and Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

In social situations, some of the most common physical social anxiety disorder symptoms include:⁹

• Blushing
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Racing heart
• Nausea
• Lack of eye contact
• Stiff body posture

In addition, when around other people, mental and emotional social anxiety disorder signs may include:¹⁰

• Extreme self-consciousness
• Embarrassment
• Not knowing what to say
• Fear of rejection or judgment
• Difficulty with being around strangers
• Avoiding populated areas

Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder treatments may include psychotherapy and medication. The most effective therapy for social anxiety disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which may include exposure therapy for social situations. In addition, the most common medication for social anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); other social anxiety disorder medication options include anti-anxiety medications and beta blockers.

Reach Out to Inlight Psychiatry & Therapy Today

You certainly don’t need to suffer in silence. The sooner you seek treatment for social anxiety disorder, the sooner you’ll be effectively managing your anxiety and feeling better in many situations.

To get started, Florida-based patients can contact Inlight Psychiatry & Therapy to schedule an initial psychiatric evaluation.  Inlight Psychiatry & Therapy can also provide psychotherapy and medication management services as part of treating social anxiety disorder.