Posted January 18, 2018 06:21:13Social anxiety affects nearly 6 million Americans.
But, according to researchers at the University of Chicago, this is the most common anxiety disorder.
The social anxiety disorder is the inability to relate to others.
Social anxiety disorder symptoms can range from mild to severe.
The disorder can affect individuals of all ages, from children to senior citizens.
In many cases, the symptoms of social anxiety can include intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and negative feelings.
If you’re struggling to manage social anxiety and feel anxious around others, consider these tips:Take a look at the list below for a few tips to help you cope.
Social anxiety disorder diagnosesIn the U.S., there are three types of social anxieties:Social anxiety disorders are classified as a disorder by the American Psychological Association, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines social anxiety disorders as “an anxiety disorder that results in a persistent and intrusive pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.”
According to the APA, social anxiety is “a chronic and persistent pattern of distress, impairment, and avoidance of interpersonal contact, with or without overt symptoms.”
Social anxiety is a behavioral disorder and is characterized by the following:Noticing anxiety or worry about a social situation (social anxiety disorder)Avoiding social interactions (social anxious disorder)Having an increased tendency to avoid interpersonal contact with othersAvoiding relationships (social nervous disorder)Lack of social responsiveness and feeling unable to participate in social events and social gatherings (social and emotional anxiety disorder).
In addition to the DSM-5, the APAs Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) has a list of disorders with the following names:Social anxious disorder and anxiety disorder, or phobias are also considered a type of anxiety disorder by some, but they’re not the same as social anxiety.
For instance, the fear of being stared at in a restaurant or in public places is considered an anxiety disorder as are the fear that people will be angry with you for not paying your bills.
Social anxieties are a spectrum of symptoms.
Some social anxiety sufferers can experience social anxiety symptoms like anxiety, panic, or fear, while others have other symptoms.
For example, people with an anxiety or fear disorder can also have a social anxiety syndrome, which is an anxiety, anxiety-like condition that causes them to avoid certain people or situations.
These people may not necessarily feel as anxious or fearful as others, but may experience an exaggerated sense of their own anxiety.
People with social anxiety also may not recognize the symptoms or experience the symptoms as symptoms of an anxiety condition.
For more information about social anxiety issues, visit the UChicago website.
