Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, affects approximately 13.3% of the population, with a higher prevalence in women. It manifests as an intense fear of humiliation in social situations, leading to significant disruption in daily life and relationships, and is often mistaken for simple shyness. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, which includes systematic desensitization to help patients manage their fears.

1. www.helpingpsychology.com Social Phobia

2. Social Phobia, also called Social Anxiety Disorder , is characterized by an intense fear of experiencing humiliation in social situations. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.anxietydepressioncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/social-anxiety.jpg

3. www.helpingpsychology.com This disorder affects around 13.3 percent of the population and seems to affect women more often than men at a ratio of 1.5:1. http://resolveanxiety.com/images/social-phobia.jpg

4. www.helpingpsychology.com It can be hereditary and may subsequently result in depression or alcoholism, particularly if it goes undiagnosed. http://www.clivir.com/pictures/depress/dep19.jpg

5. www.helpingpsychology.com Social anxiety disorder generally appears in adolescence, but can occur at a younger age. http://www.socialsecurityinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/istock_000004250579xsmall.jpg

6. www.helpingpsychology.com The most common form of the disorder is a fear of public speaking. While often thought of as simple shyness, the two differ completely. http://h2training.com/Pictures/fear_of_public_speaking.jpg

7. www.helpingpsychology.com Someone who is shy does not usually experience the extreme anxiety or panic attacks that a social phobic does. Shy people also don’t generally seek to avoid social situations that make them feel uncomfortable, as phobics tend to do. http://www.truesubliminals.com/images%20alt/subliminal%20cds/social-anxiety.jpg

8. www.helpingpsychology.com Social phobics may be totally comfortable with strangers most of the time, but there may be specific circumstances that trigger their anxiety and panic. http://www.nativeremedies.com/images/design/ailmentPhotoSocialAnxiety.jpg

9. www.helpingpsychology.com Social anxiety disrupts the patients’ normal life and can interfere with their work and social relationships. http://easycalm.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/img_8765edbw.jpg

10. www.helpingpsychology.com The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include: Persistent fear of social situations where the patient is exposed to unfamiliar people or to scrutiny. Feelings of anxiety invariably result from exposure to a social situation, often producing a panic attack. Recognition that the fear is unreasonable. Avoidance of the feared situation, or endurance with intense anxiety. Reactions interfere significantly with patient’s normal routine or relationships. Reactions are not due to a medication, a medical condition or other mental disorder.

11. Social anxiety disorder can be diagnosed as either specific, if only very particular situations trigger the phobia, or general, if the patient experiences a chronic, persistent and intense fear of being judged by others. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.lenapopehome.org/Content/stk93908cor.jpg

12. Treatment can include medication or psychotherapy, but in the long run, psychotherapy has shown more consistent results. At any rate, psychotherapy should be the first option, but do not appear to block the underlying cause of panic attacks. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.onlinemedicinetips.com/images/Natural-Remedy-For-Social-Anxiety-Disorder.jpg

13. The best treatment option is usually Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy . With the cognitive component, the therapist can help the patient question how he or she can be certain that others are watching and judging. With the behavioral component, the therapist tries to change reactions to the anxiety-provoking situations, often through systematic desensitization. www.helpingpsychology.com

14. In this process of desensitization , the therapist exposes the patient to the social situation , either in fantasy or in real life. The patient must bear the situation for as long as possible each time, and repeat this exposure two to three times a week. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.womansday.com/So-Shy-it-Hurts-Learn-About-Social-Phobia_full_article_vertical.jpg

15. As the patient experiences less discomfort with the situation, the therapist increases the level of exposure until the patient reaches the point of accepting the situation and is able to cope without the prior crippling anxiety. www.helpingpsychology.com http://hanspeterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/dv1221057.jpg

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