Social Anxiety Disorder Can Start in Childhood

Social phobias are some of the most prevelant psychological disorders in the country. Studies suggest that social phobias are just behind depression and addiction in the list of most prevalent disorders.

Social anxiety disorders have been known to be so severe that a person is literally unable to leave their home or the security of familiar surroundings. Just a thought of leaving their security can bring on massive anxiety, and debilitating symptoms. A person who suffers from social anxiety disorder.

Simply cannot deal with every day situations without the feeling of overwhelming anxiety or self-consciousness. The good news is that several social anxiety treatment programs are available in many larger cities.

Though rare, when such anxiety becomes very severe the person may even consider suicide. The feelings experienced are so strong that they have this overwhelming sense of being out of control.
Most people with this phobic disorder however, learn how to manage and deal with the fear and anxiety. This allows them to continue and active life, though still somewhat controlled by the fear of public situations

The National Institute of Mental Health (NMH) suggests the following statistics regarding social anxiety disorders in the United States. It is believed that 5.3 million adult Americans or about 3.7 to as much as 7 per cent of the total population have some type of social anxiety. These phobias are also twice as prevalent among women. Social anxiety disorder may often begin during childhood in adolescent years, but more typically develops in the late teens or early adult time frame.

Intense Fear of Social Situations

A person suffering from social anxiety phobia will feel excessive fear that everybody seems to be noticing them. Understand that this is an unwanted feeling that even though is recognized as irrational can still elicit the anxious feelings.

Here are a few worries that can cause a social phobic anxiety

1. Fear of public speaking

2. Worry about interacting with people

3. Being the center of attention

4. Being ridiculed or made fun of

5. Forgetting the words of the song

The last fear in that list caused Barbra Streisand, arguably one of the greatest voices of our time, not to do any public concerts for over 25 years.

When placed in a situation, social anxiety disorder patients may have to extreme feelings nauseous, trembling, heart keeps pounding, blushing, sweating as well as stammering. There are cases when the anxiety manifests itself into a panic attack and such symptoms only end up causing the patient further embarrassment.

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