Download What is Social Phobia Disorder?

Jenilee Brown, best known for
Social Anxiety Disorders and Social Phobias
not being a morning person in
English 2010
any way, shape, or form. So why
Dixie State College
would I take a 7 A.M. English class? Well, I got
Jenilee Brown
accepted into the Social Work Program and found
out I needed to complete English 2010 prior to
starting the program in the fall. I was highly
recommended to take this class with Professor
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder, otherwise
Combs, so I looked deep down inside myself and
known as social phobia, is a phobia which
came to the conclusion that I can do anything, even
many people suffer from. People who live
a 7A.M. class. This research essay was the first
with this disorder experience many symptoms
APA style paper I have ever written, and it was
both psychologically and physically. There are
hard to transition myself from writing MLA to
six different risk factors that are associated
APA. I learned about Social Phobias in Psychology
class, and I really thought I suffered from it, and
with the development or the cause of social
that is what led me to want to fully understand
phobia. Treatment for the condition is varied
everything about the disorder. I’m glad I picked this
based off how effected the person is by the
topic because I realize there’s so much more to it
than I thought, and I learned I don’t suffer from it.
phobia and also how it may affect them
psychologically. There are two major types of
Although it was a shorter and earlier class than I’m
used to, I’m so glad I took it. Throughout the entire
semester we worked on them rather than cramming
treatment; which are, medication and
psychosocial. The types of medication
it in the last few weeks of the semester. I also found
provided are anti-depressants and anti-
I enjoying writing APA better than MLA now. I
anxiety. The types of psychosocial treatments
also found myself waking up naturally really early
are psycho and behavioral therapy.
in the morning on the weekends. I’m likeawhole
new person.
Social Anxiety
Disorders and Social Phobias
What is Social Phobia Disorder?
“Social anxiety disorder is the third
largest mental health care problem in the
world today” (Social Phobia/Social Anxiety
Matthew skipped class today. It’s the
first day of the new semester, and he’s afraid
that the professor will go around the class and
have the students introduce themselves. He
knows it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it really
stresses him out. Whenever he has to speak in
front of more than just a few people, his voice
starts shaking and his face gets red. He always
feels so humiliated afterwards. Since public
speaking is Matthew’s worst nightmare, he’s
been avoiding a speech class he has to take in
order to graduate. He’s also dreading his
brother’s wedding, even though it’s over six
months away. As the best man, he’ll have to
give a toast at the reception and he’s already
nervous about it (Smith and Jaffe-Gill, 2010).
This was a case study done by Melinda Smith,
M.D. and Ellen Jaffe-Gill, M.D. Matthew was
just one of many case they study to further
their understands of the different underlying
factors associated with social phobias.
Association, 2008). Social phobia is also known
as social anxiety disorder. It involves having an
extreme fear of social situations, or even just
thinking about being put in a social situation.
Like Matthew, many people with social phobia
get so frightened and anxious, that they go to
any length to avoid being put into these
situations. Many times the phobia is a lot
more intense when the situation is unfamiliar,
or if the person struggling with it feels as if
they are going to be evaluated and watched
by others. Like Matthew’s situation, the
feelings of being scrutinized, judged, or
embarrassed is the underlying factor of social
phobia. Having social phobias can be more
serious than some people may think. Some
people come to the point to where they need
to take medication for it. After doing research
and learning the underlying factors involved
with it, many people may be relieved to find
that they do not suffer from the phobia.
Gaining an understanding about social
suffering from the phobia, psychological and
phobias can help tell someone whether or not
physical symptoms.
they suffer from it, and how they can treat it.
Psychological symptoms have many
There are two types of social phobias.
side effects to them. In this state, someone
Generalized social anxiety disorder is when
who suffers from the disorder has intense fear
anxiety is experienced in most social and
for days, weeks, or months prior to an
performance situation. Such as, performing in
upcoming event. Whether or not they are in a
front of a big or small audience, or having to
situation where they know someone or not,
speak in public. The other type of social
they are always worried about being judged,
phobia is when anxiety occurs in more specific
embarrassed, or humiliated, so they are very
situations. These specific situations are linked
self-conscious in any social situation.
to meeting and having to talk to strangers,
Depression and a low self-esteem is also a
eating at restaurants, and going to parties or
major factor with psychological symptoms.
any other social event with unfamiliar people
They are extra sensitive when being criticized
(Smith and Jaffe-Gill, 2010).
and have problems being assertive. While
Symptoms
going through these symptoms, they may also
Although people may get nervous
get anxiety just from the thought of people
before giving a speech or performing in front
realizing they are nervous or uncomfortable in
of an audience, it does not always mean they
their environment.
have a social phobia. People who stress about
In a case study done by Beth Mc
it weeks ahead of time and weeks after are
Hugh, she introduces a well-likable middle
the ones who suffer from it. There are two
aged man named Jeff. To everyone else, Jeff
types of symptoms one experiences when
seems like a happy but shy guy. He has a good
job, everyone at work enjoys his dedication,
and his boss and he has a good relationship.
friends with Cameron for over three years,
What no one knows is Jeff suffers from social
and I spent a lot of time with his family. For as
phobia. No one notices is how unhappy he is
long as I knew Cameron, his father never
with his relationships with other people, his
spoke more than a few sentences when I was
social fear, and with his life in general.
around. Last summer, his father was asked to
Physical symptoms are a lot more
serve as the first counselor in the bishopric in
involved and personal when dealing with
his ward. He was asked months before he was
social anxiety phobias because it is more
actually asked to serve, and Cameron’s
visible to those around. The most common
mother told us he hasn’t spoken much since
physical symptoms are getting red or blotchy
he was asked. Along with not speaking, the
in the face, profuse sweating, and difficulty
thought of having to sit and talk in front of his
making any eye contact. While talking, they
ward made him lose ten pounds in one week.
may experience a shaky voice, rapid
Cameron’s father’s disorder clearly affected
breathing, difficulty with speaking, and a dry
him not only psychologically, but it also
mouth. An upset stomach is also a common
affected him physically.
symptom as they may go through nausea and
Risk Factors
diarrhea. Other very common symptoms are:
“Between three to thirteen percent of
getting cold, clammy hands, trembling,
people in western countries experience social
shaking, muscle tension, and confusion that
anxiety disorders at some point in their lives”
may be associated with getting dizzy and in
(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
some cases fainting (Mayo Foundation for
Research, 1998-2010). Although social phobia
Medical Education Research, 1998-2010).
may start early in childhood or later in
An old friend of mine, Cameron, had a
father who suffered from social phobia. I was
adulthood, it usually begins in the early to
mid-teens. Many factors may contribute to
the disorder, such as: gender, family history,
social phobia. An example of a negative
environment, negative experiences,
experience that may trigger social phobias
temperament, and new social work demands.
comes from my fiancé, Tyler. Coming from a
Gender is a big part of the deciding
small town the annual rodeo is always an
risk factors because women are more likely to
event for the town to look forward to. As a
be effected by social phobia and the
young boy, Tyler used to perform with his
symptoms that follow them. Research has also
uncle in one of the events in front of what felt
found that if someone whose biological
like the entire town. He tripped during the
parents or siblings suffered from social
performance, which left him being dragged
phobia, they are likely to suffer from it as well.
across the arena by the horse and his pants
Scientist theorizes that social phobia is a
slide down to his ankles. He stood up to a
learned behavior, which is developing a
crowd crying from laughter. Until this day,
characteristic after being exposed to it for a
Tyler has an incessant fear when being in front
certain amount of time. Therefore, after being
of groups of people. Also, someone who is a
exposed an anxious behavior by others in the
victim of sexual abuse, family conflicts, or any
environment, the phobia may develop. For
other negative event in their lifetime has a
example, parents that are more controlling,
greater link to developing the disorder. With
protective, and/or paranoid of their children
temperament, a younger child who is more
may develop the phobia in their children.
shy, timid, withdrawn, and reserved is at a
Negative experiences are a huge factor that
higher risk of developing the phobia (Kim, W.,
may trigger social phobia. If a person at a
et. al, 2009). Last, a new social or work
younger age was a victim of bullying, teasing,
environment may trigger social phobia due to
rejection, ridicule, humiliation, or an extreme
meeting new people, giving a speech in public,
embarrassing moment may be more prone to
or having to give a presentation for work all
produces a sense of relaxation and muscle
for the first time.
tension. Anti-depressants help in controlling
Treatments
the panic attacks. Being able to reduce the
People who go through treatments
panic attacks is the central factor in recovering
find a 77 percent improvement in the
from the disorder. It’s a basis for resuming a
psychodynamic, cognitive, humanistic,
regular live. It’s important to be cautious
behavioral, and social areas prior to
about certain anti-depressants because some
treatments (Long, M.D., 1990). Treatments for
are known to have same side-effects seen in
social phobias are similar for those who suffer
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders.
from agoraphobia and other simple phobias.
Psychosocial treatments are meetings
There are two main types of treatments,
with professionals doing various personal and
medication and psychosocial. Both take awhile
involved activities. Most common form of the
to complete depending on how severely
psychosocial treatment is when the clinician
someone is affected by the disorder, but both
has the patient imagine themselves in a very
also show great improvement in their lives.
fearful situation or fantasy that includes an
There are two types of medications,
anxiety-produced emotion. They encourage
anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, that are
them to stay at that state for as long as
used for two different purposes. Minor
possible before “returning” back to the
tranquilizers and anxiolytics are used to help
secession. This is also encouraged to be
with anxiety symptoms. Tricyclic anti-
repeated many times and have written
depressants are used to help with the mental
journals about the experience. This is
effects that social phobias cause (Long, M.D.,
supposed to be effective in a way that will
1990). Anti-anxiety medication is important in
allow them to pay close attention to cues of
the treatment of the phobia because it
panic and anxiety. It helps them recognize and
overwhelming discomfort as a step to further
control their symptoms.
get past their fears.
Psychotherapy is treatment of anxiety
False Indications
and the phobia. It implies a lot of therapist-
I think the biggest misconception
patient interaction with overlapping
people, including me, have about social
behavioral treatments. The most important
phobia is the idea that everyone has it. I
part of this treatment is the therapist provides
thought I was one of the millions of people in
a lot of interest, support, and understanding
America that suffered from the disorder.
for the patient as a way to make them feel
Having a full understanding about the disorder
important and encouraged to get past the
before diagnosing someone with it is very
phobia. The hardest part of the treatment is in
crucial.
the process symptoms and things they were
In an article written by Leora R.
suffering from are given-up one at a time. This
Heckelman and Franklin R. Schneier, they
is hard for the patient to cope with because it
followed a young lady named Janet. She was
has become so involved in their lives, and they
an upbeat young lady who always had the
now have to learn to cope without it.
idea that she suffered from intense fear of
Counseling is valuable in this stage of
being in public situations. Similar to what I
treatment.
thought before writing this essay, she thought
Behavioral therapy is a technique of
that simply because she gets really nervous
exposure to things that cause them anxiety.
before speaking in front of the classroom or
This is effective for them both short-term and
even reading out loud, she though she is
long-term to help them overcome the phobia.
sufferer of the disorder. Seeking a way to
This section of treatment brings them
decrease these symptoms, she felt as if she
was always led to a dead road. Although her
doctors repeatedly told her any kind of
medication wasn’t necessary, she refused to
Conclusion
Prior to doing research on this topic, I
listen and found a way to get a hold of anti-
didn’t know how many people are affected by
depressant pills, called Celexa. After months
this disorder. Knowing now, I see it is not only
of taking the pill, Janet never felt as if she felt
effective to them physically, but also mentally.
a difference in her performance other than
I believe it is important to know how badly it
feeling even more depressed after taking the
can affect someone in their daily lives, and
pills. What Janet didn’t know was she really
how involved it is for them in the long run. I
wasn’t affected with the disorder at all. I think
also thought it was a condition that everyone
what people don’t understand is feeling
suffers from. It is very important to know the
nervous is a normal symptom that everyone
underlying issues about social phobia because
goes through, and just because one may feel it
reacting to it without knowing these issues
more than others, doesn’t necessarily mean
can really hurt someone’s health as well as
there is anything wrong with them.
mentally and physically.
Reference
Carter, S. and Wu, K. (2009). Symptoms of specific and generalized social phobia: An examination of
discriminate validity and structural relations with mood and anxiety symptoms.
Heckelman, L. and Schneier, F., (1995). Social phobia: Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment.
Retrieved
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&dq=false+social+phobia+case+study&ots=gPeM8my1bk&sig=aHm_ypXf9BTuSSqhA
P39-r4Y0wE#v=onepage&q&f=false, 18 July 2010.
Kim, B. et. al. (2009). Journal of anxiety disorders: Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based cognitive
therapy program as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with panic disorder,
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Long, P. M.D. (1990). Social phobia: Treatment. Retrieved from
http://www.mentalhealth.com/rx/p23-an03.html. 5 July 2010.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (1998-2010). Social anxiety disorders: Social
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Mc Hugh, B. (2006). Health-mental health: Social phobia and case studies. Retrieved from
http://mental-health.families.com/blog/social-phobia-a-case-study, 18 July 2010.
Smith, M. M.D. and Jaffe-Gill, E. M.A., (2010). Social anxiety disorders and social phobias: Symptoms,
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Retrieved from http://www.socialphobia.org/mission.html#mission1, 26 June 2010.
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