Social Anxiety Disorder is very common in millions of Americans

According to new survey around 20 million Americans are being averted form normal social lives.

Social Anxiety disorder leaves many stranded, disgraced and often misdiagnosed. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports, 36% of people diagnosed this disease around after 10 years.

A person may suffer form Social anxiety disorder when start feeling an intense, tenacious and irrational fear of social or performance situations," Jerilyn Ross, the association's president and CEO, said during a teleconference.

Ross said in such condition people do avoid common thing, people and situation and fearing that they would be misunderstood, embarrassed and humiliated by other. It leads to develop lack confidence, negativity, and inferiority complex and it prejudice them for being easily hurt by others.

Social anxiety disorder can interfere with daily routines and job performance, Ross noted. "It also makes it very difficult for people to develop friends and romantic partnerships," she said.

Social anxiety disorder can start in the early teens, Dr. Mark H. Pollack, director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, said during the teleconference.

"This is a disorder that starts affecting people early on," Pollack said. "The typical age of onset is early adolescence, age 12 or 13 and many individuals report a history of anxiety dating back to earlier childhood."

The disorder also has physical symptoms, including heart palpitations, feelings that their throat will close up, sweating, blushing, faintness, trembling and stammering, Ross said.

In the survey, pollsters questioned 578 people with anxiety, 276 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 287 people with social anxiety disorder

Among people with the disorder, 75 percent said the condition affected their ability to do normal activities. In addition, 69 percent said they didn't want people to think they were crazy, and 58 percent said they were embarrassed by their condition, Ross said.

However, when the condition is diagnosed and treated, many reported improvement in their lives. In fact, 59 percent who were receiving treatment said treatment had a positive effect on their ability to have a romantic relationship. In addition, 39 percent who had received treatment said knowing that treatment can be successful aided their decision to get help, Ross noted.

The disorder can be effectively treated. Among the techniques that have been successful is cognitive behavior therapy, which helps people get a sense of control over their lives, Ross said.

In addition, relaxation techniques and medications have also been effective. Combination therapy that includes behavior therapy and medications has also been effective. Commonly prescribed medications include various types of antidepressants.

• Among other key survey findings were:
• Thirty-four percent reported that their condition caused serious fights with their significant others.
• Seventy-seven percent said the disorder negatively impacted their romantic relationships.
• Thirty-five percent said having social anxiety disorder made them avoid intimacy.
• Twenty-four percent reported that the disorder resulted in their significant other not respecting them.
• Fifty-five percent said they had no close friends.
• Sixty-six percent reported having misunderstandings with friends, and 50 percent said they did not tell their friends about their symptoms.

More than 60 percent didn't keep in touch with friends or answer or return their phone calls.

Back >>