Social Anxiety Research Paper

Anxiety is one of the most well-known disorders across the globe, but it comes in many different forms effecting numerous types of people. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is one of the main run-offs of anxiety that exists in the world today. It is absolutely normal to feel a little nervous or anxious before trying something new; however, Social Anxiety impels the individual diagnosed to feel distress and agitation in most, if not all, social situations that they partake in because they are afraid of the possible embarrassment that may come from it (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).

In the article “anxiety: getting excited beats trying to calm down” PSYblog reports that saying “I am excited” over and over again would make a person perform better before a stressful situation. The disorder associated with this article is anxiety and it is defined as an disorder that shows an excess response of what is usually an ordinary response (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2016, p.561). Also, in “anxious and egocentric: how specific emotions influence perspective taking” this article states anxiety is identified by discomfort and large action in physiological stimulation in Russell's circumplex model of affect (Todd, R., Andrew, Forstmann, Matthias, Burgmer, Pascal, Brooks, W., Alison, Galinsky, D., Adam, 2015, pg. 375). Not only, was there evidence in just this example of what anxiety is but there is many more examples stated in the article “anxious and egocentric: how specific emotions influence perspective taking.” In the pop article, it also stated some examples of social anxiety disorder which is talking in front of entirely new crowd of people and then having the concern of being stared at and then being reprimanded (Cacioppo and Freberg, 2016, p.562).

My client Leon has exhibited characteristics that are associated with the diagnostic criteria of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The DSM-5 states, “The essential feature of social anxiety disorder is a marked, or intense, fear or anxiety of social situations in which the individual may be scrutinized by others. In children the fear or anxiety must occur in peer settings and not just…with adults (American Psychiatric Association., 2013).”

Social Phobia, also called social anxiety disorder (SAD), is one of the most common, but misconstrued mental health problems in society. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), over 15 million adults suffer from the disorder. First appearing in the DSM-III as Social Phobia, and later in the DSM-IV as Social Anxiety Disorder, this newly established disorder denotes afflicting stress and anxiety associated with social situations (Zakri 677). According to James W. Jefferson, two forms of Social phobia exist: specific and generalized. Specific social phobia indicates anxiety limited to few performance situations, while generalized indicates anxiety in all social situations (Jefferson). Many people often interchangeably link this disorder to shyness––a personality trait. However, although they have striking similarities, the two are divergent. To begin with, SAD has an extensive etiology ranging from multiple factors. Furthermore, symptoms of various aspects accompany SAD. Moreover, SAD has detrimental impacts affecting quality of life. Lastly, SAD has numerous methods of treatment. Social Phobia is prevalent in both women and men beginning at the onset of puberty (ADAA).

Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Chances are you know somebody who has dealt with this issue (Kessler, etc., 2005) because it causes one-third of the population to experience distress or disability. It can affect quality of life by generating fear of social situations and resulting in social withdrawal. One of the most central aspects of human life is having close relationships — particularly romantic relationships. Social anxiety is associated with difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships (Lampe, etc., 2003). Despite the disorder 's high prevalence, its effects on relationships are not yet fully understood. Many

     Social anxiety is the fear of social situations and the interaction with other people that can automatically bring on feelings of self-consciousness, judgement, evaluation, and inferiority. Put differently social anxiety is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression. If a person usually becomes anxious in social situations, but seems fine when they are by them selves, then social anxiety may be the problem.

Why do people get anxious? Why do students get nervous before a presentation? Why does a musician get anxious before they perform? Why do actors get stage fright? Why can't people embrace their flaws? Why can't they just be themselves? Do you really want to know the answer? Judgment. People, teenagers especially, are so caught up in what other people might think about them. I believe a lot of the anxiety disorders stem from the twisted and sick images the media has fed teenagers. Now, teenagers have an image stuck in their head of what they should look like and if they don't look that certain way that they will be judged. This isn't something they should mess around with. People develop disorders from this.

Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) can be described as an extreme, persistent fear of being scrutinized or judged by others in social situations. This fear may lead to feelings of embarrassment, humiliation and self-consciousness. People who suffer from this condition may “feel powerless against their anxiety” (ADAA). These emotions often interfere with daily activities, such as school, work and personal relationships. The person might begin to withdraw socially or avoid situations in which he or she is afraid. Millions of Americans endure this devastating condition every day of their lives. There are several causes, symptoms and treatments.

Over the course of my life, I have been subject to social anxiety. Being around others often times makes me really uncomfortable. This really doesn’t necessarily apply in it’s fullest extent when I’m conversing with one person directly, but when talking to a group of people I sometimes stammer and lose focus. This anxiety, though something that may seem trivial, is something that has always held me back from involving myself in larger activities. Although I have been inhibited by my anxiety, I have taken steps to, or at the very least attempt to, involve myself with more things in order to remedy my situation.

Fear is a common emotion exhibited by people who stutter (PWS). The fear of negative evaluation is commonly displayed by PWS (Fjola, 1246); when this fear is significantly excessive, the PWS may meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety (Brundage, Winters, & Beilby, p. 499). Social anxiety frequently causes PWS to isolate themselves from social interactions, and, when in situations, to utilize safety behaviors to prevent stuttering and reduce anxiety. Safety behaviors consequently maintain social anxiety in PWS rather than exacerbate the disorder (Lowe et al., 2017, pp. 1246-1247). More is known regarding the development of social anxiety is adults who stutter (AWS) than the information pertaining to children who stutter (CWS) and their fear of negative evaluation which results in social anxiety (Iverach, Menzies, O’Brian, Packman, & Onslow, 2011, p. 228). The difference in available information may be due to the thought that social anxiety is a short-term effect in CWS but a life-long effect in AWS (Iverach, Jones, McLellan, Lyneham, Menzies, Onslow, & Rapee, 2016, p. 15).

Social anxiety is “a feeling of discomfort, fear, or worry that is centered on our interactions with other people and involves a concern with being judged negatively, evaluated, or looked down upon by others” (Social Anxiety Support, 2014). Social anxiety can affect anyone. Individuals with social anxiety tend to prefer to keep to themselves because they are afraid others will judge them negatively and have a hard time interacting socially.

The Social anxiety Association classifies social anxiety as the fear of interacting with other and social situations. Social anxiety causes fear and anxiety in most if not all aspects of ones lives. Social anxiety is the fear of being negatively judge or evaluated by others. It is a chronic disease that it does not go away on its own, only direct cognitive-behavioral therapy can help people overcome their social anxiety. There are a few situations that can trigger social anxiety such as being introduced to

My whole body began to shake before I even stood up. I knew I was next and all I wanted to do was hide under a rock until the school year was over. The teacher called my name, forcing me to stand up and push my chair in behind me. I watched my feet drag me towards the front of the class and I couldn’t tell myself to turn around. There I was, in front of twenty or more judgemental teenagers, I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t bother to look anywhere except the floor and my messy notecard as I shakily read each word. By that time my hands were sweating, my heart was beating out of my chest, and I didn’t know how much longer I’d last. I could hear faint chuckles, someone moving their paper, and whispering which made it intensify in my head. The noises became overpowering and I couldn’t hear anything except that. I was only up there for a good three to five minutes. It wouldn’t have been hard for anyone else who is an extrovert. Except I wasn’t only an introvert but I also had social anxiety. To this day, I still have it, and it’s ruined my life.

Dealing with social anxiety is very tough. Things that can normally seem easy to one person is very difficult for someone with social anxiety. I, myself have social anxiety. I have had it since I was younger. Normally, younger children are outgoing in a way and don’t really care what someone thinks about them. Growing up I was not a “people’s person”. I would get nervous if someone didn’t like me or what someone thought of me. Someone’s opinion of me affected me so much. Everyday tasks were way harder for me than they needed to be. In school I wouldn’t even like to ask questions, afraid of what the teacher or students might think. I didn’t enjoy valentine’s day because I was afraid someone would forget about me. Still to this day I hate my birthday. If my birthday would fall on a weekday I wouldn’t go to school because what if someone forgot about my birthday? I have been shy and more to myself my whole life. I don’t like talking to strangers or in front of classmates, I still struggle talking to teachers or if I’m put in a group at school. I even have trouble sometimes talking to friends or family. I don’t know why this is an issue for me but it is like if someone starts asking a lot of questions or if I am put on the spot I get nervous. I am considered a “quiet” person because of this. To this day I am unable to do certain tasks without preparation, for example, I don’t like going through drive-thrus because I don’t want to be the one

Feeling anxious before giving a speech or presenting a project is normal, but when that anxiety carries over into being nervous before going to a casual party or meeting up with friends, that is when it might be more than just nerves. Social anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety. About fifteen million adults in America suffer from social anxiety, with the typical onset age being thirteen (Social Anxiety Disorder). Overcoming social anxiety takes tremendous efforts and can take many years. There are many different methods people have tried using to overcome their fears. Two common ones people use are learning to control their breath and cognitive-behavioral therapy. With persistence and determination, people can learn to deal with their social anxiety the healthy way, or better yet, overcome it completely.