Social Anxiety Disorder
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Social Anxiety Disorder
People who suffer from social anxiety disorder, formerly referred to as social phobia, experience overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. They experience a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work, school, or other activities.
Social anxiety disorder is defined as:
Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.
The individual fears that he or she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated
The social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.
The social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed.
The fear, anxiety or avoidance is persistent, often lasting 6 months or more.
The fear, anxiety or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The fear, anxiety or avoidance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance.
The fear, anxiety or avoidance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder.