What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social Anxiety Disorder (S.A.D.), also known as social phobia, is a relatively new and overlooked disorder that is very prevalent in the United States. If you haven’t heard of this disorder before, you are not alone. It has not received much media attention and therefore many people do not know it even exists. S.A.D. was not established as an authentic psychiatric entity until the diagnostic nomenclature of the American Psychiatric Association DSM III rendered it an official diagnosis in 1980. People with social anxiety disorder are typically shy, timid, and quiet when around groups of people. They are not comfortable when they are the center of attention. S.A.D. sufferers want the approval and company of others but fear being rejected. They cringe at people seeing them as unlikable or boring. Therefore, they avoid speaking in public, expressing opinions, or even going out with peers; as a result, they are often mistakenly labeled as “snobs.” Many social phobics lack self-esteem, find it difficult to deal with people in authority, and are unable to speak or perform in front of even small groups of people. Exposure to, or anticipation of, the feared social situation leads the individual to either avoid the situation altogether or go through with the event experiencing immense anxiety and discomfort (Jacobson, 2001). The individual affected with this disorder usually recognizes that the fear is excessive (Jacobson, 2001). Avoidance attempts disrupt the individual’s social or occupational functioning (Jacobson, 2001). These individuals usually seek out occupations that deal with the least amount of personal contact as possible. Those with S.A.D. usually have very few social acquaintances (Jacobson, 2001). They understand that their anxiety and fears are not normal but can’t seem to overcome these thoughts (Jacobson, 2001).