Social Phobia

Social Phobia, also known as Social Anxiety Disorder, is characterized by marked and persistent fear of situations in which one must perform or interact socially with or in front of others. A person with social phobia fears situations where they are exposed to new situations or people. They, therefore, worry about behaving in a way that they might be judged by others as foolish, unacceptable, inappropriate, or inadequate.

When a socially phobic individual is exposed to these situations, they feel anxious, both physiologically and emotionally. This disorder causes a negative impact on the individual’s social, academic and/or occupational functioning. Treatment for social phobia focuses on helping the patient to explore and identify possible triggers to their social anxiety, how this anxiety manifests itself, and develop coping skills and tools to help overcome their phobias. Furthermore, treatment interventions for social phobia may include individual, family, and group therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapeutic techniques are often utilized, along with relaxation techniques and psychotropic treatment if appropriate.