Social Phobia
Posted on: May 16th, 2013
We all have phobias, and for the most part, they are easily managed and not disruptive to our daily lives. The Mayo Clinic defines a phobia as, “… an overwhelming and unreasonable fear of an object or situation that poses little real danger.” The phobia might be specific to a situation, like a fear of heights, or an animal, like spiders.
There is a more complex category of phobia defined as “social phobia.” An individual with social phobia is extremely self-conscious in public and constantly concerned about being judged by other people. Being around others can cause high levels of anxiety, embarrassment and even the physical symptoms associated with fear. Although social phobia is not the same as being shy, the two are often confused. One key difference is that someone with a social phobia will often go to extremes to avoid social situations altogether. The significance of social phobia is that it can lead to avoidance behaviors that affect work performance and group activities. It can affect relationships and the quality of time spent with others. Social phobia can even lead to depression or substance abuse.
Psychotherapy can help individuals with social phobia to identify the symptoms and triggers and learn how to manage them. Through cognitivebehavioral therapy, a person can be trained to think about social situations differently and better control his or her reaction. Contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange if you or someone you know exhibits the signs of social phobia. A treatment program can be tailored to meet your needs.
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