Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
at Optimal Mind Psychiatry in McDonough, GA
Also known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear of judgment, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations.
Social anxiety can have significant impacts on an individual’s personal and professional life, making it vital to seek treatment and care from a mental health professional.
What is Social Anxiety Disorderer?
The key symptom of social anxiety disorder is an excessive, unfounded fear of various social scenarios. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with excessive self-consciousness and worry excessively about others' perceptions.
They may avoid specific social settings like public eating or speaking with strangers. Even when participating in social activities, they endure intense fear and anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms. After such encounters, they tend to dwell on negative aspects of their interactions.
Social anxiety disorder is marked by severe fear and anxiety related to social interactions like conversations, meeting new people, or performing publicly. Individuals with this disorder dread being negatively perceived by others, fearing embarrassment, humiliation, or rejection.
They worry about being judged negatively in public, causing anxiety before, during, and after social events. This often results in avoiding certain social settings or enduring them with intense anxiety, significantly affecting their daily lives.
It's important to distinguish social anxiety disorder from shyness. Shyness may involve feeling awkward or having inhibited behavior around others, a trait seen in individuals with social anxiety disorder.
However, being shy doesn't necessarily mean one experiences the excessive fear and distress related to social situations seen in social anxiety disorder. In this disorder, the fear and anxiety surpass what's appropriate for the situation, causing notable impairment and distress in a person's life.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
At Optimal Mind Psychiatry, the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder is carried out through a comprehensive clinical evaluation performed by our skilled mental health professionals. Your dedicated Optimal Mind Psychiatry provider will engage in a meaningful conversation with you, delving into your experiences in social settings, assessing your symptoms, and establishing whether you meet the diagnostic criteria for this condition.
These criteria encompass:
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Persistent and profound fear or anxiety related to specific social situations, driven by the fear of embarrassment or humiliation.
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Avoidance of social circumstances that induce intense anxiety or fear.
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Experience of excessive anxiety that is disproportionately intense compared to the situation at hand.
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Anxiety of such severity that it disrupts your daily life, including work or school.
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Fear or anxiety that cannot be more adequately explained by a medical condition or substance use.
If you suspect that you or a loved one may be grappling with social anxiety disorder, the initial and most crucial step is to engage with a mental health professional. They are equipped to guide you in comprehending your symptoms, arriving at an accurate diagnosis, and assisting you in discovering suitable anxiety treatment options.
