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I remember a friend in college
who would blush, sweat, and tremble when required by a
teacher to speak in class. A few weeks before the
presentation, he’d be anxious, agitated, and couldn’t
sleep. Because I was still a student then, I didn’t have
any clue what he was going through. But I knew that
something was terribly wrong.
A few years ago while in
the airport, I noticed a man who’d wait for everyone to
leave the washroom before he’d use the urinal. He
wasn’t comfortable that someone would see him urinate.
In retrospect, I can say
(now that I’m a psychiatrist) that those two individuals
might have suffered from Social Phobia or Social Anxiety
Disorder (SAD). I just hope that they are doing well now
but the symptoms that they manifested at the time were
consistent with this devastating illness.
How bad is Social Phobia or
SAD?
Social Phobia or SAD is a
type of anxiety disorder characterized by extreme fear,
anxiety, or distress when exposed to a social gathering or
when doing something before a group of people.
Public speaking is the most
common situation that exposes the individual’s social
fears. An individual suffering from this disorder develops
significant anxiety symptoms such as sweating, fast heart
beat, tremulousness, and restlessness when making a
presentation or giving a minor talk. Even small corporate
or committee meetings can cause grave distress.
Urinating in public
washrooms, eating in fast food restaurants, writing in
front of people or signing documents in a bank can also
trigger feelings of fear and discomfort. Individuals with
this illness are preoccupied with being embarrassed or
criticized by others. Some patients feel that people are
so focused on them and are only waiting for blunders to
happen.
So Social Phobia can be
devastating to a lot of patients and their families.
Because of their difficulties in a social milieu, some of
them have eventually lost their jobs, friends, and
spouses. It is an illness that has wrought havoc to many.
It is therefore vital that Social Phobia should be
recognized and treated without delay.
Is there any treatment for
this illness?
Fortunately, some newer
antidepressants such as paroxetine and venlafaxine are
known to work and have caused significant relief to a lot
of individuals. However, these medications don’t work
right away. They need to be taken daily for a few weeks to
see any benefit. Moreover, the medications’ maximum
effect may occur within 6-8 weeks or longer. To maintain
stability after feeling “normal,” patients may have to
take the medication for several months to a few years.
In addition to medications,
cognitive-behavioral intervention also works well. By
restructuring the person’s cognition, patients
eventually learn to face social situations without fear
and uncertainty.
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About
The Author
Dr.
Michael G. Rayel – author (First Aid to
Mental Illness–Finalist, Reader’s
Preference Choice Award 2002)
psychiatrist, and inventor of Oikos Game:
A Personal Development and Emotional
Skills Game. For more information, please
visit www.oikosgame.com. |
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