Social Phobia, social anxiety disorder, excessive shyness, social inhibition      

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is the third most common mental health disorder after depression and substance abuse, affecting as many as 10 million Americans. Social phobia is an anxiety disorder involving intense distress in response to public situations. Individuals with social phobia typically experience symptoms resembling panic during a social encounter. These situations may include speaking in public, using public restrooms, eating with other people, or engaging in social contact in general.

Persons with this disorder fear being humiliated or embarrassed in social and/or performance situations by their actions and may become intensely anxious, with an increased heart rate, diaphoresis, and other signs of autonomic arousal. These physical symptoms may cause additional anxiety, often leading to a conditioned fear response that reinforces their anxiety in public situations.

The onset of social phobia may or may not be abrupt, often manifesting after a stressor or humiliating social experience in an individual with a childhood history of excessive shyness or social inhibition. Social phobia is considered a disorder if it is severe enough to adversely affect social or occupational functioning. That is, individuals with true social phobia go to great lengths to avoid social situations, usually to their own detriment. The fear of embarrassment is egodystonic, and persons with social phobia are distressed by their symptoms.

The median delay from onset to seeking treatment can be as long as 28 years.

 

Example:

The chief complaint of a 9-year-old boy is, “No one likes me or wants to play with me, and I hate it when the teacher asks me to read aloud.” He has difficulties with functioning at school, his teacher reports that he rarely raises his hand to be called on, and his mother reports that he has frequent stomachaches, especially the night before he is supposed to take standardized tests. At home, he seems content to play his clarinet by himself, and he tells the clinician that he dreads concerts because he is expected to play in front of others.

 

Don’t worry if you experiencing increased heart rate before your job interview or speech on the front of hundreds it is rather natural and desirable symptom indicating your healthy attitude (respect) towards another human being and society. But if you will turn great job offer down because you are afraid of your exposure or failure at the interview, then you might consider asking for second opinion about your fears.