I chose to conduct and share my research because I plan on being a psychiatrist. I’ve always liked learning about anxiety disorders, and at times have wondered if I have SAD. I have struggled with anxiety, and have always wanted to seek answers as to what I was feeling and why. I wanted to give people struggling with anxiety/ Social Anxiety Disorder some comfort or a sense of acceptance in knowing that SAD is something that does happen and that they aren’t going unnoticed, and I’m willing to bring awareness to the fact.
The basis of why I wanted to do this research was to inform people about Social Anxiety. It’s something that does happen, and that is very much present in the world today.
Social Anxiety disorder is the irrational fear of any social interaction/situation. You fear embarrassment, judgment, or rejection. Social Anxiety symptoms include rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, dizziness/lightheadedness, stomach trouble/diarrhea, inability to catch their breath, “out of body” sensation, or anxiousness. People struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder should consult with a doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist for help. Treatments include talk therapy, medication, meditation/yoga, exercise, or support groups.
I also wanted to raise awareness about SAD, and let SAD be known as a disorder. It affects a lot of people and is important to be aware of it because of a lot of people in today’s world struggle with it.
Shame and Stigma are very prevalent factors when it comes to seeking treatment for social anxiety or general anxiety. For years there has been a stigma surrounding anxiety in general, and because of this people diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder or General Anxiety Disorder shy away from seeking treatment, and get worse over time, and don’t know how to deal or live with it. That is a problem.
Shyness VS. Social Anxiety Disorder
Research on social anxiety’s characteristics, importance, and treatments have increased over time. This may be due to more information and the generalized evolution of society and mental health. Not only has the definition changed over time, but also has acquired more importance. It has sparked debate over whether shyness is a condition that has been overly viewed as abnormal and unhealthy or whether it has been underdiagnosed previously or not. For those who believe that shyness has been over pathologized, it is a human experience and process in which we prevent harmful situations and evade uncomfortable events and feelings.
On the other hand, those who debate that Social Anxiety that has been underdiagnosed as shyness deem these people to be neglected and shunned by their, so to speak, shyness. Social Anxiety is being underdiagnosed as shyness, which is causing a precedent of what “normal” behavior is. Having anxiety is not normal, but common. So, if we change the way we look at anxiety or SAD in any case, we won’t have to explain that shyness is a basic human emotion that humans create as a result of a situation. SAD is a disorder that has to be diagnosed and is not a basic human emotion as is shyness. A label put on SAD will advance the understanding and communication on maladaptive behaviors.
Social anxiety disorder has a direct effect on a child’s ability to develop socially in a healthy and appropriate manner. Therefore, it’s primordial to distinguish the difference in a child who is shy versus a child who suffers from Social Anxiety Disorder. The difference between the two being that while children with or without social anxiety may feel uncomfortable around unfamiliar adults, therefore resulting in shyness, children with SAD additionally feel discomfort in a setting with peers their own age. Social Anxiety disorder encompasses 2 subtypes: generalized social anxiety and non-generalized social anxiety. The difference between the two is that the first is a generalized social discomfort and any and all types of social situations, while the latter only entails social anxiety symptoms in a specific situation (ex. Public speaking).
For a quick rundown of the differences between shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder click the link!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We6U-KrJ6E4&t=8s
“Is Social Anxiety Disorder different from shyness or introversion?”
With all the research I did on Social Anxiety Disorder, I came to the conclusion that childhood shyness does have a high correlation to adult Social Anxiety Disorder, but having shyness as a child does not mean that it causes having Social Anxiety Disorder as an adult. Correlation does not mean causation.
If you are struggling with any sort of anxiety, please do not hesitate to call or text these hotlines:
Teen Line: 1–310–855-HOPE (4673) or 1–800-TLC-TEEN (852–8336)
Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741. When you text this helpline, you’ll be connected to trained counselors for individualized support.