Table of Contents
People with social anxiety disorder reported that their friendships were significantly worse (as compared to people without the disorder). These misperceptions were stronger and more prevalent among younger study participants and in situations where the friendship was relatively new, researchers found.
Some common personality and behavioral traits seen in children with social anxiety disorder are crying, tantrums, clinging to familiar people, extreme shyness, refusing to speak in front of their class, and fear or timidity in new settings and with new people.
What is social anxiety disorder caused by?
Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule or humiliation may be more prone to social anxiety disorder. In addition, other negative events in life, such as family conflict, trauma or abuse, may be associated with this disorder.
How does social anxiety disorder affect friendships?
Results of the study suggested that social anxiety disorder negatively affects self-perceptions of the quality of specific friendships, but that friends of people with SAD don’t see the friendships in such a negative light. The effects of having SAD were most evident for younger people and those with shorter duration friendships.
Globally, anxiety affects about 300 million people. Social anxiety disorder is the most common subtype of anxiety disorders, affecting 15 million adults in the US every year. Although the symptoms are often unbearable and hard to handle, 36\% of the people with social anxiety said that they sought help after 10 years of living with social anxiety.
People with social anxiety disorder have been shown to have some of the same imbalances of these neurotransmitters as people with agoraphobia and panic disorder. 5 Understanding how these brain chemicals relate to social anxiety disorder is important to determine the best medications for treatment. There is no single cause of SAD.
How does social anxiety disorder affect the brain?
Social Anxiety Disorder and the Brain. Action in the amygdala triggers an avalanche of symptoms identified with intense anxiety, including rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, respiratory excitement, muscle tightening, a surge in blood sugar levels, and a freezing of the brain that leaves anxiety sufferers unable to think or reason normally.