Social Anxiety Facts You Should Know

Posted by anxiouswill in Prescription Anxiety Drugs on November 15th, 2009

Though the number of people suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder ranks third in the list of psychiatric conditions diagnosed in the United States each year, few people know much, if anything, about this condition. This disorder, associated with the often debilitating fear of being evaluated negatively by other people in various social settings, is estimated by some to affect more than 21 million people in the United States alone. Unfortunately, many believe that only a small percentage of those who suffer from the disorder actually receive an accurate diagnosis - making further education of the general public an important priority. There are a few simple social anxiety facts you should know that will help you to better understand this condition, and perhaps identify it in yourself or others.

Among the social anxiety facts very American should know is that Social Anxiety Disorder affects more than seven percent of the general population, making it the number one most common anxiety disorder in the United States. The condition most frequently has its origins in the teenage years, and worsens as the individual gets older. It also affects women at a much higher rate than men, with some studies suggesting that there may be a genetic connection - as it often appears to be an inherited trait.

Other facts of which we should all be aware relate to the effects of the condition. Those who suffer from social anxiety can become physically ill as a result of their fears, with outward signs that include accelerated heart rates, muscle tenseness, shaking, sweating, and blushing. The symptoms can range from mild but steady discomfort in social settings to outright panic in the condition’s most severe forms. The fear of being humiliated takes center stage in the mind of the socially anxious person, and in many cases they become overwhelmed by their own primal “fight or flight” instinct.

Other facts about this disorder that should be of interest to the general public are the costs associated with it. Studies have shown that persons suffering from this condition often quit school at an early age, and have difficulty in finding or maintaining employment due to their aversion to social contact. The economic effect is staggering, with some estimates placing the costs associated with the disorder somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty billion dollars each year. With that amount of personal and economic toll, it is important for all of us to learn as much about the disorder as possible.

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