Apa itu social anxiety? Social anxiety (also known as social anxiety disorder dsm 5, SAD) is a common mental health condition characterized by an intense and persistent fear of social situations. People with social anxiety often feel self-conscious and anxious in social settings, worrying that they will do something embarrassing or be negatively evaluated by others. This can cause significant distress and may lead to avoidance of social situations. Social anxiety may affect different areas of life, such as work, school, or personal relationships, and can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Research suggests that social anxiety disorder might be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and psychological factors. Here are the three possible causes:

• Genetics: Social anxiety disorder is known to run in families, and researchers have identified a number of genes that may contribute to the disorder. It is believed that certain genes may affect the way the brain processes information related to social threats, leading to increased anxiety in social situations. My grandmother, mother, and I would go shopping and my mother would make a spectacle of herself because she was dissatisfied with something (there was always something). We could be having lunch somewhere and she would make it well known that she didn’t like her food , drink or whatever. People in the restaurant would stop what they were doing and stare at us. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. This happened every week and you think I would have learned my lesson the first time. I kept telling myself that this week was going to be different. However, I did eventually stop going, but I felt sorry for my grandmother who kept going with her. So, I believe that social anxiety can be caused by parents unknowingly through genetics and environmental situations.
• Environmental Factors: Traumatic social experiences, such as bullying, rejection, or abuse, during childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder. Cultural and societal factors, such as parenting style, media exposure, and societal norms may also contribute to the development of social anxiety. Me being anxious in public stemmed from my childhood. I remember in first grade, my teacher (Mrs. Anderson) would pull me by my hair out of the desk because she didn’t like something I was doing. I believe she saw that I was the weakest link in the class and used it to her advantage. She told my parents that my developmental skills were not up to par and that I had to take her class again. So, I had pure torture for two years. After that, shyness and social anxiety enveloped my life. I also believe that my social anxiety and depression started back then.
• Brain Chemistry and Structure: Social anxiety has been linked to imbalances in certain neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine) that regulate mood and emotions. Studies have also found differences in activity in certain areas of the brain, such as the amygdala, which is involved in processing fear and anxiety, and the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in regulating emotions and decision-making. I believe that my mother grew up with mental illness. It is very evident in my family tree. That is why I mentioned in the first blog that I decided not to have any children. For one, I didn’t know if I could handle that child along with my own problems. And secondly, I didn’t want that child growing up in the world with that stigma of mental illness hanging over their head. I will say, it has become a little less problematic (or acceptable) in the past few years because more and more people are being diagnosed with social media anxiety.

• Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are two distinct mental health conditions, but they can sometimes occur together, and there may be some overlap in symptoms. There are different ways in which social anxiety and OCD can be intertwined:
• Obsessive thoughts related to social anxiety: People with SAD may experience obsessive thoughts about their social interactions, such as worrying about saying the wrong thing or being negatively evaluated by others. These obsessive thoughts can be similar to the intrusive thoughts that people with OCD experience, which can center around fears of contamination, harm to oneself or others, or other themes.
• Compulsive behaviors: People with SAD may develop compulsive behaviors as a way to cope with their anxiety, such as excessive checking of their appearance or repeatedly rehearsing conversations in their head. These compulsive behaviors can be similar to the rituals that people with OCD perform to relieve their anxiety.
• Avoidance behaviors: People with both SAD and OCD may engage in avoidance behaviors as a way to avoid triggers that cause anxiety. For example, someone with social anxiety may avoid going to social events, while someone with OCD may avoid touching a certain object. Avoidance behaviors can reinforce anxiety and make it more difficult to overcome. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two distinct mental health conditions, but they can sometimes occur together, and there may be some overlap in symptoms. Some possible ways in which social anxiety and ADHD can be intertwined are:
• Inattention and impulsivity in social situations: People with ADHD may struggle with inattention and impulsivity, which can make social situations more challenging. They may have difficulty listening and following conversations, may interrupt others, or may have trouble waiting their turn to speak. This can cause social anxiety, as they may worry about being judged or viewed negatively by others.
• Avoidance behaviors: People with both SAD and ADHD may engage in avoidance behaviors to cope with their anxiety. For example, someone with social anxiety may avoid social events due to anxiety, while someone with ADHD may avoid situations that require sustained attention, such as meetings or lectures. Avoidance behaviors can lead to social isolation and can exacerbate both conditions.
• Comorbid diagnosis: Some studies have suggested that there may be a higher rate of comorbidity (2 or more health/mental diagnoses in the same person) between ADHD and social anxiety disorder than would be expected by chance. These two conditions may share some neurobiological, genetic, or environmental factors that increase the risk of developing both disorders.
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and autism are two distinct mental health conditions, but they can sometimes occur together, and there may be some overlap in symptoms. Here are some possible ways in which social anxiety and being autistic can intertwine:
• Difficulty with social communication: Both individuals with autism and those with SAD may struggle with social communication, leading to difficulty in social situations. People with autism may have difficulty reading nonverbal cues and social norms, while individuals with SAD may worry excessively about being judged or rejected by others.
• Sensory processing issues: Many individuals with autism have sensory processing issues, leading to difficulty processing sensory information like loud noises or bright lights. This may trigger feelings of anxiety and discomfort in social situations, making it harder to engage with others.
• Difficulty with social interaction: People with autism may struggle to initiate social interactions or maintain them, while people with SAD may avoid social situations altogether, leading to social isolation and loneliness.
• Shared risk factors: There may be shared risk factors for both autism and social anxiety disorder, including genetics, brain development, life experiences, and environmental exposures.

Here are three treatments for social anxiety disorder:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a form of talk therapy that has been shown to be highly effective in treating social anxiety disorder. It involves working with a therapist to identify negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to social anxiety and developing strategies to change them. This type of therapy can help individuals with social anxiety learn to manage their fears, reduce avoidance behaviors, and change their negative self-talk.
• Medications: Certain medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines, are often used in the treatment of social anxiety disorder. These medications can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and provide relief for individuals struggling with social anxiety. However, it is important to note that medications alone are not always effective, and a comprehensive treatment plan often includes therapy as well.
• Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a type of therapy that involves gradually exposing individuals with social anxiety to anxiety-provoking social situations in a safe and controlled manner. Through repeated exposure to feared social situations, individuals can learn to manage their anxiety and develop strategies to cope with these situations in the future. This type of therapy can be highly effective for reducing social anxiety in the long term. I hate to say it, but I’ve had SAD for a long time. The doctors kept telling my parents that I was extremely shy. Wrong. As I was growing up, deep down, I knew something wasn’t quite right. To this day, I still have problems going out in public. I know that you probably don’t want to hear that it could last that long. It just takes one traumatic event or even a series of events, to start that ball rolling.
  Well, enough of me rambling on, I hope you received some good content out of this blog and put it to good use. You can live life while still having a mental illness. Don’t let society knock you down just because they think you’re not ‘norm’. I’m as normal as any human being on this planet, I just have a few extra things to deal with. I was going to say baggage but that sounds so negative! I just want to add one more thing, I was debating on what the title for this blog should be. I know I added ‘debilitating disorder’ to the title, but like I stated earlier, it’s only as debilitating as you allow it to be. Don’t let it run (or ruin) your life!

Have a good one,

Cindee Murphy

P.S. Forgive me for the outline errors, I’m still trying to learn how to manage WordPress.