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Is social anxiety really a disorder?

FelixDeCat

FelixDeCat

Lifer
I dont think so. If you dont want to call up members of your family and throw a party because youve never done it or youre afraid they might wonder what youre up to or just say no, whats wrong with that? Is that a "disorder" that must be medicated?

You move into a new apartment and there is a barbeque being thrown by management. Its a meet and greet for tenents. You dont want to go because while you like free food, you dont want to think that no one will talk to you and youll be seen as a slimey little rejected worm from then on. Do you need a drug for that?

Frankly, who gives a hoot how socialy active you are?
 
Anxiety has been the darling of the drug industry since the mid sixties. In fact, it's the first widely treatable, easily medicated psychological disorder to gain traction. No surprise that in a manner of years, it became the most diagnosed "disorder" in this country. It actually created the drug industry that we know today.

Not to say that there is no anxiety, or no social anxiety, but the diagnoses has taken many forms, many names, as the pill pushers have found clever new ways to "treat" it.
 
zinfamous said:
Anxiety has been the darling of the drug industry since the mid sixties. In fact, it's the first widely treatable, easily medicated psychological disorder to gain traction. No surprise that in a manner of years, it became the most diagnosed "disorder" in this country. It actually created the drug industry that we know today.

Not to say that there is no anxiety, or no social anxiety, but the diagnoses has taken many forms, many names, as the pill pushers have found clever new ways to "treat" it.
Click to expand...

I agree, and the worst part is they still get away with it. Its a big money maker for them.
 
I think probably 90% of anxiety and ADHD diagnoses are like this. While some may be debilitating to the point that the person who has the anxiety problem feels like they cannot function normally, most are just people with varying levels of shyness / outgoingness. At least that's what I think. The take home message is, go see your chiropractor. 😛
 
It's as much a disorder as compulsive social disorder is(the need to be constantly in contact with other people). I'm fairly antisocial which probably puts me outside the norm, but what's normal? It's just an arbitrary designation based on averages. For every person at the top of the bell, there's a bunch more outliers of varying degrees.
 
There's a difference between people who just don't like socializing and people who do like socializing but have a hard time doing it because of anxiety.

The first describes an introvert and I don't see that as a disorder. It's just a personal preference.

The second is social anxiety and yeah, I think it can be called a disorder. Is it something that requires medication? Probably not for most people. But it's something that can interfere with what you want to do in life.
 
It's real to me. I have never been the most social person and get really anxious when I'm around a lot of people in a social situation.

Recently I have started never going out except to work and go to the store. I always look for a reason to not leave the house. Every time I have to leave the house I way the pros/cons as to whether or not I HAVE to go. I used to play games with friends on the weekends and have stopped that as well.

It sucks and I feel terrible every day.
 
No, it's very much a disorder. It's not so much they simply choose not to socialize, it's that doing so causes very high levels of anxiety. On more severe cases this can be so high the person will not leave the house. Drugs can help but consistent therapy is likely more beneficial over the long run. The problem is if you just force someone into such a situation you can cause extreme discomfort, potentially even a panic attack (which will appear, and feel, like a heart attack).
 
zinfamous said:
Anxiety has been the darling of the drug industry since the mid sixties. In fact, it's the first widely treatable, easily medicated psychological disorder to gain traction. No surprise that in a manner of years, it became the most diagnosed "disorder" in this country. It actually created the drug industry that we know today.

Not to say that there is no anxiety, or no social anxiety, but the diagnoses has taken many forms, many names, as the pill pushers have found clever new ways to "treat" it.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of this Stones song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13olfeD026g

I believe social anxiety is real but it doesn't need medication. Just practise in social situations. It's a product of upbringing/life experience, not a mental illness.
 
DSM IV Criteria

Diagnostic criteria for 300.23 Social Phobia
(cautionary statement)

A. A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
Note: In children, there must be evidence of the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships with familiar people and the anxiety must occur in peer settings, not just in interactions with adults.

B. Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic Attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or shrinking from social situations with unfamiliar people.

C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent.

D. The feared social or performance situations are avoided or else are endured with intense anxiety or distress.

E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

F. In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.

G. The fear or avoidance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., Panic Disorder With or Without Agoraphobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or Schizoid Personality Disorder).

H. If a general medical condition or another mental disorder is present, the fear in Criterion A is unrelated to it, e.g., the fear is not of Stuttering, trembling in Parkinson's dsease, or exhibiting abnormal eating behavior in Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

Specify if: Generalized: if the fears include most social situations (also consider the additional diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder)
 
FelixDeKat said:
I dont think so. If you dont want to call up members of your family and throw a party because youve never done it or youre afraid they might wonder what youre up to or just say no, whats wrong with that? Is that a "disorder" that must be medicated?

You move into a new apartment and there is a barbeque being thrown by management. Its a meet and greet for tenents. You dont want to go because while you like free food, you dont want to think that no one will talk to you and youll be seen as a slimey little rejected worm from then on. Do you need a drug for that?

Frankly, who gives a hoot how socialy active you are?
Click to expand...

Felix de Kat, I shall now introduce you to Alcohol.

LARGE_20PHOTOS_ALCOHOL.jpg


The drug of choice for anxiety since something something BC.
 
Electric Amish said:
It's real to me. I have never been the most social person and get really anxious when I'm around a lot of people in a social situation.

Recently I have started never going out except to work and go to the store. I always look for a reason to not leave the house. Every time I have to leave the house I way the pros/cons as to whether or not I HAVE to go. I used to play games with friends on the weekends and have stopped that as well.

It sucks and I feel terrible every day.
Click to expand...

Im pretty much the way you are. Ill admit I could socialize more, but I pretty much just went to work and to the store or a restaurant. But I dont feel bad about this, its just what I prefer.

If it bothers you, perhaps you should get some help if you think you need it. A lot of people try to self medicate by drinking, but I wouldnt suggest that. I havent had a drink since 2008.
 
Electric Amish said:
It's real to me. I have never been the most social person and get really anxious when I'm around a lot of people in a social situation.

Recently I have started never going out except to work and go to the store. I always look for a reason to not leave the house. Every time I have to leave the house I way the pros/cons as to whether or not I HAVE to go. I used to play games with friends on the weekends and have stopped that as well.

It sucks and I feel terrible every day.
Click to expand...

hey man, wanna go to a huge party?! KEGSTANDDDDD!!! 😛 j/k
 
FelixDeKat said:
Im pretty much the way you are. Ill admit I could socialize more, but I pretty much just went to work and to the store or a restaurant. But I dont feel bad about this, its just what I prefer.

If it bothers you, perhaps you should get some help if you think you need it. A lot of people try to self medicate by drinking, but I wouldnt suggest that. I havent had a drink since 2008.
Click to expand...

I would seek help at the nearest bar or lounge.
 
Mo0o said:
DSM IV Criteria

Diagnostic criteria for 300.23 Social Phobia
(cautionary statement)

A. A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
Note: In children, there must be evidence of the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships with familiar people and the anxiety must occur in peer settings, not just in interactions with adults.

B. Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic Attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or shrinking from social situations with unfamiliar people.

C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent.

D. The feared social or performance situations are avoided or else are endured with intense anxiety or distress.

E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

F. In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.

G. The fear or avoidance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., Panic Disorder With or Without Agoraphobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or Schizoid Personality Disorder).

H. If a general medical condition or another mental disorder is present, the fear in Criterion A is unrelated to it, e.g., the fear is not of Stuttering, trembling in Parkinson's dsease, or exhibiting abnormal eating behavior in Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

Specify if: Generalized: if the fears include most social situations (also consider the additional diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder)
Click to expand...

DSM is amazing. Never has a medical textbook been so strongly influenced by Industry.

Not to completely discredit the essential manual, as psychological disorders are notoriously difficult to treat, understand, and simply provide real controllable data in order to effectively diagnose the various conditions...but all of these factors have created this whore of a manual, easily exploited by the Industry that completely depends upon its perpetually infallible acceptance within the field of psychology.
 
Pot and Alcohol are great for this and have been used forever as such. The Prescription Drugs for this "Disorder" are merely Cashing in on it.

Is it a real Disorder? Ya, sure, but as far as Disorders go it's minor to the point of being just a Marketing gimmick for the majority of those who will end up taking the Medication for it. I suspect those with the most serious cases of this disorder require stronger Medication and/or Psychological/Psychiatric help.
 
I hate large social events like parties and weddings, but that is simply because I hate people. I prefer to socialize with a small group of select people that I actually like.
 
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