Social anxiety or social phobia has many varied causes, including biological, psychological and social.  However, each one may be intertwined so it is hard to specify exacting ones.  Though it is not yet known if social anxiety is caused by a genetic disposition or something learned through family social conditioning, it does appear that it can run in the family.

The first group of causes include environmental and social.  It is believed by some social phobia experts that it is possible to learn this from the environment in which you are in.  It has been suggested that simply interacting and watching others with similar tendencies can be influential.  Also, it is possible that overprotective and controlling parents may develop this in their children and fail to recognize the disorder in them because they too suffer from it and consider it to be perfectly normal.  Others think that people may develop social phobias based on a negative childhood event, including bullying, public embarrassment and teasing.  Such indicators include disfigurement, abuse (sexual and physical), neglect, speech impediments or conflicts within a family. 

The second group of causes of social anxiety is thought to be due to psychological or emotional trauma experienced in childhood.  The subsequent symptoms may be the direct result of unresolved traumatic experiences such as car accidents, abuse, relationship breakdowns, humiliation or even a natural disaster.  The key elements of that are common amongst all people suffering anxiety as a result of traumas include an event or experience that was not expected, the person was not prepared for, and there was little if anything that the person could have done to have pretended it from occurring.  However, such traumas can also run deeper, including a poor bonding between the major caregiver and the person during childhood.  The person may well have not learned the skills needed to regulate calmness, self-soothing and focus during stressful events.

The third social anxiety cause is biological in nature, including biochemical reactions, the structure of the brain and the possibility of the disorder having been inherited genetically.  In genetical inheritance, most researchers believe that the main part of the disorder is born out of inhibited behavior.  Young babies with such a disposition are quick to show stress and fear of unfamiliar situations and people, and as they grow into teenagers and adults, their risk for getting social phobia increases.  Also, studies have shown that it may also have something do with the section of your brain that controls fears (amygdale).  Through CAT scans, doctors have found that people with this disorder have an excess amount of activity in the amygdale and too little in the prefrontal brain cortex.  Biochemically speaking, more studies indicate that an imbalance in the serotonin levels in the brain, dopamine, GABA and neurotransmitters may be to blame.

The most common group that social anxiety disorder sufferers fall into is the second.  Each and everyday, many people, young and old, experience traumas, some of which they may well put behind them for many years, or at least they believe, but somewhere inside of them, they have not learned to cope with the resulting trauma, but in fact pushed the emotional side ‘under the carpet’ or so to speak.  When this happens it is essential to get medical support and treatment.  Such traumas as abuse, rape and other experiences can develop from social anxiety to include even post-traumatic shock disorder, which can attack any person at any time in their lives.  It may manifest itself many years later, even after the trauma has since been apparently forgotten.

Though there are many cause of social anxiety phobias, the bottom line is that the result is an unnatural fear of social interaction and a lowered self-esteem that can not only hinder a person’s ability to function in everyday situations, but in some cases hinder the person’s ability to simply live a normal existence outside of their home.  Sometimes the disorder is so debilitating that the person cannot even carry on regular daytime activities.  If you or anyone you suspect may have this disorder, there is no shame in asking for medical help.  This does not have to be a lifelong affliction, nor is it normal because someone else you know is dealing with it by pushing it away.  Your family doctor is your best source of relief in this regard.

Social anxiety is a mental health disorder that is difficult to understand because it is amongst the last anxiety conditions discovered by doctors. In fact, about 7% of people suffer from this condition, which can be debilitating and difficult for doctors to diagnose. Most are aware that their symptoms are not right, but unaware of exactly what they are suffering.

Considerable research has been done, but is not widely read by doctors, though psychiatrists are the most familiar. The disorder is distinguished by feelings of apprehensive around others and nervousness. There is also a deep feeling of humiliation or embarrassment when a patient is faced with group or single social situations, so much so that they fear being watched or unpleasantly evaluated by others. Other symptoms include:

· Feeling of self-consciousness around others

· Feeling that others are judging or staring at you

· Feeling that others see your nervousness

· The inability to relax around others

· A fear of being seen as stupid

· Avoidance of most social interactions or the need to endure a lot of distress if socializing

· Sweating

· Racing heart

· Trembling

· Abdominal discomfort

· Breathing problems

· Dry mouth

· Physical tingling

· Lack of concentration

· Weakness of the legs

· Urge to urinate frequently

· Blushing

· Twitching of muscles

There are many possible causes for social anxiety, but some of them appear to result from bad experiences, possibly during childhood, such as bullying, parental rejection or teasing. Some people, most especially teenagers, may become shy as they get older or possibly even socially restrained.

Generally speaking, social anxiety starts in the later teenage years and continues on into adulthood. The person can suffer from the inability to interact with others and therefore not experience normal situations whereby they can assess others reactions towards them.

Most people will try to resolve social anxiety by themselves by avoiding others, but the best steps initially include:

· Developing an awareness of one’s personal qualities and abilities and feeling confident in them and oneself

· Learning that insecurities and fears are normal for everyone

· Finding someone that one can trust to discuss one’s feelings and anxiety with

· Using breathing exercise to calm oneself when one feels anxious

Become aware that making mistakes is normal and that others will not be judging one as harshly as one does oneself

Social anxiety sufferers must get professional help if their anxiety is starting to affect their daily lives. If the anxiety interferes with basic things like schooling, self-esteem and relationships with others then it is time to speak to your family doctor. In fact, professional help is as close as getting a referral from your family doctor to get counseling, psychiatric treatment or psycho educational support.

There are many online counseling services and support groups that help people suffering from anxiety disorders of all types. Some specifically deal with social anxiety. These groups and counselors allow patients who do not want their doctors to become aware of their mental health issue to get the help they need without the further embarrassment and stigma that they may feel goes along with having a mental illness. Some useful supportive sites include the Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Association, the Social Anxiety Network and Social Anxiety Support.

Social anxiety is one type of social anxiety disorder that does not have to be suffered alone and it is treatable with the proper support and medical intervention. However, understanding that one is not the only one suffering this in the world and not judging oneself harshly for suffering it, as well as getting support and medical help are the best steps to ending the difficulties and debilitating affects it is having on one’s life. Getting help now from family, friends and one’s family doctor is the only sure way to guarantee one’s social anxiety can be resolved. The first step is in understanding that one has a disorder. The second step is in understanding what the disorder is and why one has it. The final step is making positive changes to rid oneself of the disorder forever.

Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. People who have social anxiety often fear that they are being watched, judged, and evaluated by other people. It is often mistaken for shyness or low self-esteem. There are many different causes of social anxiety, however, the cause of social anxiety in some people simply cannot be explained.

A common cause of social anxiety is a traumatic social experience. If a person is  ‘picked on’ or made fun of during childhood, they are likely to develop social anxiety. Social Anxiety can even develop during adulthood, as a result of a traumatic social experience. Some researchers believe that adult onset social anxiety, due to a traumatic social experience, is the easiest social anxiety to treat, because the person simply needs to regain their self-confidence. This isn’t necessarily so for everyone.

Another common cause of social anxiety is a learned response. If a child has parents who have social anxiety, there is a good chance that the child will learn to fear social situations as well. As children, we learn everything from the people who are around us the very most. Alternately, some people who have vivacious, outgoing parents develop social anxiety as a result. They have underlying fears that make them feel that they could never live up to the standard that their parents have set - so, instead of being outgoing, they withdraw, and develop social anxiety as a result.

Furthermore, social anxiety can develop due to misleading or inaccurate information. For instance, if a girl is a tomboy as a child, and she is often discouraged from playing sports and climbing trees - while being encouraged to play with dolls, she could develop social anxiety. She would succumb to social pressure from friends and family members to ‘do what girls do, not what boys do.’ This could become a big problem as she grows up. Dating could become a problem, because she will not feel that she is not feminine, or ‘lady like’ enough for any boy to be interested in her - she likes sports after all. The thought process is totally inaccurate, but it is what she learned as a child. She would be confronted with the issue over and over as time goes by, and eventually, she would develop social anxiety - never feeling like she fits in, and always feeling like she is being judged.

Researchers now also believe that social anxiety can be inherited genetically. Research has shown that identical twins, who share identical genes, experience similar social anxiety symptoms, while fraternal twins, who do not share identical genes, do not experience similar social anxiety symptoms. Research in this area is still ongoing.

The causes of social anxiety vary from person to person. Often, the cause can be found through therapy. Therapists agree that once the underlying cause of social anxiety is found, most people are able to begin dealing with their social anxiety in effective, successful ways.

Zoloft, which was a drug that was originally intended only for the treatment of depression, has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of social anxiety, and other anxiety disorders as well.

Zoloft is a selective serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), which helps correct the chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain. During clinical trials, more than 600 patients were studied. In one study, 53% of the patients receiving sertraline, which is the main ingredient in zoloft, showed improvement.

It is not understood why, but women responded better to Zoloft in these studies than men did. Due to the overwhelming results obtained during clinical studies, Zoloft is one of the first medication of choice by most doctors for the treatment of social anxiety.

Serotonin is an important chemical that is naturally produced by the brain. It controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, the level of pain that we feel, and the release of certain hormones. Zoloft works to make sure that the brain produces the right amount of Serotonin in each individual person to keep everything balanced.

When the correct amount of Serotonin is being produced, the individual is calmer and feels more stable. This calmness and stability helps people with social anxiety control their stress and anxiety levels.

It can take from one to eight weeks to feel the benefits of Zoloft. Zoloft is not habit forming, which makes it useful for long-term treatment of social anxiety. Zoloft is available in multiple strengths, which makes it possible for doctors to prescribe the lowest dosage needed.

Drugs that are prescribed for the treatment of social anxiety usually have potentially dangerous side effects. However, the only possible side effects of Zoloft include trouble sleeping, diarrhea, sexual side effects, fatigue, stomach upset, dry mouth, tremors, sweating, agitation, decreased appetite, and digestive problems. Zoloft should not be taken with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s).

Many people who take Zoloft for their social anxiety feel that the drug is a miracle, however, if you are using, or considering the use of Zoloft for treatment of social anxiety, you should consider it a short term fix that will allow you to use other treatment methods, such as counseling, to help you face the underlying issues causing your social anxiety. You should not depend on Zoloft, or any other medication, as a long-term solution to the problem of social anxiety.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), which is also referred to as Social Phobia, is a disorder that causes a person to feel intense fear in social situations, or in public performances, such as public speaking. According to the Social Anxiety Association, Social Anxiety Disorder is the third largest psychological problem in the world today, affecting fifteen million Americans yearly. Even though the medical community is finally starting to recognize and treat the symptoms of social anxiety, people who suffer from the disorder are still misdiagnosed 90% of the time.

The fear that people with social anxiety experience is brought on by many different types of social situations, including speaking in public, speaking to strangers or meeting new people, using public restrooms, speaking on the telephone, eating, drinking, or writing in public, attending parties or large gatherings, talking to authority figures, talking to co-workers, shopping, community or job related meetings, crowded places, and entertaining. As you can see, social anxiety can affect the quality of a person’s life quite deeply.

The fear often causes a multitude of physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, tremors, sweating, diahhrea, confusion, blushing, nausea, difficulty talking, muscle tension, dry mouth, muscle twitches, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and paleness. This disorder also brings on other problems, such as feelings of being overwhelmed, feelings of embarrassment, self consciousness, distorted thoughts, an overwhelming feeling of needing to escape, and feelings of inadequacy. Even the anticipation of being in a social situation can cause a socially anxious person to feel fearful.

Because people with SAD often have panic attacks, some researchers believe that social anxiety disorder has a biological, or biochemical cause. Other researchers do not believe that this is so. However, studies are currently being done to see if there is a possibility of social anxiety disorder being inherited through blood lines. Often, people become socially anxious due to having a bad social experience. Another possibility is learned behavior. If a parent had social anxiety, or demonstrated negative social behaviors, a child can easily learn those behaviors, and develop social anxiety.

Many famous people suffer from social anxiety disorder, including Jerry Seinfeld, Kim Basinger, Donny Osmond, Barbara Streisand, Sir Laurence Olivier, Susie O’Neill, Rebecca Gibney, Gary MacDonald, and Simon Palomares. As performers, many of these stars have learned to deal effectively with their social anxiety disorder. Their bravery in dealing with their social anxiety has been a great encouragement to other sufferers of SAD everywhere.

Social anxiety disorder greatly reduces the quality of a person’s life. People who suffer from social anxiety miss out on so much that life has to offer. Opportunities are greatly limited, because the person who suffers from social anxiety cannot take advantage of any opportunity that might require social interaction - and most opportunities in life do require some sort of social interaction.

Visualization has been proven to be a very effective tool for dealing with social anxiety. Visualization is used to treat many disorders, and it is even used for pain management. Visualization can work in two ways: You can visualize yourself somewhere else, doing something else when you are in a social situation that is causing you anxiety, or you can visualize how a social interaction or event will play out before it occurs to prepare your mind for it.

The first method of visualization, where you visualize yourself in a different place from the one you are currently in is often used for pain management, or to calm down during anxious or stressful situations. The second method of visualization, where you visualize how a situation or event will play out, is the best visualization method for treating social anxiety disorder.

Using the second method of visualization, the concept is fairly simple. The theory is that if you visualize the situation or event in a positive way, over and over, before the event occurs, not only are you more prepared to handle it mentally, but it has been proven that if you think in a positive way, and visualize in a positive way, you will get positive results.

The second method prepares you for the event, but the first method is used during the event, in case you are feeling totally overwhelmed with the social situation that is going on around you. You simply remove yourself from the situation - mentally. People who suffer from social anxiety often use this method, but it should be considered a back-up plan, in case the first method fails to work once you are in the situation.

Visualization can be done with or without the aid of visualization tapes. There are tapes that can be purchased, but in the case of social anxiety, it is better to make your own tapes, since each tape will need to pertain to a specific social situation or event that is coming up in the future.

Visualization begins with some deep breathing exercises. Then, you close your eyes and begin to visualize the event. It is important that you visualize the event completely, starting from where you leave your house to go to the event. Make sure that you use all five senses to make it as real as possible in your mind. Be able to feel the clothes you are wearing, the smells that will be around you, the taste of the food that will be served, and the sound of people talking or music playing. Whatever the social situation will be, imagine it as clearly and realistically as possible.

Do not allow negative images to come into your mind. In your visualization, you should be handling the social situation very well. There is no fear. Nobody is staring at you or judging you. You are saying all the right things at the right times, and it is all going very well. Keep it positive!

Visualize a successful social interaction as many times as possible before the event, and make sure you do the visualization again right before the event. Also, prepare your backup visualization - the first method of visualization. You will need to practice the first method of visualization, where you can mentally remove yourself from an anxious situation, over and over again, until you are able to visualize yourself somewhere else that you consider safe and stress-free, without the use of visualization tapes.

If both methods fail you, first realize that it may take quite a bit of practice until it stops failing you. Then, just tell yourself that the event will end soon, and picture yourself arriving back at your home, where it is safe and comfortable. See yourself kicking your shoes off and fixing a bowl of ice cream. The event will be over soon, and then you can practice for the next event.

The important thing is to not stop trying. You will get it down eventually, and visualization will start to work for you, allowing you to do things that you never dreamed were possible!

Social anxiety is the fear of social situations. This fear causes both mental and physical symptoms that are extremely uncomfortable for the person experiencing them. Both mental and physical symptoms can be so intense that they eventually lead to additional health problems.

The most common physical symptoms of social anxiety are as follows:

Heart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat - This is a very common symptom of social anxiety disorder, but it is also a common symptom for several other health problems. If you have never experienced this before, you should see a doctor to determine whether another health problem exists.

Tremors - tremors, or shaking, usually cannot be controlled. The trembling can be very mild, or very strong and noticeable.

Sweating - some people will sweat more than others. Some people only experience sweaty palms, or feel too warm, while others sweat profusely.

Diarrhea - social anxiety causes stress, and stress causes diarrhea. Diarrhea may last as long as the person is feeling the stress.

Confusion - when fear exists, a persons adrenaline level rises. This major increase in adrenaline can cause a person to appear to be confused. They may even actually be confused because they are focusing on the fear, and not on the situation.

Blushing - People with social anxiety disorder may or may not blush. Blushing is generally associated with shyness, but shyness and social anxiety are not the same thing.

Nausea - fear usually causes feelings of nausea. Depending on the level of fear that the person is experiencing, the nausea usually goes away once the person is removed from the situation. It can, however, result in vomiting.

Difficulty talking - the person may be experiencing so much fear that they find it difficult, if not impossible to talk. This is one of the most feared symptoms by people with social anxiety, because they worry that people will think that they are stupid or incompetent.

Muscle Tension -  muscle tension is caused when a person experiences extreme or prolonged stress or fear. Muscle tension can become so bad that it causes muscles to become sore.

Dry throat or mouth - adrenaline rush causes a dry mouth, and fear that is associated with social anxiety causes an adrenaline rush.

Muscle twitches - adrenaline can rush through the body so fast that it causes muscles to jump.

Dizziness - adrenaline can cause dizziness, but this could also be a sign of a more serious medical problem. If you become dizzy, you should see a doctor.

Shortness of breath, feelings of smothering - This is a common sign of an anxiety attack, but it could also signal another health problem. You should seek medical treatment.

Chest pain - This is another common sign of an anxiety attack, but it is also a common sign of a heart attack. If you experience chest pain, go to the nearest emergency room and seek medical treatment, or call an ambulance.

Difficulty swallowing - fear makes you feel like you have a lump in your throat. That lump, whether it is real or imagined, makes swalling difficult.

Pale skin - both stress and nausea can cause a person to turn pale.

These are the most common symptoms of social anxiety. You may experience other symptoms, or these symptoms in varying degrees. If the symptoms that you experience are new or severe, you should visit the doctor as soon as possible.

One of the major symptoms associated with social anxiety is stress. Stress works two ways - the social anxiety can cause it, and the stress can intensify the social anxiety. Stress can be a big problem, because it leads to other health related problems, such as high blood pressure or heart attack.

Stress can also cause headaches, ulcers, insomnia, excessive fatigue, and muscle pain. When a person who suffers from social anxiety is contemplating a social interaction or situation, they experience stress. When they are actual in a social interaction or situation, the stress level increases to extreme levels, and triggers a variety of other symptoms.

Stress plays such a big role in social anxiety that, in many cases, once a person learns how to control their stress levels, they literally overcome their social anxiety as well. There are many methods that can be used to control stress levels. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce or eliminate stress, because believe it or not, stress can create energy. This is the fight or flight response that we were all born with. This fight or flight response was used by our ancestors for their survival. We don’t typically use this fight or flight response for our survival today, but it is still there, and it does create energy that needs to be used. Exercise is the way to use it.

You can also employ other methods for dealing with long-term stress and it’s side effects. These methods include: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), Autogenic Relaxation, and Imagery Relaxation. These methods can be used along with exercise to greatly reduce your stress levels.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a technique in which you tense, then relax, groups of muscles. The ultimate goal of PMR is to be able to relax your entire body all at once. When you can relax all of your muscles, stress disappears from your muscles, and it is either reduced or eliminated.

Autogenic relaxation is often used for the relief of chronic pain. Since stress can cause chronic pain, autogenic relaxation is used to treat stress as well. Autogenic relaxation combines deep breathing exercises with imagery and positive verbal statements to control and master a problem that is causing stress.

Imagery relaxation also involves deep breathing, but instead of dealing directly with what is causing the stress, you use your mind to take you away from the stressful situation - to a happier, more relaxed place. This can be done with the use of tapes, or on your own.

Whether social anxiety is causing your stress or something else is causing your stress, it is important that you deal with the stress as soon as possible, before it leads to other more serious health problems and takes over your life. Even if you are not able to deal with other issues just yet - such as your social anxiety - your stress levels can still be greatly reduced.

Living with social anxiety doesn’t just affect the person who has social anxiety disorder - it can affect their loved one’s as well. If you have a friend or family member who you believe has social anxiety, you can support them in a way that helps them deal effectively with the disorder.

Start by discussing the problem with your loved one - in private. This is not an intervention, and should not be handled as a confrontation of any kind. Just have a non-threatening, non-judgmental conversation about what is going on with the person. If the person already knows that they have social anxiety this will be a much easier conversation. However, if they have never been diagnosed, or discovered for themselves that they have social anxiety, this conversation can be quite difficult. It is important that you not push too hard.

You can suggest professional help, but you cannot force it - or even try to force it. The decision to seek professional help for social anxiety is a personal decision that must be made by the individual, without outside pressure. If your loved one does not feel that they need professional assistance, do some research, and find alternative personal treatments that will help, and suggest these to your loved one. Help them practice the techniques. Again, don’t push.

Gently encourage your loved one to attend social functions with you. Take them shopping, invite them to a party, or a small gathering. Do not be surprised if they decline the invitation. You can gently encourage them to attend, ensuring them that you will be there with them, and for them, but -again - don’t push. If they do agree to attend, work out something with them in advance.

Have them tell you what happens to them when the fear begins. Learn to recognize the signs, or work out a signal with your loved one. When the fear begins, your job is to come to their rescue, and take them out of the situation - even if it is only a temporary removal to the restroom or outside. Make sure that you are available for the rescue. If you promise your loved one that you won’t let them out of your sight at the social event, live up to that promise. Simply looking around, and seeing that you are not there can trigger the fear, and you will have a very hard time getting them to attend another social function with you.

While you must deal with your loved one’s social anxiety gently, you cannot patronize them. If you do not have social anxiety, you really cannot ever fully understand what they are going through. You cannot fix their problem. They are not your ‘project.’ All you can do is lend support when it is needed, and otherwise, treat the person as you normally would. People who have social anxiety already worry that people are judging them - they don’t need to feel as though their loved one’s are judging them as well.

Most people who have heard of social anxiety, and understand what it is, mistakenly believe that shyness is the same thing as social anxiety. Other’s who have not heard much about social anxiety, also don’t realize that there is a difference between being shy and suffering from social anxiety. Just because someone is shy does not mean that they have social anxiety, and just because a person has social anxiety does not mean that they are shy.

A person can be a little shy - simply because they are shy. People who are simply shy do not suffer from intense fear like people who have social anxiety do. Shy people are still able to interact socially. They may be a little nervous, and they may blush. They may be quieter than other people typically are - but they do not suffer from social anxiety.

Social anxiety on the other hand causes intense fear that does not allow people to function normally in social interactions or situations. Shy people do not typically avoid social situations, whereas people with social anxiety disorder almost always try to avoid social interactions and situations.

People who have social anxiety are not necessarily shy either. Once social anxiety has been effectively treated, and the person is able to interact socially without fear, they do not blush, they are not typically quieter than other people, and they don’t have any nervousness that anyone else would not experience depending on the social situation - such as public speaking, asking someone out on a date, or interviewing for a job.

The truest test to differentiate between shyness and social anxiety is the level of fear that is experienced. As stated, the level of fear that someone with social anxiety experiences can be absolutely debilitating. A person who is simply shy would not experience this fear, just as they typically do not experience the symptoms of social anxiety which include: rapid heartbeat, tremors, sweating, diarrhea, confusion, nausea, difficulty talking, muscle tension, dry throat, dry mouth, muscle twitches, dizziness, shortness of breath, feelings of smothering, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and paleness. The only physical symptom that shy people and people with social anxiety share is blushing.

Children with social anxiety often act out by crying or throwing tantrums. Children are often shy - but it doesn’t mean that they have social anxiety. The best thing to do with shy children, to avoid turning their natural shyness into social anxiety is not to pay any heed to the shyness. Don’t point it out to the child, or to other people. Most children outgrow shyness on their own. Social anxiety is not outgrown, and in most cases becomes more severe as time passes.