Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

Understanding Social Anxiety Facts about Social Anxiety About Avoidant Personality Disorder Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder What drives Social Anxiety Disorder? Q & A about Social Anxiety Disorder Complications

Q & A about Social Anxiety Disorder

1. How common is Social Anxiety Disorder?
2. Is Social Anxiety Disorder a chronic (ongoing) condition?
3. Isn’t Social Anxiety Disorder just bad shyness?
4. Is it possible to recover from Social Anxiety Disorder?

1. How common is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Around 2.4% of men and 3% of women in Australia have Social Anxiety Disorder at any particular point in time.

2. Is Social Anxiety Disorder a chronic (ongoing) condition?
Yes. Many individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder can trace their feelings of fear and anxiety to their childhood or teenage years. The duration of the disorder is often long-term, but it can change in severity over time, or even remit during adulthood.

3. Isn’t Social Anxiety Disorder just bad shyness?
Many people describe themselves as shy. In addition, many people in the general population report fear associated with public speaking, and anxiety associated with other social situations, such as meeting new people and dealing with criticism. However, relatively few people have Social Anxiety Disorder, where the fear and avoidance significantly interferes with many aspects of their life.

4. Is it possible to recover from Social Anxiety Disorder?
Yes! There is treatment available for symptoms of fear and embarrassment that occur in Social Anxiety Disorder. 'Talking therapy' may be helpful, and some medications are available that can reduce the occurrence of symptoms.