What you must know, and above all, what can you do?
The fear of other people has been described over 2000 years. Now, however, an unusual increase is being observed. Some are already talking of a “social disease”. This is certainly an exaggeration. But today, the pathological shyness or social phobia is one of those mental disorders that cause the most suffering – though its often overlooked. What you must know, and above all, what can you do?
Definition
Social anxiety is one of the anxiety disorders. In the International Classification of Mental Disorders – ICD-10 the World Health Organisation (WHO) has among the neurotic stress and somatoform disorders (F 4) a separate division under the title of social phobia (F 40.1). In the Diagnostic and statistically Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM-IV of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) it runs on Social phobia (Social anxiety disorder – 300.23). Previously they were called – if they are scientifically classified at all – as a social neurosis or Anthropophobia, popularly known as “pathological shyness. What is it exactly?
Social anxiety are a fear of situations with avoidance behavior. The fear is not sufficiently justified, nevertheless the experience is distinct so that one can hardly break away from it by its own. Therefore it is an obsessional (technical term: phobia).
The social phobia always refers to acts that take place under the eyes of third parties who monitor the behavior and possibly criticize. It manifests itself not only in fear of examinations, including public appearances, which would be understandable. The focus will be rather mundane, namely the fear of social events: parties, invitations, restaurants, friends, and above all have to make other people, especially the opposite sex. So the fear in the presence of others take the floor to eat, drink, write, phone calls, the fear, a business having to enter an office, etc.
