Social Anxiety Disorder

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Social anxiety disorder is a condition in which you avoid social situations that you fear will make you uncomfortable. It is also called social phobia or sometimes called SAD. You may fear that people are observing or judging you or that they have negative feelings about you. You may become anxious and distressed and choose to avoid situations. This fear may be extreme and may be real or imagined. The anxiety and fear can get in the way of work, school, or other daily activities. With proper treatment and medicine, you may be able to do most of your daily activities.
  
  
• It is not exactly known what causes social anxiety disorder. Having a long-term fear or a problem with chemicals in your body, such as dopamine or serotonin, are possible causes. You may have blushing, trembling, sweating, and trouble talking to people. social anxiety disorder may affect how you do things and how you act with other people but it can be treated. With medicine and treatment, you may perform most of your daily activities.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Activity:

• Keep a diary where you can write down situations when you have social anxiety disorder signs or symptoms. Bring the diary with you every time you see your caregiver. Some things you may want to record in the diary include the following:
  
  
  • __ What were you doing when the symptoms started?
    
    
  • __ Had you eaten anything unusual or taken a new medicine or herbal supplement?
    
    
  • __ Were you stressed or upset during the time leading to the attack?
    
    
  • __ How often do you have symptoms? How long do they last?
    
    
  • __ What were your thoughts and feelings during these situations?
    
    
  • __ What body symptoms did you have?
    
    
  • __ Did anything help ease or stop the symptoms, such as a relaxation technique?
  
  

Wellness hints:

• Avoid caffeine: Avoid foods and drinks that have caffeine, such as some coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate.
  
  
• Do not drink too much alcohol: Alcohol can be found in beer, wine, liquor such as vodka and whiskey, and other adult drinks. If you drink alcohol, talk to your caregiver about ways to limit your alcohol intake.
  
  
• Exercise: Exercise can help you decrease stress and anxiety. Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising also makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.
  
  
• Stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness later. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, relaxing muscles, music, or biofeedback. Talk to someone about things that upset you.
  
  
• Avoid hyperventilating: Some people may hyperventilate during an anxiety attack and not even notice it. Hyperventilation means that your breaths are too fast and shallow. Breathing this way can cause numbness or tingling in your hands and lips. Your fingers or toes may have cramping or even curl up. During an anxiety attack, focus on taking very slow, deep breaths. Your caregiver may show you how to breathe in and out of a paper bag when you hyperventilate. Never use a plastic bag.

For support and more information: Having social anxiety disorder is a life-changing condition for you and your family. Accepting that you have social anxiety disorder is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or confused. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a support group with other people who have social anxiety disorder. Ask your caregiver for contact information for support groups. Call or write one of the following organizations for more information:

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)
  8730 Georgia Avenue, Suite 600
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
  Phone: 1-240-485-1001
  Web Address: http://www.adaa.org
  

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Public Information & Communication Branch
  6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
  Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
  Phone: 1-301-443-4513
  Phone: 1-866-615-6464
  Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have questions or concerns about your illness or medicine.
  
  
• You have new symptoms that you did not have when you last saw your caregiver.
  
  
• Your symptoms are getting worse.
  
  
• You have problems that you think may be caused by the medicine you are taking.
  
  
• You find that your anxiety makes you unable to work or to care for yourself or your family.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have chest pain, tightness, or pressure that may spread to your shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, or back.
  
  
• You feel like fainting or are lightheaded or too dizzy to stand up.
  
  
• You feel like hurting yourself or someone else.
  
  
• This is an emergency. Call 911 or 0 operator. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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