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Steps in Diagnosis & Treatment of Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an unreasonable and excessive fear of social situations. People suffering from social anxiety disorder experience disordered thinking that leads them to feel intensely nervous--conscious of being watched and judged by others--in a social situation. Usually, the sufferer knows that his anxiety is unreasonable and yet is unable to stop it.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of social anxiety disorder include intense anxiety when in public, using public toilets, eating in front of other people, interacting with other people at work, when dating or attending meetings or parties, when speaking in front of a group or when talking on the telephone or writing or working in front of others. Physical symptoms include shortness of breath, hot sweats, intense blushing, loss of appetite, crying, pounding heart, shaking, upset stomach, muscle tension and diarrhea. Sometimes social anxiety disorder may be linked to other metal health issues such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    Seeking Help

    • If you suffer from a social anxiety disorder, it can be difficult to seek and obtain help, which is one of the reasons why the disorder often goes unrecognized. Difficulty making a phone call to a doctor or helpline, asking a friend for help or even talking to another person about your fears can all be symptoms of the disorder.

      Often talking to a close friend or family member about your problems and having the person accompany you to the doctor as an advocate can help you feel more at ease.

    Diagnostic Process

    • The diagnostic process involves talking to your regular doctor or a mental health professional about your feelings. You may be asked to complete a screening questionnaire to help the doctor assess your symptoms.

      The screening questionnaire alone is insufficient; it is a useful tool to assist the doctor in deciding if further assessment is necessary. To complete the diagnosis you may have a follow-up questionnaire and a clinic interview to help the doctor develop a full picture of your situation.

    Diagnostic Criteria

    • 1994 saw the publication of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). This edition recognizes social anxiety disorder as a mental illness that is diagnosable and treatable.

      According to DSM-IV, the criteria for diagnosing social anxiety disorder include a persistent fear of social situations or performance that significantly affects your life, intense physical symptoms of anxiety in all or almost all social situations, recognition that the fear is unreasonable but being unable to do anything to control it, avoidance of social situations or enduring them despite extreme stress and anxiety.

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