Shaming: The Cause Of Social Anxiety

History

Before anxiety was discovered, it was described as stress, shame and fear. Shaming is a common factor with individuals with anxiety. “The ultimate function of shame is to motivate behaviors that are appealing to others, signal submission, and limit possible social damage”(Plos One), that is what people with social anxiety are scared of not doing. They are scared of what others will think of them if they dont act and do things the others are doing, and are scared of not doing what they consider okay or “cool”. They “fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people”(What is social anxiety). “Social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which the sufferer has an irrational fear or anxiety of situations

“Social anxiety disorder is significantly more common among females than males” (what is social anxiety disorder). Also “Some people believe social anxiety disorder may develop in people who have witnessed anxious behavior in others. Some experts believe there may be a link between the disorder and overprotective parenting”(what is social anxiety disorder). Another causing factor is “Children who have experienced bullying, ridicule, humiliation or rejection are said to be more susceptible to social anxiety, compared to other people. Sexual abuse, a family conflict or some other negative experience may also be factors”(what is social anxiety disorder). Kids who have been exposed to any behavior like that are more likely to receive social anxiety disorder mainly because they've already been exposed to the fear and feelings that those with Social Anxiety feel, and are scared to experience them

There are no tests or screenings to show you for sure have Social Anxiety Disorder, although the signs and symptoms are very similar to many other disorders and diseases. So “the physical exam helps the doctor rule out any physical causes for the patients symptoms” (What is Social Anxiety Disorder). “A general practitioner will probably refer the patient to a mental health provider, usually a psychiatrist or psychologist. The mental health provider will ask the patient to describe his/her symptoms, when they occur, how often, and how long they have been occurring. The healthcare professional may ask the patient to complete a questionnaire.” In order to be officially diagnosed the patient must meet the DSM (American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria. “The criteria includes, the patient avoids situations which may produce anxiety. The patient has a persistent fear of social situations in which they believe they will be scrutinized, or act in a way that's embarrassing or humiliating. The patient recognizes that his/her anxiety level is excessive or out of proportion for the situation. The patients daily living is affected by his/her anxiety. And social situations cause a lot of anxiety” (What is Social Anxiety