What is Social Anxiety Disorder? - Health Matters

What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Is it simply a severe form of shyness? Join Dr. Granet as he talks with leading expert, Dr. Murray Stein, about this disorder that affects approximately 5% of the general population. Find out the symptoms and latest treatments that are available. Series: "Health Matters" [3/2007] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 12228]

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[Anime4eversix]

i'm 14 and have this disorder. My teachers always wonder why I don't talk and fail me when i don't present my assignments. I'm comfortable enough to talk to a single person, but no more than a single peer that I am very comfortable with. i'm too afraid to go outside and try not to talk to people. I hate this thing. I don't think there is any treatment for it, because I have tried counseling and medication and it has failed. I've had this disorder all my life.

[NODUUHHH]

I to have this disorder, as far back as i can remember. I'ts extremely hard to buy basic items, say hi to people, eat, and so much more. I'm now 18 and have not gotten over it, but i have gotten quite a bit better. The #1 thing that helped me was to find a close nit group of friends. Where you can just be yourself, be crazy! I had gotten to the point where i did not know who i was. Whatever you do, the more you try, even though its painfully hard, the more you will surpass it.

[gigistekno]

social phobia is just an ingrained low self esteem

[Fallingforever88]

I've had social anxiety disorder for 10 years, I wake up every morning wondering when the nightmare is going to end

[FartNouveau]

Diagnoses can be wrong. And I can't put this in a simpler way for you to understand; the Japanese have their own disorders distinct from, but related to, Social Anxiety Disorder. 

[rockerandguitarist]

I've been diagnosed, dude. I definitely have the disorder. She has the exact same symptoms.

[FartNouveau]

She doesn't, she has taijin kyofusho. A lot of people who think they have Social Anxiety Disorder are just shy or suffer from performance anxiety.

[rockerandguitarist]

Then explain how my Japanese friend has SAD. She has the exact same symptoms as me.

[FartNouveau]

"it can definitely appear in any part of the world." - That's where you're wrong. Social Anxiety Disorder is a culture-bound condition that appears almost exclusively in western societies and highly industrialised societies, which Japan is. But the Japanese still don't have the exact same things. Only conditions that have related symptoms and diagnostic factors.