| Causes and risk factors of social phobia |
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| Written by PanicJoe | |
| 21 July 2007 | |
 Social phobia usually begins in the mid teens. It can begin earlier childhood but rarely begins in adulthood. Social phobia or as it is also known: social anxiety disorder is as many other conditions, caused by a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. Since this is the case, the risk factors associated with this condition are a mix of genetic and environmental triggers.
The causes of the disorder are not always easy to pinpoint. Usually it is an individual complex reaction to environment combines with genetic inclination. Research is focused on three main directions today in trying to better understand the causes for social phobia and how to treat it: Genes: Specific genes have been detected in connection to fear and anxiety, but it is still unknown if there are certain genes that provoke social fear. Social phobia does tend to run in families, but it is not clear whether this behavior is indeed triggered by genes and thus is hereditary, or is in fact a learned social (actually anti-social) behavior passed on in families. Biochemistry: Scientists are looking into the possibility that chemicals in the body, or the lack of them, may trigger social anxiety disorder. One substance – Serotonin – is a neurotransmitter, which helps regulate moods among other things. An imbalanced serotonin level in the brain is being explored as a cause for social phobia. Fear response: Some scientists believe that a brain structure called the amygdale is responsible for regulating response to fear. So if one has an over reactive amygdale, one tends to develop anxiety in social situations. Risk factors are the things that usually tend to increase the likelihood of contracting a popular disease. Social anxiety disorder, although a mental condition, can be looked on as a disease that can be cured and also has certain risk factors. People who are more likely to suffer this condition may take into account the following information: Genetic factors: Your sex: for every man that suffers from social anxiety, 2 women will suffer this condition. Women tend to be more emotional and are more likely to be anxious in social situations. Family history: There are researches that indicate that social phobia is hereditary. That is, if your biological parents and siblings have suffered from this condition, you are more likely to have it to. Environmental factors: Surroundings: Some scientists believe that social anxiety is a learned behavior. In other words, you learn it from your surroundings and fore and foremost from your family (hence this may be the reason for the condition running in families and not the hereditary factor – this is not clear). It has also been established that children who had more controlling parents tend to develop social anxiety. Negative experiences: Children, who suffer from teasing and bullying, may develop true anxiety from society. Other negative experiences such as family crisis or sexual abuse may also result in the developing of social phobia. Temperament: Children who are shy, withdrawn and restrained, especially when facing other people, are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder. New social or work demands: New people or stress social situations (perhaps a presentation or speech at work) may cause the symptoms of social phobia. I f they relapse when the situation is over, or changes (new people become familiar over time, the speech is soon over) then you are suffering from normal anxiety, but not from social phobia. If however, the symptoms continue to repeat themselves in such situations and even intensify to effect wider range of your activities, you are indeed developing the disorder. The roots of the embarrassed and stressed feelings that lead to social phobia usually have to do with adolescence, and should be reviewed in proper psychological treatment. |
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