| A person suffering from social anxiety | | | | in front of others, attending gatherings |
| disorder (SAD) develops feelings of | | | | or meeting new people. It inhibits their |
| intense fear, dread or worry, when it | | | | mental growth and development and the |
| comes to interacting socially. It is | | | | fear kills them from within. These fears |
| considered the third most common | | | | may sound unbelievable to us, but are |
| disorder, after depression and substance | | | | completely uncontrollable for those |
| abuse. People suffering from SAD usually | | | | affected. Some victims attempt suicide |
| avoid social situations, gatherings and | | | | or try to harm themselves. They need |
| prefer being alone. It can lead to panic | | | | professional counseling. |
| attacks, comprising of severe moments of | | | | Treating this disorder involves a |
| an undefined fear giving way to physical | | | | combination of medicines and |
| symptoms such as blushing, sweating, | | | | psychotherapy. Through cognitive |
| racing heartbeats, muscle tightening, | | | | behavioral therapy, victims are |
| trembling and an awkward feeling that | | | | encouraged to directly face the |
| something is terribly wrong. | | | | fear-inducing situation, which makes |
| SAD basically a chronic disabling fear | | | | them habitually strong from inside. |
| of public situations, which inevitably | | | | Along with relaxation and breathing |
| takes its toll on a person's academic, | | | | exercises, patients are also advised to |
| social, and professional performance. | | | | improve their dietary habits and give up |
| Seventy per cent of the affected people | | | | alcohol and drugs. Anti-depressants, |
| develop this disorder before the age of | | | | along with tranquilizers, are essential |
| 25. However, there are chances of it | | | | in treating this disorder. However, the |
| occurring much earlier, perhaps at the | | | | amount in which they are prescribed has |
| age of 15 or so. It often targets women | | | | to be strictly adhered to and monitored, |
| more than men. It is also associated | | | | for they are quite harmful and |
| with Serotonin dysfunction. Victims | | | | addictive. Following the treatment |
| experience intense and persistent fear | | | | religiously can lead to total recovery |
| in one or more social situations such as | | | | and it can help a person lead a normal |
| public speaking, work, simple | | | | life. |
| interactions such as eating or drinking | | | | |