For many years, it was thought that social phobias were a type of specific phobia that simply had a different trigger, but closer examination has shown an error in this line of thinking. Social phobias are perhaps more serious than specific phobias, especially since a link has been made between social phobias and drug or alcohol abuse.
One of the more common phobias is the fear of talking in public, even though it is not the only social phobia. All social phobias are based upon a feeling that you will be judged or ridiculed for your actions among other people. The can result in individuals that endure trying times from phobias that are social to turn into being very shy as well as isolated which has its own set of risk factors, such as alchohol abuse and drugs. Many who suffer from social phobias will frequently drink or use drugs before facing certain social situations so that they will ‘loosen up,’ but like other phobias, this behavior begins a vicious cycle that only strengthens the social phobia.
Since the people with this problem look drunk or even high in public, the situation frequently will turn into a self fulfilling prophesy and in fact they do embarrass themselves as well as setting themselves in a position to be judged. This only leads to more alcohol or drug abuse and avoidance of the situations they fear; as this continues they become more entrenched in their isolationism, and substance abuse.
Social phobias were confused with specific phobias for so long because most social phobias are actually a kind of anxiety disorder. For this reason, social phobias are treated with anti-anxiety medicine so they will not focus on the risk and consequences of embarrassing themselves in public. The use of anti-anxiety medicine can be complicated if a social phobia sufferer has developed a dependency on drugs or alcohol. Most anti-anxiety medications do not mix well with alcohol and drugs and often make its user more inebriated.
Because social phobias present much more risk of developing a substance abuse problem than other phobias, like a fear of snakes or heights, etc., it must be taken very seriously. Care must be taken to ensure that a social phobia does not spawn a cycle of substance abuse and isolationism that could ruin someone’s life forever. Although it may sound like a stretch, the irrationality of phobias and the addictive natural of drugs and alcohol make sufferers of social phobias extremely likely to get pulled into a lifestyle that they did not want.
If you know someone who has a social phobia, you should probably alert them to this problem, as most people will try to convince themselves that all their behaviors are completely normal, even when this is not the case. They may still deny that they have any problem, but at least they know that someone cares. You should definitely step in if they are showing signs of developing a dependence or addiction, since this can be more crippling than the social phobia itself.
For a great deal more informational value go here: Worst Panic Attack also head on over to Anxiety And Panic Attacks also Hypertension A Factor In Panic Attacks
Popularity: 4% [?]
