Understanding Social Anxiety

Social anxiety causes problems for people both in their personal lives and sometimes on the job. It can make even simple tasks or events seem nearly impossible without feeling anxious. But is social anxiety a disability? 

Montare Tucson explores social anxiety and how it impacts a person’s life. We also look at whether or not it qualifies as a disability. We understand this complicated mental illness because we treat people for it at our skilled facility. Our team of licensed and experienced therapists helps people understand the source of their anxiety and develop healthy coping mechanisms to calm the symptoms.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety used to be referred to as social phobia and is one of the many types of anxiety disorders. For someone with social anxiety, even the smallest of events with a few people can intimidate them. Socializing causes them to feel fear and may cause panic attacks. These overwhelming feelings can happen at a party, a shopping center, or any place where people gather together. It can even happen in their own home if they are around other people. 

Fifteen million adults have social anxiety disorder, which is approximately 7% of the population. Symptoms most commonly surface during the person’s childhood or early teenage years, and continue and worsen without proper treatment. Left untreated, this disorder increases a person’s risk of developing depression and abusing drugs and alcohol. It also makes many daily routines difficult, such as working, attending school, and maintaining relationships with others.

Signs & Symptoms of Social Anxiety

While some people may feel shy around others or not care for large crowds that gather in homes or public places, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have this disorder. Common signs and symptoms of social anxiety include:

• Regularly saying no to invitations to social events, both casual and formal
• Preferring to isolate at home rather than be around others
• Dropping out of activities the person used to enjoy that involved being around others
• Feeling anxiety at the thought of an event with multiple people
• Panicking at a social event and wanting to leave
• Fear of meeting anyone new
• Assuming others view them negatively or judge them

Is Social Anxiety a Disorder?

Yes, social anxiety is a disorder. A qualified doctor or a mental health counselor can provide an assessment of a person to determine if they have this disorder. From there, a plan can be created to treat them.

While certain mental illnesses qualify as a disability, not all of them do. This leaves many wondering, “Is social anxiety a disability?” This depends on the person’s situation, including things like how long they have the disorder, the severity of their symptoms, how it affects them, and their treatment history. Like certain other mental health disorders, anxiety disorders are classified as disabilities. However, not everyone who has social anxiety can successfully file for disability from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The SSA requires certain criteria be fulfilled to approve an application for disability payments. These include:

• The person cannot perform the work they used to do because of their condition.
• The person cannot perform a different type of work because of their condition.
• The person has had a social anxiety disorder that has lasted or is expected to last at least one year.

Treatment Options for Social Anxiety

Qualified therapists and treatment programs offer a variety of ways to help a person who has social anxiety. Individual therapy is the jumping-off point because it provides a private and safe space for the individual to discuss their fears, emotions, and behaviors. Many therapists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for people with social anxiety. CBT helps a person change how they think, which positively influences their behaviors. The therapist teaches the individual healthy coping skills to use when they feel anxiety that will help reduce their symptoms.

Group therapy can prove beneficial when a small group of people meet under the guidance of the therapist. They feel relief to be around others who understand their situation and can engage in valuable peer support.

Prescription medications often help relieve symptoms of anxiety. The therapist will discuss any past use of anxiety meds and recommend what kind to use now. Usage will be monitored to see if the individual experiences side effects or if they need a change in dosage or type of medication.

Contact Montare Tucson About Treating Social Anxiety

Have you struggled with social anxiety and wondered if it’s a more serious condition than you might previously have believed? With the help of the friendly staff at Montare Tucson, you can determine how this disorder affects your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. From there, we teach you to reduce your symptoms and become more comfortable moving throughout the world 

Are you ready to get world-class, up-to-date treatment for social anxiety and take back control of your life? Contact us today and let’s talk about the options our program provides people with anxiety.