Social Anxiety vs. Social Phobia: Clarifying the Terms

|A lot of people deal with some degree of social anxiety in today's high-stress environment. But what exactly is that? Not to mention, is it the same thing as social phobia? This article delves more into understanding what the disorder means, its identifying symptoms, and the difference with social phobia.

Please note: This collaborative article does not contain healthcare, therapeutic or financial advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. The links in this article may be affiliate links that I will be compensated for at no additional cost to  you.

---

Social Anxiety Disorder vs Social Phobia -
​Are They the Same Thing?

​Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a type of anxiety disorder that involves a person feeling high levels of self-consciousness and anxiety in regular social situations. People dealing with this condition have a chronic fear of being judged or watched by others around them. Also, they often feel embarrassed by their own actions.

People with social anxiety disorder feel such a way persistently and intensely, to the point that it affects their regular activities. Statistically, around 12.1% of adults in the US have experienced symptoms of SAD at least once. However, the condition can also affect children. In fact, the symptoms can appear in early adolescence, i.e., as early as 13 years of age.

Most people dealing with this condition are aware that their feeling of fear in public is rather unreasonable. However, they cannot control or overcome it. Besides these emotions, they are also prone to depressive thoughts and possess low self-esteem.

This condition was previously known as social phobia- the term 'social anxiety disorder' became usable in 1994 after it was added to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition). Eventually, SAD became the primary term for this condition with the publication of the updated DSM-V in 2013.

So, essentially, social phobia and social anxiety disorder are two names for the same thing. However, DSM-V takes into account different diagnostic criteria than that of social phobia. This means that more symptoms and interpersonal experiences fall under the SAD than the previous version, so it is worth noting.

Distinct Difference Between Social Phobia and Social Anxiety Disorder

Intrinsically, social phobia and social anxiety disorder focus on two different interpretations of the condition. While social phobia centers on specific situations or things, social anxiety disorder focuses on the overall distress or worry of the individual.
​
To specify, social phobia is associated with how the person functions in public, like feeling shame or worry when teaching, giving a presentation, etc. On the other hand, SAD encompasses a wide range of social situations, i.e., the person feeling shame, fear, or worry during public events and personal interactions alike.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder typically manifests in various ways in people, sometimes subtly and sometimes highly debilitating, and it affects their regular lives negatively. It is important to consider the context to make this diagnosis correctly.

Under the DSM-5, mental health professionals take note of specific symptoms to diagnose a person with this condition. The clinical signs are:
​

• Intense feelings of anxiety or fear due to many social situations persistently for six months or so.
• The same social events trigger feelings of anxiety.
• The rate of anxious or fearful emotion the individual is feeling is unreasonably high compared to the actual threat level.
• The person fears that others are constantly scrutinizing everything about them.
• They are paranoid that others negatively evaluate all their actions.
• The feeling of anxiety is not drug-induced or for any underlying mental health condition.
• The individual is scared that they will face humiliation and rejection.
• The fear or anxiety indirectly causes the person to struggle with everyday social or occupational interactions.
• The individual tries to avoid such social events or endures through them with a lot of difficulty.

Physically, certain symptoms are also noticeable in people dealing with social anxiety disorder. These include:

• Upset stomach
• Feeling of dizziness
• Headaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations
• Trembling
• Sweating

Related: ​Thrive, Even When You Have Anxiety

​Impact of Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia

Typically, the effects of social anxiety disorder are visible in different areas of a person's life, be it work, personal relationships, or self-perception. Indeed, how one reacts to the feeling of anxiety and fear in social situations can vary from person to person. Here are some possible ways the condition affects individuals:

• Poor social skills, which never improve
• Extremely low self-esteem
• Conflict in interpersonal interactions with friends, family, and romantic partners
• Avoiding most social situations
• Self-isolating constantly
• Feeling embarrassed or shame
• Avoiding responsivities
• Feeling constantly left out but not having the courage to participate socially
• Symptoms of depression
• Struggling with making friends or dating

What Treatments Can Work for People Struggling With SAD?

The condition of social anxiety disorder impacts people in different ways and levels. So, the type of treatment that will work for them is also diverse. Plus, people can make intentional changes in their lifestyle to deal with it.

The following are some of these strategies:

Psychotherapy

Individuals with SAD can turn to professional mental health therapists to improve their condition. One can learn how to recognize one's triggers and then work on their mindset in therapy. Furthermore, they can develop adequate skills that they can use to tackle social situations without succumbing to their usual fear.

For anxiety, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is highly useful, whether in a personal session or group sessions.

Medications

Mental health professionals can prescribe medication as well to manage feelings of social anxiety. These include medicines like antidepressants, beta blockers, anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Healthcare providers typically prescribe such medications in low doses and later gradually increase the dosage, depending on its effect on the individuals. The treatment can take many weeks or months before any noticeable improvements occur.

Lifestyle changes

People dealing with social anxiety can make certain changes in their lifestyle to improve their mental health. Here are some steps one can take to handle social situations that trigger anxious feelings:

• Improve their sleeping schedule.
• Learn some stress-reduction techniques, like yoga, mindful meditation, etc., and incorporate these activities into your daily life.
• Do physical exercises of any kind regularly.
• Follow a healthier and balanced diet.
• Reduce or stop drinking caffeine.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Intentionally exposing yourself to more social interactions, like eating with family/friends, complimenting/asking for directions from strangers, etc. Doing this slowly and often may help you overcome such fears.
• Prepare ahead for social situations, like researching current events or different pop culture references, that you can use during conversations.
• Practice your speech or presentations in front of a mirror.

Conclusion

Social anxiety disorder is a relatively common issue that affects many people to varying degrees. It can be hard to conduct daily activities well due to feelings of anxiety, fear, and shame, but a person can overcome it with the right help. You can make suitable lifestyle changes to overcome such negative feelings and self-talk. Plus, you can consult with therapists and health care providers to treat the condition.
​
With consistent personal work and therapy, you can manage your symptoms of social anxiety and see genuine, positive changes in your life.

Related: ​Top 10 Strategies for Coping with Social Anxiety

​The links in this article may be affiliate links that I will be compensated for at no additional cost to  you. Want to start your own blog? Click here to visit the store!