Your teacher asked you to stand in front of the whole class to talk. You move to a new city and have to meet your new neighbors. Your boss has asked you to give a presentation in front of a group of people at work. If these scenarios make you sweat, feel dizzy and your heart start beating. You may suffer from social anxiety. It's normal to feel nervous in some social situations, but in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment because you fear being judged by others. In social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt activities of daily living such as work and school. Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition, but you can learn how to deal with it. Psychotherapy and medications can help you gain confidence and improve your ability to interact with others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay According to the Mayo Clinic website, the criteria for social anxiety disorder include persistent, intense fear or anxiety about a social situation because of beliefs you may have held; embarrassed or humiliated. Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety disorders. Approximately 13% of the population suffers from social phobia in their lifetime. People with social anxiety are seen by others as very quiet, shy, awkward, withdrawn, and sometimes hostile. Although people with social anxiety want to be friendly, open, and sociable, it is fear (anxiety) that holds them back. Some of the symptoms of social anxiety according to the National Institutes of Mental Health are: excessive anxiety that is disproportionate to the situation. Fear or anxiety that does not result from another mental health disorder or medical condition, medications, or substance abuse. Avoid anxiety-producing social situations or endure them with intense fear or anxiety. If the anxiety does not go away and lasts for about 6 months. Finally, anxiety or discomfort that interferes with daily life. There are many factors that lead to social anxiety. According to the book of abnormal psychology. First, Neurological Factors: Brain System and Neural Communication: “Researchers have repeatedly shown that the amygdala is strongly activated when animals, including humans, are afraid.” The amygdala of people with social anxiety is more active when they see negative facial expressions than when they see happy faces. Neurotransmitters may function abnormally in people with social anxiety disorder. Researchers have found that patients with social anxiety show less activation in areas of the brain that rely on dopamine. Serotonin imbalance may also contribute to this condition. Psychological factors: Cognitive distortions and biases: People with social anxiety have exaggerated or irrational thoughts. These thought patterns are often said to reinforce negative thoughts or emotions. Classical and Operant Conditioning: A social situation is paired with a negative social experience. Avoidance of anxiety-provoking stimuli led to the repression of unpleasant emotions. Therefore, avoidance becomes a reward and reinforces avoidance behavior. Social Factors: Extreme parental overprotection leads to social anxiety in childhood and continues into adolescence and adulthood. Culture: May influence the nature of social anxiety. For example, in Korean social fears involve the possibility of offending others through bodily order. In Western countries, social anxiety is related to being.