Social Phobia Disorder Treatment and Addiction

What is Social Phobia Disorder?

Social phobia has also been referred to as social anxiety disorder. It is characterized by persistent fear of social situations. This may cause embarrassment, panic or anxiety that interferes with an individual’s daily functioning. Social phobia exceeds normal shyness and leads to excessive social avoidance. Affected persons tend to avoid dating, social gatherings, parties, talking to strangers and going to restaurants.

Those who suffer from social phobia find it extremely difficult to cope with their fear and the uncomfortable feelings it produces. Some will turn to alcohol and drugs to comfort and distract themselves. Addiction develops when they continue to depend on substances to move through performance, panic, anxiety or potentially embarrassing situations. It may feel like substance abuse is temporarily relieving symptoms, but it is actually worsening them.

Symptoms of Social Phobia

These symptoms cause significant distress that interferes with an individual’s daily level of functioning at work and school as well as in relationships. Substance abuse exacerbates social phobia even though it seems to temporarily relieve symptoms.

Symptoms of social phobia include:

• Obsessive worry that contributes to anxiety
• Recognition that fear is excessive or unreasonable
• Avoidance of social situations
• Excessive self-consciousness
• Always needing a buddy for activities
• Staying quiet or hiding in the background
• Shortness of breath
• Racing heart or tightness in chest
• Feeling dizzy or faint

Social Phobia and Addiction Treatment

The social phobic addict needs dual diagnosis treatment to have an integrated approach applied to his or her recovery. The only way to receive optimal treatment results is to have addiction and mental health disorders treated simultaneously in a dual diagnosis treatment setting.