In social situations, people with social anxiety disorder may experience a rapid heartbeat, trembling, sweating, upset stomach, diarrhea, muscle tension, blushing and confusion. In some cases these symptoms may be severe enough to take the form of a panic attack. The consequence of social anxiety disorder can be socially and economically devastating. It can result in a person dropping out of school, chronic unemployment and financial dependence, alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, and not getting married or having children. Social anxiety disorder usually appears in the mid-teens, sometimes emerging out of a childhood history of shyness, and often becomes a lifelong condition.
Studies suggest that social anxiety disorder is more common in women than in men.
It also appears to run in families. Social anxiety disorder may be associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression, and usually precedes these disorders. A great source of current health and mental health information is Lifescape. This site has useful information for clients. Another excellent mental health information site is Mental Health Infosource.