WHAT IS SAD?
This anxiety disorder involves intense fear of social situations where one might be judged.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
What are symptoms of SAD?
Physical signs like sweating, blushing, or trembling in social settings.
What are genetics?
Having a parent with anxiety increases your risk due to this factor.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
This gold-standard therapy helps reframe negative thoughts about social situations.
What are coping skills?
Teaching kids these skills early can help prevent severe anxiety.
What is 7%?
About this percentage of U.S. adults experience SAD in a given year.
What is rumination?
This mental symptom involves obsessively replaying past social interactions.
What are environmental risk factors?
Childhood experiences like bullying or harsh criticism.
What are SSRIs?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
What is NIMH?
This U.S. government agency publishes mental health statistics (abbrev.).
What is the amygdala?
The brain's fear center that's overactive in people with SAD.
What are social situations?
Many with SAD avoid these, such as parties or public speaking.
What is female?
This gender is slightly more likely to develop SAD.
What is exposure therapy?
Therapy that gradually exposes patients to feared social scenarios.
What is the APA?
The DSM-5 is published by this professional organization (abbrev.).
What is adolescence?
SAD typically first appears during this life stage (around age 13).
What is freezing or mental block?
When anxiety causes your mind to "go blank" during conversations.
What is substance abuse?
Using alcohol to cope with SAD may lead to this co-occurring issue.
What are mindfulness exercises?
Deep breathing and meditation are examples of these techniques.
What is stigma?
Talking openly about mental health helps reduce this societal problem.
What are anxiety disorders?
The DSM-5 classifies SAD under this broader category of mental health conditions.
What is depression?
SAD often co-occurs with this mood disorder marked by persistent sadness.
What is introversion?
A personality trait like shyness that may predispose someone to SAD.
What are support groups?
Joining one of these can reduce isolation for people with SAD.
What is 264 million?
The WHO estimates this many people globally have anxiety disorders