Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

What is social anxiety disorder?

With social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt your life. Severe stress can affect your relationships, daily routines, work, school or other activities.

If your shyness keeps you from doing things you want to do, social anxiety disorder may be the cause. For example, you may feel afraid of interacting with people or public speaking. This is often due to avoiding situations that could lead to embarrassment or humiliation.

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder

A social anxiety disorder involves both mental symptoms and physical tensions, including the following:

• The feeling of being worthless
• The feeling of losing oneself or losing control
• A constant pressure (tightness in the chest)
• A different perspective of the environment (derealisation)
• Sweating, chills, shaking
• Feeling dizzy
• Physical tensions like nausea, dry mouth, stomach pain or vomiting

Young adults and social anxiety disorder

Young adults who suffer from social anxiety disorder often find it difficult to deal with everyday situations that most other people deal with easily. They tend to be afraid of offending others or doing things incorrectly. They may feel embarrassed about what others think about them, or find certain social situations such as parties or office gatherings frightening or embarrassing.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common mental health disorders and affects millions of people. It makes it difficult to go to work or school, cause fear and embarrassment in social situations, avoid certain tasks or activities, such as public speaking, or limit making friends or dating other people.

Treatment of social anxiety disorder

We treat teenagers and young adults who are dealing with social anxiety disorder (social phobia). We offer the best possible treatment in order to achieve a lasting recovery. The result is that the teenager or young adult is able to live and function in society in a pleasant way again, by slowly breaking down the wall they have built around themselves.

Need help? Contact us

Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is a serious and common health condition, which can affect anyone at any age. If you would like to register a teenager or young adult (aged 18-25) for a treatment at The Grange Youth Clinic, please complete our intake form and we will contact you to schedule a personal intake interview. Our therapists have experience working with individuals from all walks of life and will help you overcome your problems and find hope for the future.