DSM-IV and ICD-10: Do I have social phobia
When did I suspect for the first time that I might have social phobia?
Long time ago (maybe 12-14 years ago), I remember reading some medical magazine and encountering (then unbeknown to me, but it rang the bell all right) the phrase: “social anxiety”.
My symptoms were not so perceptible at that time, and I just wanted to be like anyone else, so I kind of forgot about that. I *wanted* to forget about it, because I did not want to *have something like that* or to be *that kind of person*. Following years brought a slew of very uncomfortable emotions and situations – all related to my ever so growing social fears.
It’s funny with those kind of fears… social fears…: the more I fought with them, the stronger they’ve grown to be! In the end… I guess I just surrendered! Completely exhausted, I had to admit that social phobia got the better of me!
That was not so long ago… Social anxiety problems actually culminated after I moved to live in another country a year ago. It became really bad in the worst time possible. That was my lowest point considering social phobia, and that was when I’ve decided to seek treatment for almost unbearable, yet daily growing symptoms of social anxiety disorder.
And I’m glad I did! I should have done it a long, long time ago!
I have a confession to make: when I’ve had finally phoned the doctor… I was not… ehm… completely sober. Yeah, I know that’s sad (or, it‘s just S.A.D;-))… but at that time even talking over the phone with some stranger was nothing short of a herculean task for me!
There is no lab tests to tell if you have social anxiety or not, so I was asked to describe my symptoms, which I did – in great detail. The symptoms were something that was bothering me the most, obstructing almost all of my everyday social interactions and making my life truly miserable.
I was sincerely afraid I was losing my mind!
There *is* a physical exam to determine if there is maybe some physical cause of social anxiety symptoms. Even though my symptoms were sometimes so crazy I could have easily believed that I might have a brain tumor:) – that was not the case. And I wasn’t going “crazy” either – it was all because of raging anxiety triggered by social situations!
Maybe it’s needed to stress the fact that all symptoms have to occur in relation to some social situation, and not being caused by i.e. drugs, or another mental health problem.
Anyway, I was given some kind of self assessment questionnaire where I had to describe in which situations and how often the symptoms of social anxiety occur.
The following are the criteria that specialists use to diagnose social anxiety disorder.
DSM-IV: Diagnosis criteria for social anxiety disorder by the American Psychiatric Association:
DSM stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
This manual, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
To be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder you have to meet diagnosis criteria spelled out in Criteria for social anxiety disorder:
• A marked and persistent fear of one or more social and performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others.
The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
In children, there must be evidence of the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships with familiar people and the anxiety must occur in peer settings, not just in interactions with adults.
• Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situational bound or predisposed Panic Attack.
In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or shrinking from social situations with unfamiliar people.
• The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.
In children, this feature may be absent.
• The feared social or performance situation are avoided or else are endured with intense anxiety or distress.
• The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
• In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.
Remember that only a specialist can give you a valid diagnosis of social anxiety disorder!
