How Is Social Anxiety Diagnosed and What Are Its Common Symptoms?
Diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder typically involves a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a mental health professional. This includes a detailed history of symptoms, their duration, and impact on daily life. Diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) require persistent fear or anxiety about one or more social situations lasting at least six months, with the fear being out of proportion to the actual threat. The clinician may use structured interviews or questionnaires to assess symptom severity.
Common symptoms include intense fear of Social interactions or performance situations, excessive worry about being judged or embarrassed, physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or blushing during social encounters. Individuals may avoid social activities altogether or endure them with significant distress. Cognitive symptoms include negative self-evaluation and persistent thoughts of inadequacy, which often reinforce avoidance behaviors.
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