Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) - Pathophysiology Excessive fear of one or more social situations • Safety Behaviors and Avoidance - Control or limit one's experience of a social situation (fear maintenance not elimination) • Negative Biases - Interpret neutral or positive social interactions negatively: negative self evaluations and perceived negative evaluations by others. • Unrealistic Standards of Performance - Overestimate likelihood of being negatively evaluated by others • Activation of Autonomic Nervous System & HPA axis - In response to social situations/thoughts -->> • Drug and Alcohol Abuse - Substances may be used to reduce social anxiety • Impairment of academic, occupational, and/or social functioning • Behavioral Symptoms: Panic Attacks, avoidance • Cognitive Symptoms of Anxiety: Mind going blank, difficulty speaking, loss of concentration, depersonalization, derealization • Physical Symptoms of Anxiety: Blushing, trembling, heart palpitations, muscle tension, diaphoresis, shortness of breath, dry throat, hot or cold flashes, headaches, nausea, dizziness, insomnia #SocialAnxiety #BehavioralDisorder #SAD #Pathophysiology #diagnosis #symptoms #signs #psychiatry
