The field of psychiatric medicine has made great strides in educating people about the severity and range of mental health disorders. However, many individuals still hold misconceptions about certain psychiatric conditions and believe them to be a result of a person’s weak will or a psychologist’s manipulation. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is particularly misunderstood and stigmatized, alongside bipolar disorder.
Social anxiety disorder is a condition that prevents people from having normal social interactions due to experiencing a great deal of stress and nervousness in social settings. The severity of stress and nervousness is so high that it is almost impossible to overcome without professional help. People suffering from social anxiety disorder tend to spend time alone and avoid social interactions, which makes it extremely difficult for them to be around people in both personal and professional settings. Needless to say, SAD can severely harm a person’s life to a significant degree.
Although therapy and counseling are effective in alleviating social anxiety disorder, they may not be enough to completely manage the condition. Normally, psychiatric disorders of this type require outpatient medication therapy under the supervision of a qualified psychiatrist. However, the best course of action is a combination of medication treatment and counseling therapy.