Sociophobia - Causes and Treatment

Sociophobia is the frequent and strong fear of taking part in social situations that require the facing of people. Often such fear is accompanied by certain signs of anxiety like sweating and trembling. Sometimes the phobia may be so strong that it can lead to a full-blown panic attack. And as the subject comprehends that the fear is disproportionate, he/she tries to avoid social situations altogether.

What Causes Sociophobia

Sociophobia is not a disease that hits people all of a sudden. Actually it is a deliberate interpersonal action that is derived from the overprotection of the self from seeming social threats. Or in simple words, Sociophobics have a fear of people that is totally uncalled for. Sociophobia can cause great distress when the subject feels that their social objectives of emphasizing their desires or getting the appreciation of others is highly impossible. As a result, the sociophobic may find it too difficult to participate in daily social activities.

How to Treat Sociophobia

There are various behavioral and cognitive treatments available for effective changing the behaviors of sociophobics. The treatments may include learning new ways of controlling the fear and to reduce the awkward bodily responses and anxiety, or teaching social skills to give confidence in social situations. Another common method is psychodynamic therapy or other talk therapy that addresses the root causes of the social anxiety.