Biological Causes Of Social Anxiety

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More Than Just Shy Social anxiety is a mental illness marked by excessive fears of social interaction or situations, where an individual fears judgement or negative evaluation from other people around them resulting in embarrassment or humiliation. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common disorders in the United States with 15 million Americans suffering from social anxiety disorder. Within the past ten years, there have been increased attention in anxiety disorders, the causes, and treating the illness. By understanding the causes of social anxiety disorder, and recognizing the events that trigger its symptoms, a sufferer can better manage while seeking treatment for their …show more content…

However, progress has been made and psychologists have a better understanding on the contributing factors and causes of social anxiety disorder. Experts have examined the biological factors of the disorder and the physical reasons why patients suffer. Tomas Furmark, a Biological Psychology expert from the Uppsala University, believed that individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder showed abnormal patterns within the brain. “Aberrant patterns of brain activity in the amygdala and medial temporal lobe region, insula and striatum are suggested. There is also evidence of abnormalities in the serotonergic and dopaminergic transmission systems” (Furmark 5). In other words, the temporal lobe regions responsible for fear were hyperactive while the neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for stimulating or calming the brain were not functioning …show more content…

Although progress have been made within the past ten years to understand the causes of this disorder, there is still much to be learned. Psychologists have learned that there are biological and environmental factors that may cause a person to develop social anxiety disorder, and through observation they have narrowed the causes and symptoms. By understanding the events that trigger the symptoms of social anxiety, both the individuals suffering from the illness and the medical community can work together in treating and curing the

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