Social Anxiety and Substance Use

1653 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: risk factors for adolescent drug abuse

Behavioral inhibition is a common trait amongst those with social anxiety disorder and contrasts greatly with the impulsivity and risk-taking of drug users. With this in mind, one could conclude that rates of drug usage are lower amongst those with social anxiety, but this is not the case. Self-medicating through drugs and substances can be a common coping mechanism in those with anxiety disorders. This is especially true for individuals with social anxiety. To alleviate symptoms of their disorder, a person with social anxiety may choose to use substances to take the edge off and potentially become more reliant on them for functioning. This reliance can develop into a substance use disorder, which can worsen anxiety symptoms, prognostic outcomes and general functioning. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to the development of coping based substance use, given the rise in drug use that begins at this time. By understanding the theories, motives and trajectories of coping based substance use in young adults with social anxiety disorder, we can better prevent the development of this behavior and improve health outcomes for this population.
In the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM 5, social anxiety disorder is a condition characterized by an intense fear of social situations in which one may be judged by peers negatively. This fear is disproportionately greater than what is anticipated by sociocultural standards and inhibits the ability to function in day to day life. Those who suffer from this disorder may experience feelings of personal inadequacy, embarrassment and shame and may have difficulty functioning in school, the workplace and everyday social situations. Traits associate...

... middle of paper ...

...medication-induced anxiety disorder. Almost all substance classes in the DSM 5 are associated with worsening symptoms either during intoxication (caffeine, cannabis, all hallucinogens, inhalants), withdrawal (opioids, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics) or both (nicotine, stimulants, other substances) (APA, 2013). As adolescents grow older, the prevalence rate of drug usage rises until early adulthood, except for those with behavioral disorders (Lansford et al., 2009), due to positive changes in life due to new responsibilities. While adults may relapse into substance use coping behaviors as a result of negative life changes that led to a negative change in role (eg. divorce), adults are less likely to feel the same intensity of symptoms, are more likely to seek help and be less adverse to taking risk, all of which may protect them against substance use and abuse.

Show More
Related

  • Morehead Inspiration Center

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fortinash, K. M., & Holoday Worret, P. A. (Eds.). (2012). Substance-related disorders and addictive behaviors. Psychiatric mental health nursing (5th ed., pp. 319-362). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

    Read More

  • Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many of the problems associated with early sobriety do not stem directly from psychoactive substances. Instead they are associated with physical and psychological changes that occur after the substances have left the body. When a person regularly uses psychoactive drugs, the brain undergoes physical changes to cope with the presence of drugs in the body. When the drugs are removed from the body, the brain craves the drugs that it has become accustomed to and as the brain attempts to rebalance itself without the presence of psychoactive drugs the person often experiences feelings of confusion, pain, and discomfort. The symptoms that are experienced immediately after stopping drug use are called acute withdrawal. But often the symptoms do not stop at acute withdrawal. After the body makes initial adjustments to the absence of drugs, the changes that have occurred in the brain still need time to revert back to their original state. During this period, a variety of symptoms known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) begin to occur. In the book Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, published by CNS Productions, authors Darryl Inaba and William Cohen define PAWS as “a group of emotional and physical symptoms that appear after major withdrawal symptoms have abated” (Inaba & Cohen, 2011).

    Read More

  • Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Substance Abuse

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Newcomb, M.D., Bentler, P.M. (1988). Impact of adolescent drug use and social support on problems of young adults: a longitudinal study. J Abnorm Psychology, 97, 64–75.

    Read More

  • Co-occurring Disorders in Adolescents

    1875 Words  | 4 Pages

    Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are quite prevalent in today’s society. Treatment and prevention of co-occurring disorders are both critical topics. However, professionals across the board cannot seem to agree on what is the best way to approach these topics. Perhaps the most ‘at-risk’ demographic for substance use are adolescents, ages 12 – 17. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2011) Thankfully, more and more research has been conducted in the areas of adolescents and co-occurring disorders over the past few decades. However, since treating and preventing co-occurring disorders in adolescents is so monumental for their proper development and for their future as adults, the research must continue.

    Read More

  • Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anti Social Personality Disorder is also known as ASPD. “About 2.5 to 3.5 percent of people have ASPD. This condition is much more common in men than in women.” (Lees McRae College) Everyone has their own personality and not one person is exactly the same. “People with anti social personality disorder are also called sociopaths.” (Leedom) Different causes are particular to look for when diagnosing this disorder. Though rare, it is important to understand the disorder as well as its symptoms, treatment and strategies. “Lifetime prevalence for ASPD is reported to range from 2% to 4% in men and from 0.5% to 1% in women. Rates of natural and unnatural death (suicide, homicide, and accidents) are excessive.” (Black, 2015)

    Read More

  • Social Phobia or Anxiety Disorder

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social phobia is “shyness taken to an extreme” (Myers 323). The origins of social phobia can be linked to “traumatic social experiences and social isolation” (Hudson118-120). A traumatic social experience can be “being laughed at or making a mistake in situations such as being called on to talk in class, being on a first date, speaking in public or being at a party”(Hudson 118). Social isolation includes “being teased, bullied, laughed at, rejected, neglected, or isolated from other children. Research from Allison G. Harvey shows that certain events around the time social fears being are when people are changing schools or work at 50.9%, not fitting in with or being ostracized by a p...

    Read More

  • Social Anxiety and Cognitive Behavioral Treatments

    2020 Words  | 5 Pages

    Social anxiety is a predominant disorder amongst numerous individuals (Moscovitch, Gavric, Senn, Satnesso, Miskovic, Schmidt, McCabe, Antony 2011). Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is defined as a fear of rejection and being negatively judged by others in social situations (Kashdan, Farmer, Adams, Mcknight, Ferssizidis, Nezelf, 2013).

    Read More

  • Depression And Social Depression: Social Anxiety And Depression

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today, many Americans today suffer from either social anxiety disorder (SAD) and/or depression. In general, people who suffer with either one of these disorders actually have both, as social anxiety and depression are closely linked together. Allegedly, if someone has social anxiety disorder or social phobia, and does not receive treatment, they have the tendency to develop depression. There is a major factor between the two disorders. A person suffering with SAD is unlikely to attending social situations out of fear that they will not be liked by others. Someone suffering with depression avoids social situations because they feel hopeless and no longer care about themselves. Typically, SAD leads to the onset of the

    Read More

  • Case Study Of Casey Weston's Vignette

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    Weston is social anxiety disorder. Criterion A and B list that the individual has marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations where the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others, and in return, he/she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that may be negatively evaluated. For both of these criteria, I listed him as not meeting them due to there not being significant evidence in his vignette that implies he is particularly fearful of what others think of him. Criterion C and D list that the social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety and are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety. He stated many times that he experiences fear and anxiety in certain social situations. Criterion E and F state that the fear/anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed, and it is persistent, lasting for six months or longer. These criterion are listed in both generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, both of which I also listed as convergent evidence. Criterion G and H are also convergent evidence, and they state that the fear/anxiety causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. Also, none of this is attributable to substance abuse or another medical condition. This is also stated in the criterion of the previously discussed mental illnesses, both of which were proven accurate by the symptoms listed in his vignette. The last two criterion are convergent evidence; criterion I states that the fear, anxiety, or avoidance isn’t better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder, and criterion J states that if another medical condition is present, the symptoms are exacerbated. I believe that agoraphobia provides a better explanation for his symptoms, and there is not another medical condition interacting with his symptoms to make his fear/anxiety more

    Read More

  • Substance Abuse and the Elderly

    2005 Words  | 5 Pages

    There is no doubt that there is a prevalence of substance abuse throughout several age groups. To a certain extent, a society is faced with the reality of controlling substance abuse. Or allow it run rampant throughout the community. Often times, we hear and read about the level of substance abuse among teen, young adults and mid-aged adults. Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs, and over-the-counter medicines can be both abused and misused. It is a widespread belief that age plays a role in the level of influence that drugs and alcohol diminishes. As a person becomes older, drugs and alcohol is not as influential in their loves. This widespread belief has truth. However, it is important to understand that substance abuse is still prevalent in the elderly community.

    Read More

  • The Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    Drugs cause an overall disturbance in a subjects’ physiological, psychological and emotional health. “At the individual level, drug abuse creates health hazards for the user, affecting the educational and general development of youths in particular” (“Fresh Challenge”). In youth specifically, drug abuse can be triggered by factors such as: a parent’s abusive behavior, poor social skills, family history of alcoholism or substance abuse, the divorce of parents or guardians, poverty, the death of a loved one, or even because they are being bullied at school (“Drugs, brains, and behavior”) .

    Read More

  • Social Anxiety Disorder

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia. It is defined as the fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. It is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. This leads to feelings of inadequacy, self-consciousness, and depression. The person with social anxiety disorder may believe that all eyes are on him at all times. Social anxiety disorder is the third largest mental health case issue in the world, and it can effect 7% of the population (15 million Americans) at any given time.

    Read More

  • Drug Abuse and Mental Health

    1183 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, mental illness and drug addiction are conditions that often occur together. This is a person who has two brain disorders that influence one another, and which both need treatment. Some say that certain drugs may actually cause mental illness in individuals with a weak genetic profile (Genetic Science Learning Center, 2011).With that being said, symptoms may get worse, but drugs do not necessarily cause mental illness. Some people may begin using drugs of abuse as a form of self-medication. For instance, drugs of abuse may temporarily relieve some of the symptoms associated with stress, anxiety, or depression, but the problems will still exist. Therefore, the form of self-medicating when using drugs can lead to harmful effects in a person’s mental health. People who have been undiagnosed may also suffer from serious mental disorders. So they may take drugs to relieve their symptom which is known as self-me...

    Read More

  • Social Media And Social Anxiety

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social anxiety is a common personality disorder, it is caused by excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. This type of anxiety is triggered by the fear of being judged by others, based off of who they are or how they behave. People who suffer from social anxiety tend to experience distorted thinking, leading to fake accusations about the outcome

    Read More

  • Cause And Effect Essay On Social Anxiety

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    3. The first key point is what people with Social anxiety behaviors are like. Social anxiety Disorder (also known as social phobia) is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fears that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities of life. Some Individuals with this disorder are so fearful of being judged or embarrassed in front of others; they are unable to live a healthy social life. In extreme cases, some individuals can’t keep a job, maintain friendships, use public restrooms, walk down supermarket aisles or leave their house. In less extreme cases, many individuals seem to function normally as any other person. For example, they will attend social gatherings, complete school and progress into a very successful career. Nevertheless, their social anxiety disorder still impacts them, for example, they may not be able to speak or raise their hand during a lecture or in a work meeting

    Read More

More about Social Anxiety and Substance Use

Open Document