Doctors and therapists often make a mistake in diagnosing an anxiety condition. Sometimes, anxiety disorders are diagnosed as depression based on the behavior of the sufferer. But in reality, it is the anxiety disorder that causes the depression and not the other way around. This means that once the anxiety disorder is treated and overcome, the depression is overcome. So, in this case the depression is a symptom of the anxiety disorder and not the condition.
Similarly Social Anxiety is often confused with panic disorder with agoraphobia.
Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia
Sufferers of panic disorders aren’t actually afraid of the social conditions. They are not afraid of meeting new people and talking to strangers. They are afraid of having a panic attack at places outside their homes. This is the main reason they start avoiding situations where it will be inconvenient to have a panic attack.
For example, a panic disorder sufferer may stop driving altogether in fear of having a panic attack in the car. They may stop going to social gatherings thinking they may have a panic attack and it might become embarrassing for them.
Panic disorder sufferers fear that they might have a physical disease or a mental disease. That is why they keep on checking with the hospitals every time they have a panic attack.
Panic Disorder sufferers are sociable. They are not afraid of socializing. They are afraid of panic attacks.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety sufferers do not fear that they are suffering from a physical or mental disease. They are afraid of social conditions and being the center of attention. Social anxiety sufferers are afraid of being judged by others. They are afraid of being ridiculed, singled out, embarrassed, criticized, or belittled.
Being the center of attention is the worst fear of such a person. Sometimes, they are afraid of getting a job promotion because that will require them to be more exposed to the staff and more interaction. Social Anxiety sufferers are often viewed as “introvert”, “quiet”, or “shy”.
People with social anxiety then isolate themselves from the society as much as they can. They do want to socialize but the fear of heightened anxiety holds them back. In extreme cases, the social contacts of a sufferer may be limited to immediate family members or no one at all.
It is very common for both Social anxiety sufferers and panic disorder sufferers to turn to substance abuse such as alcohol, drugs etc.
The difference between panic disorder sufferers and social anxiety disorder sufferers becomes very apparent during therapy sessions.
Panic disorder sufferers are very sociable and like talking to each other. Their therapy sessions are lively and noisy.
On the other hand, Social anxiety sufferers are very introvert in such a situation. They don’t talk even in therapy sessions, the room feels subdued, especially during the first few sessions.
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