Serotonin is a neuron-transmitting chemical that controls sleep, memory and depression. The findings could give researchers a new model to help in studying social anxiety disorders.

Research into the symptoms and causes of social anxiety and panic attacks has not as yet been explored widely and this research will help psychologists and other industry professionals understand the chemical reactions that occur inside the human brain during high-stress periods.

Social anxiety disorder is a common disorder shared by many, it could start as a niggling nervousness but could escalate into a fully fledged ‘social phobia’ whereby any and every social environment is avoided because of the fear of being judged, criticised, or embarrassed in public.

According to clinical social worker Erika Hilliard, 95% of people experience some level of social anxiety during their lives. This fear may stem from the common fear of ‘performing’ in front of a group of people. The fear of performing could rear its ugly head in an interview or when introducing yourself to a new colleague.

New York writer Julia Hunt who experiences pangs of social anxiety now and again says, ‘I’m deathly afraid of getting stuck talking to someone. What if I blurt out something stupid or run out of things to say?’

“Human survival once depended on popularity – we relied on our clan to provide food and protection – so our brains evolved to be sensitive to the way other people see us,’ explains Louann Brizendine. M.D, and author of The Female Brain and neuropsychiatrherpy at the University of California at San Francisco.

Once an individual is fearful of a particular situation, this fear is registered in the brain and feelings of anxiety always return in subsequent environments. But what happens in the brain? The amygdala is s part of the brain that controls fear and prepares the body for ‘fight-or-flight’ conditions. The amygdala is overactive in those who suffer from severe social anxiety and gets hyper-vigilant even in safe conditions. It is in this case that the recent research may help shed light on the relationship between the amygdala and the production of serotonin in the brain.

Those who suffer from severe social anxiety tend to avoid any sort of social interaction, but this only exasperates their anxiety further. The time-old advice of ‘facing up to your fears’ is the only way out. Sufferers who step out of their comfort zones continuously are more likely to accept busy social scenes, which in turn helps them relax.

Avnee Dave
26.11.2009