Jacks Story With Social Anxiety

Consider Jack.1 He taught for twenty years at the university level and lived in Ames, Iowa. He was happily married, had a relatively normal childhood, and appeared to most to be well adjusted. Yet he was imprisoned for more than fifty years by social anxiety. Jack felt isolated and alone. He was consistently unable to do the things other people did naturally.

The life-long shame and lifestyle limitations led him to viewhimself as an“intergalactic alien.”And, despite his best efforts, he confesses that he continuously failed to imitate “normal”people and interact with those around him.

In social settings the discomfort of being scrutinized by others was excruciating. This was especially true when he could not readily map out an escape route. Even in the less stressful situations, Jack’s heart would pound, his voice would tremble, and his hands would become uselessly palsied. Situations that called for more panic, such as formal performances, typically caused digestive system“malfunctions”which included cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea.

“Obviously I wanted to avoid social gatherings and especially parties, particularly as the sweat started pouring out into the most embarrassing marks. Those who do not understand my disorder think I just need to get over it–just work on improving myself. Truth is, my disorder is very real and very painful.”

Jack’s experience is not unusual. Experts estimate that as many as 15 million Americans experience Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). But they are also coming to the consensus that SAD is simply one end of a single, far more inclusive spectrum.2 The full spectrum of social anxiety also includes the shy person whose typical symptoms rarely go beyond sweaty palms at meeting someone new. It is estimated that more than 114 million Americans are somewhere on this spectrum. The issue in determining whether or not someone may actually be diagnosed with SAD comes down only to a matter of severity.