Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
The onset of SAD in subject Diane Murdoch preceded adolescence, with symptoms appearing in elementary school. Diane recalls feeling shy and nervous at school, dreading situations in which she would have to collaborate with or present to other students. She recounts frequently hiding in bathrooms, feigning illness to escape to the nurse’s office, and other Odd Behaviors (OBs) for which she gained a reputation among her teachers and classmates. Though she tried to fit in, her classmates cruelly ridiculed her anti-social tendencies, increasing her feelings of worthlessness and isolation. (see Case History ).
As may be expected, Diane’s social avoidance and discomfort is particularly acute around members of her own age group. Additionally, Diane feels distressed and anxious around all males, perhaps resulting from progressive sexual insecurity and inhibited sexual-social development, as well as Sexual Trauma (ST) in early adulthood (see Case History ). The incidents involving a lecherous community college professor precipitated a watershed event in Diane’s neurosis: she absconded into her parents’ home, refusing to leave the house or interact with others in person, the most extreme expression of the isolationist tendencies Diane exhibited since childhood. However, despite her social handicaps, Diane still requires communication with and acceptance from others. She fulfills these needs by participating in several social networking websites, including MySpace and Facebook, forms of communication that afford her greater control over her self-presentation and reduced risk of confrontation.