Cognitive Mechanisms of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n03.011Keywords:
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Qualitative Research, Public Awareness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Social Skills Training, Self-IdentityAbstract
Since the time when the concept of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) came into being, some clinical research has been carried out, but it has not raised awareness among the masses. This lack of public awareness about SAD has led to the silent suffering of many persons who could never attribute their symptoms to a treatable problem. Without intervention, SAD frequently leads to persistent mental anxiety, academic or professional failure, and comorbid psychological challenges. The current paper aims to explore the subjective experience of SAD, make young adults aware of the problems and probable pathways for recovery to prevent their long-term functional impairment. A qualitative approach has been carried out in accordance with the aims. The findings suggest that SAD is experienced not merely as a fear of people, but as a profound distortion of self-identity and bodily presence in social spaces. These insights underscore the necessity of Cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive restructuring, Social skills training, Exposure therapy, and relaxation training as achievable methods to overcome SAD.
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