Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental conditions. Those with this condition endure difficulties in their attempts to create healthy social relationships. Among the factors that are driving the prevalence of this condition is the fact that it is poorly understood. The lack of clear understanding makes it difficult for sufferers to seek and find help. Sufferers are also unable to perform optimally in the workplace. If employers wish to participate in helping sufferers of social anxiety disorder, they should allow them to work and refer them to practitioners who can administer effective interventions.
Definition and Associated Behaviors
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is generally regarded as an authority on mental disorders. According to this resource, social anxiety disorder, this condition involves individuals experiencing intense discomfort and fear when confronted with social situations (APA, 2013). There are a number of behaviors that define this condition. Among these behaviors is the fear that one will be subjected to intense and harsh scrutiny. Essentially, those with the condition worry that their actions are being monitored and that negative judgments are being made about them (APA, 2013). The crippling fear that one will engage in an act that cause embarrassment is another behavior that accompanies social anxiety disorder. Sufferers of the condition also tend to avoid or endure social situations as a coping mechanism (APA, 2013).
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Effective Interventions
A number of interventions have proven effective for the treatment of social anxiety disorder. Pharmacological interventions are among these. Essentially, these interventions involve the administration of such medications as escitalopram, sertraline and paroxetine, among others (NIH, 2013). Cognitive behavioral therapy is yet another intervention that has yielded encouraging outcomes in those with social anxiety disorder. This therapy is concerned with challenging the sufferers to engage in activities that allow them to confront and overcome their fear of social situations. Psychodynamic therapy and counseling are other approaches that are commonly applied (NIH, 2013). Recently, new interventions have been introduced. Internet-based interventions are among these. One of the key benefits of these interventions is that they allow sufferers to enhance their social skills through an online environment without the fear that their actions are being scrutinized (Boettcher et al., 2013).
Allowing Employees with Social Anxiety Disorder to Work
Given that they encounter difficulties when in social situations, employees with social anxiety disorder may be unable to perform as expected. Despite this fact, employers should allow them into the workplace. There are various resources at the workplace that employers can use to help these employees (Benayon, 2017). For example, the employer may show concern and discourage stigma as part of the efforts to help the affected employees deal with the disorder. Moreover, the employer may assign the employee suffering from social anxiety disorder tasks that account for their situation (Benayon, 2017). For example, the employer could ask the employee to work on a task that does not require collaboration.
How Employees can be a Challenge
In the discussion above, employers have been encouraged to allow employees with social anxiety disorder to work. However, as they do this, the employers need to understand that the employees will present a number of challenges. One of the challenges involves needing sick leaves (Vignoli, Muschalla & Mariani, 2017). The employee may find the anxiety to be so overwhelming that they are unable to work and request to be allowed to stay at home. This could erode the productivity of the employee. Another challenge that the employees pose regards participation (Vignoli, Muschalla & Mariani, 2017). Many tasks require employees to work with their colleagues. By its nature, social anxiety disorder makes it nearly impossible for sufferers to collaborate with others.
In conclusion, social anxiety disorder continues to cause discomfort and anguish for millions of individuals across the globe. These individuals are unable to fully participate in social interactions. Instead, they suffer alone since their condition is poorly understood. What is encouraging is that there are various effective interventions that can be used to improve the situations of these individuals. Employers need to lead the charge in delivering help to the sufferers of social anxiety disorder.
References
American Psychological Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition. (DSM-V). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Benayon, C. (2017). How to help employees suffering from social anxiety disorder. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 27, 2018 from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/charles-benayon-/how-to-help-employees-suffering-from-social-anxiety-disorder_a_23059751/
Boettcher, J., Carlbring, P., Renneberg, B., & Berger, T. (2013). Internet-based interventions for social-anxiety disorder- an overview. Verhaltenstherapie, 23, 160-8.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2013). Interventions for adults. Retrieved September 30, 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0079989/
Vignoli, M., Muschalla, B., & Mariani, M. G. (2017). Workplace phobic anxiety as a mental health phenomenon in the job demands-resources model. Biomed Research International. DOI: 10.1155/2017/3285092
