Are families affected by an individuals social anxiety disorder?
In addition to sharing the somewhat increased risk of developing social anxiety disorder, family members may be asked (or even coerced) to give up social activities or to attend them alone, leaving the socially anxious person at home. However, permitting the affected family member to avoid appropriate family functions and responsibilities may actually make the problem worse. Those who give up social contacts are missing the possible benefits of naturally occurring behavior therapy. Once the process of leaving the socially anxious family member out of social interactions starts, however, it can become so habitual that family members often view the arrangement as “just the way we do things in our family.
In addition to sharing the somewhat increased risk of developing social anxiety disorder, family members may be asked (or even coerced) to give up social activities or to attend them alone, leaving the socially anxious person at home. However, permitting the affected family member to avoid appropriate family functions and responsibilities may actually make the problem worse. Those who give up social contacts are missing the possible benefits of naturally occurring behavior therapy.
