Social Phobia

Abstract

Miss G., a well-groomed 23-year-old, was referred to a psychiatric clinic when she sought help from her family doctor for the discomfort she felt in certain social situa tions. She was one of six siblings and recalled her childhood as being happy, although she had always been shy and lacking in self-confidence and had never developed close friendships outside the family. She left school at 18 having obtained qualifications to proceed to higher education, but elected instead to start work and left home to work for an advertising agency in a large city. Although she enjoyed most of what this job entailed, Miss G. found it difficult to deal with clients. She would sometimes have to participate in working lunches, for example, and while this did not disturb her so long as the conversation focused on the job in hand, it would usually turn at some point to more social topics. She would then become uncomfortable, feeling tense and shaky, perspiring excessively. Worrying that her companions might think her dull, uninteresting, and not much fun, she would find herself unable to think of things to say. Eventually these reactions became so unpleasant that she had to quit this job. Returning to her parents’ home, Miss G. obtained a job in the ticket office of a cinema. She claimed that if anyone visited the home, including relatives, she would usually retire to her bedroom rather than endure the discomfort of their presence. There was no discomfort in the presence of her immediate family, however. Miss G. had no hobbies other than reading and was isolated from any social contact with her own age group. She had consulted her doctor because she believed that these reactions were apt to restrict her future vocational prospects greatly.