Social phobia is exactly what it sounds like: a fear of social interaction. It’s important to note, though, that social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is by no means a choice, or a product of rational will. On the contrary, it’s a disease, and like all diseases it can only be eradicated with expert clinical help. Victims of social phobia cannot reason their way to healing. They cannot simply decide to get better, or resolve to overcome their pathology. On the contrary, they need help from caregivers they can trust. Any other course of action is a recipe for failure.

It’s also important to note here that there exists a strong correlation between social phobia and substance abuse. This is perhaps unsurprising. Social phobics are subject to acute psychological distress in social situations, and thus are likely to turn to drugs and alcohol as means of relief. That connection, of course, means that addiction treatment can only be successful if it includes intensive psychological counseling. In fact, successful dual diagnosis can mean the difference between the success and failure of a rehab program. If you or someone you care about is a victim of addiction and social phobia, it’s well past time you learned that for yourself.