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1 Case Study Assignment Cameron Holmes Department of Psychology, North Carolina Central University PSY 3100: Abnormal Psychology Professor (or Dr.) Sonya Harris May 28 th , 2024

2 Case Study: Social Anxiety Disorder This case study examines Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) through the lens of Elizabeth, a 38-year-old woman struggling with severe social anxiety. This paper will review Elizabeth's symptoms, the DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder (SAD), potential stressors and experiences that act as contributory factors in her life that have influenced or caused her disorder. We’ll also look at adaptive and protective factors, and treatment recommendations. DSM Criteria According to the DSM-5 criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder. This disorder is characterized by:  A marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others (e.g., social interactions, being observed, performing in front of others).  The individual fears that they will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated (e.g., be humiliating or embarrassing; lead to rejection or offend others).  The social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.  The social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.  The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and to the sociocultural context.  The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for six months or more.  The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.  The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.

3  The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder (e.g., panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder). Life Description Elizabeth is a white 38-year-old woman who lives in a small apartment with her two sons; they are the ages of 9 and 11. She moved to the area about ten years ago and became separated from her husband due to ongoing verbal and emotional abuse. Becoming a single mother raising her two sons. Elizabeth is intelligent, pleasant, and cooperative, but she is very soft-spoken and visibly anxious. She’s reported a lifelong struggle with social anxiety, which has become more problematic since her separation from her husband. Elizabeth described her abuse from her husband belittling and the abuse has significantly diminished her self-esteem and self- confidence. So, she finds social situations, such as job interviews and public speaking, particularly overwhelming. Her anxiety has hindered her ability to pursue education, secure employment, and form new relationships, furthermore, contributing to feelings of sadness, loneliness and occasional passive suicidal ideation. Her journey towards healing and empowerment is marked by resilience and determination, as she strives for a brighter future for herself and her children.

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4 Symptoms Social Anxiety symptoms are characterized by: An intense fear of embarrassment, avoidance of social interactions such as job interviews and public speaking, anxiety about meeting new people and being assertive.  Physical Symptoms: Trembling hands, shaky voice, difficulty projecting her voice.  Depressive Symptoms: Persistent sadness, low self-esteem, passive suicidal ideation.  Behavioral Indicators: Avoidance of social situations, reluctance to pursue educational and career opportunities, difficulty forming new relationships. Stressors/Contributory Factors & Adaptive/Protective Factors  Abusive Relationship: Elizabeth's past experiences of verbal and emotional abuse from her husband would be a significant contributory factor in her low self-esteem and confidence, exacerbating her social anxiety.  Separation and Single Parenthood: In addition to abuse from her husband. The separation from her husband and the responsibilities of single parenthood would heighten her anxiety and stress.  Lack of Support System: With a limited or small amount of social support and interaction, this would exacerbate her feelings of isolation and anxiety.  Previous Rejection/ Failures: Elizabeth’s negative experiences, such as her unsuccessful attempt to pursue higher education, would reinforce her fears of it and cause avoidant behaviors.

5 Adaptive Factors  Motivation for Change: Elizabeth's desire to improve her situation for herself and her children is a significant protective factor.  Awareness: Elizabeth is intelligent and insightful about her condition, having awareness to faults is usually the first step and can aid in her treatment and recovery.  Cooperation: Her willingness to seek help and cooperate in therapy sessions is a positive indicator for successful treatment outcomes. Having a desire to improve and being acceptable to receiving help is also an importance step in recovery and intervention. My Recommendations 1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):  Social Anxiety: Address irrational fears and develop coping strategies through exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring (Hooley, Butcher, Nock, & Mineka, 2022).  Self-Esteem: Work on building self-worth and challenging negative self-beliefs also helps in confidence in the world around. 2. Exposure Therapy:  Exposure therapy is having an individual gradually expose themselves to feared situations hence the name for exposure therapy; Exposure to situations such as job interviews and public speaking, could help in reducing anxiety through repeated, controlled exposure (Hooley et al., 2022).

6 3. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques:  The practice of mindfulness and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, stretching, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation can help in managing anxiety symptoms and offer a structured system to cope with triggers. (Hooley et al., 2022). 4. Vocational Counseling:  Having support and resources in job search strategies, resume building, and mock interviews can help to prepare Elizabeth for real-world job interviews. So that the anxiety she has may be reduce due to preparation. 5. Support Groups:  Often participation in support groups consisting of survivors of abuse and similar stories can offer a network of understanding peers and help in building courage when trying to cope and treat social anxiety. (Hooley et al., 2022). 6. Family Therapy:  Family therapy could be utilized to address her family’s dynamic and could be used to provide support in her role as a mother. This could reenforce healthy behaviors for her children by modeling them. (Hooley et al., 2022).

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7 References Hooley, J. M., Butcher, J. N., Nock, M. K., & Mineka, S. M. (2016). Revel for abnormal psychology (17th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

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