It is very common to feel nervous in a social situation. A social phobia paralyses fear of interacting with others and is also known as a social anxiety disorder.
It consists of much more than the nervousness or shyness that many people feel in common social situations, such as going on a first date or giving a presentation (“stage fright”).
Social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition; people with this disorder may worry about acting or participating in social situations.
The person with social anxiety disorder often avoids social or performance situations, and when the situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant distress or anxiety.
People with social phobia also experience physical symptoms like a sudden increase in heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and more.
In social anxiety disorder, anxiety and fear lead to avoidance that can disturb your life. Severe stress can affect your daily routine, school, work, or other activities.
Feelings of discomfort or shyness in certain social situations aren't necessarily signs of social phobia. The following are some symptoms of social anxiety disorder.
Expecting the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation
Worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
Fear of situations in which you may be judged
Fear that others will notice that you look anxious
Avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
Having anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event
Enduring a social situation with intense fear or anxiety
Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
Avoiding situations where you might be the centre of attention
Spending time after a social situation analysing your performance and identifying flaws in your social interactions
The following are physical signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
Blushing
Sweating
Fast heartbeat
Trouble catching your breath
Feeling that your mind has gone blank
Muscle tension
Trembling
Upset stomach or nausea
If you suffer from a social anxiety disorder, you might also avoid some common social situations. The following are some common social situations that you may avoid if having a social phobia.
Starting conversations
Making eye contact
Returning items to a store
Using a public restroom
Entering a room in which people are already seated
Interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers
Going to work or school
Dating
Attending parties or social gatherings
Eating in front of others
The symptoms of social phobia can change over time Causes of Social anxiety disorder Like many other mental health conditions, social anxiety disorder likely arises from a complex interaction of environmental & biological factors.
The following are the possible causes of social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder can be caused because of genetics or inherited traits. You're more likely to develop a social phobia if your biological parents or siblings have the condition
If a person has an overactive amygdala (a structure in the brain that controls fear), that increases anxiety in social situations.
People may develop social anxiety disorder after an unpleasant or embarrassing social situation like sexual abuse, bullying, trauma, family conflict, and more.
Anxieties can interfere with school, work, relationships, or the enjoyment of life. Social anxiety disorder can cause the following-
Poor social skills
Trouble being assertive
Isolation and difficult social relationships
Low academic and employment achievement
Hypersensitivity to criticism
Depression
Negative self-talk
Low self-esteem
Substance abuse, such as drinking too much alcohol
Suicide or suicide attempts
The following are the step one can take to prevent social anxiety disorder
Consult immediately with the doctor if suffering from severe symptoms of social anxiety disorder
Keep track of your personal life to help you and your mental health professional identify what's causing you stress and what seems to help you feel better.
You can reduce anxiety by carefully managing your time and energy. Do the thing that you enjoy the most.
Avoid using alcohol, drugs, or caffeine as that causes worsened anxiety and leads To social anxiety disorder.
Sleep well and take rest if not well
Join the programs like public speaking, group discussion, and more
A combination of medication and psychosocial therapy is used in this treatment. In addition, it includes education, employment counselling, and family integration. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, managing periods of high activity, and improving quality of life.
Tips for tackling schizophreniaHere are the tips that will help you to tackle schizophrenia
Accept your diagnosis
Consult your doctor
Set and work towards life goals
Meditation
Take your medicines timely
Follow the advice by your doctor
There are several types of treatment available to cure social anxiety disorder. The treatment results differ from person to person.
The following are the treatments available to cure social anxiety disorder.
In this therapy, you will learn to control anxiety through breathing and relaxation. This therapy will help you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
In this therapy, you will learn how to face a social situation. Your therapist will encourage you to take part in the event or any other social situation.
In this therapy, you learn social skills and techniques to interact with people in social settings. The therapist will encourage you to participate in group activities and help you apply social skills.
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He delivers the best therapy sessions to help you get rid of Social anxiety disorder and social phobia. He will prescribe the best medicine as per your body's needs. He will advise you on the best ways to overcome anxiety.