Did you ever wonder why you have trouble meeting new people or feel uncomfortable during a social event? Thousands of people suffer from the same problem, and most of them are not aware that they have a form of social anxiety disorder which can be treated. There is a fine line that draws the difference between social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorders. A person has social anxiety disorder when they feel intensely fearful about certain social situations and when they are extremely worried about making a mistake in front of other people.
The sad fact is that the underlying cause of this kind of anxiety disorder is unknown but it has been recorded that that many of those who suffer from this have had an embarrassing or humiliating experience in front of other people. The typical reaction of those who have social anxiety disorder is to avoid situations similar to the one where they had the incident. This sort of withdrawal from social situations is unhealthy and will affect the way a person deals with day to day life.
Another term for social anxiety disorder is social phobia. There are certain things that trigger this phobia in many people. Fears such as being made fun of or being judged, meeting new people, being the center of attention, dealing with authority, public speaking, performing in front of a crowd and even ordinary incidents like having to do small talk or making a phone call, can bring about the feeling of overwhelming anxiety.
For a lot of people, anxiety and stress levels increase when they are required to perform in a social situation, such as when giving a speech or being watched while doing something. While it’s perfectly normal to feel slightly nervous or jittery before an important event, people with social anxiety disorder often experience extreme forms of nervousness, and in some cases, this is enough to disrupt their daily routines and causes a lot of anxiety and distress.
Knowing the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety disorder can help you identify if you or anyone you know might have it. Some of the physical symptoms are breathing difficulties, dry mouth, change in speech pattern, rapid heart beat, trembling, hot flashes and clammy hands. There are a couple of other more visible signs such as facial twitching and sweating. Psychological symptoms include excessive self-consciousness, fear of being noticed, ridiculed or judged, avoiding social situations and even intense worrying over an extended period of time before an certain event.
While the effects of social anxiety disorder can severely limit the individual’s ability to relate to others and enjoy a higher quality of life, there are certain things they can do to overcome their disorder. Lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep, drinking in moderation and quitting smoking are a few ways the individual can enjoy a better quality of life and start socializing with less anxiety. Self-help strategies may include journaling, undertaking a consistent exercise regimen, and meditating regularly to reduce anxiety and stress that may be causing the high levels of discomfort.
The length of time it takes to overcome social anxiety disorder will vary from person to person, but there are several drug-free strategies that can help. From making lifestyle changes to employing self-help anxiety relief techniques, most people experiencing social anxiety can overcome their disorder.
A lot of people suffer from anxiety attacks that can occur when in public or just travelling away from home. Now there is a drug free anxiety treatment that can help you to free yourself from the unsettling thoughts that may lead to a panic attack.
categories: anxiety,panic attacks,psychological concerns,psychological health,self help,self improvement,specific disorders
