Social Anxiety Disorder - Truth, Treatment and Support

Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a very common, overwhelming and disabling fear of critical inspection, embarrassment, or humiliation in everyday social situations which leads to avoidance of potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. It is often mistaken for shyness. Social anxiety disorder is so much more than shyness and people who think they have it should seek treatment in order to live normal happy lives.

Most people experience some shyness or nervousness in certain social or work situations, but for someone with social anxiety disorder, the anxiety is so extreme that it can become debilitating and cause disruptions to social and professional relationships.

Social anxiety sufferers often experience negative thought patterns that contribute to and prolong their anxiety. If left untreated, social anxiety can lead to more severe forms of anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse or work and school problems.

Warning signs of social phobia include: 

• Intense worry for days or even weeks before an upcoming social situation.
• Extreme fear of being judged by others, especially people you don't know.
• Excessive self-consciousness and anxiety in everyday social situations.
• Fear that you'll act in ways that that will embarrass or humiliate yourself.
• Avoidance of social situations to a degree that limits your activities and causes disruptions to your daily life.

Children with social anxiety are often lonely, have fewer friends than other children their age, and report symptoms of depression. Children who develop social anxiety before the age of twelve are not likely to outgrow the disorder. Left untreated, many children with social anxiety disorder grow up to be socially anxious adults and continue to have problems in interpersonal situations.

Social anxiety disorder can develop from social and environmental (learned/experiences), psychological (emotional/psychological trauma) or biological (heredity, brain structure, biochemistry) causes. People who suffer from social anxiety disorder often blame themselves for their condition when it was never their fault in the first place.

Social anxiety disorder can be treated and there are great support networks available. The first step is education and understanding. Being aware of events, times or situations that commonly trigger social anxiety can prepare someone to deal with their anxiety before it rears its ugly head.

Some common triggers to social anxiety are: 

• Being introduced to other people
• Being teased or criticized
• Being the center of attention
• Being watched or observed while doing something
• Having to speak in public
• Meeting people in authority
• Attending parties or other social gatherings
• Becoming embarrassed
• Meeting other people's eyes
• Eating, talking, or making phone calls in public

Once a person is aware of their social anxiety, they can resort to one of many coping techniques to reduce or eliminate the anxiety like: 

• Slow, shallow breathing.
• Consciously trying to heighten or exaggerate your anxiety or symptoms. Paradoxically, this usually has the effect of decreasing anxiety or its symptoms.
• Positive self-talk can reduce anxiety. It includes telling yourself that your symptoms and anxiety will diminish if you wait them out, and that other people in the room are probably anxious too.
• Breaking some of the tension by verbalizing your feelings in a humorous way ("Boy, I sure am a nervous wreck.").
• Carrying supportive statements, such as "I've handled this before, and I can handle it now," on index cards and looking at them when necessary.

Social anxiety disorder is a very real and potentially catastrophic condition that has very effective, easy and long-lasting treatments. Sufferers of social anxiety disorder should begin their road to happiness and emotional freedom by seeing a medical professional to properly diagnose the social anxiety disorder and make sure there are no other medical conditions contributing to the disorder. Education and awareness of causes and triggers to social anxiety disorder will enable sufferers choose coping techniques and thought and behavioral actions that will allow for positive results. After all, sufferers of social anxiety disorder want treatment that leads to positive results right? Our choice is our power.

Here's one last secret that is sure to help someone feel better about themselves: reach out and help someone in need. It's that simple. Volunteering one's time and effort to help another person in need will absolutely help. Try it. You will like it.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Source