Social Anxiety

May 22, 2016 by silverlining 1 Comment

Definition: a chronic condition in which the individual finds social interactions so difficult that he or she avoids them completely.

Symptoms:

• Emotional/behavioral
  • Fear of being judged
  • Worrying about embarrassment
  • Concern in offending someone
  • Avoiding doing thing/speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment  
• Physical
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Trouble catching your breath
  • Muscle tension
  • Confusion or feeling out of body
• Avoiding normal social situations (hard to endure)
  • Using a public restroom
  • Making eye contact
  • Attending parties or social gatherings
  • Initiating conversation

Statistics:

• Social anxiety is fairly common: there are more than 200,000 new cases in the US every year.
• The most common age group for social anxiety is wide, ranging from elementary school children to senior citizens. Very young children are rarely affected.

How to feel Better:

• Don’t be afraid to get help! 36% of people with social anxiety symptoms don’t seek help until 10 or more years later. Social Anxiety can be treated, and many people find professional help beneficial.
• Relaxation Exercises: Take deep breaths or meditate
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT has been very successful. It guides a person’s thoughts more in a more rational direction, and helps them stop avoiding situations that cause anxiety.
• Join a group: Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling, but no one has to go through it alone. Join a support group to meet new people and get through it together with them.
• Medication: Medication can be used to treat social anxiety and minimize the physical symptoms like shaking or a rapid heartbeat.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety-disorder?page=3

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder

http://socialphobia.org/social-anxiety-symptoms-and-treatment

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20032524