"The Social Killer" - Social Anxiety Disorder
Are you afraid to go out to a meeting to talk to a client? Need to make a speech, but feel like swooning at the thought of going to the front of the class to present? Are you afraid to attend a social gathering for no apparent reason? You may have a social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a type of mental disorder in which the sufferer experiences a severe or irrational fear of social gatherings where there is a possibility that one will feel embarrassed or ridiculed. Most of the time, these anxieties arise from an intense fear of being watched or scrutinized closely, for simple things like the way they dress, speak or act; to important job functions like performing in front of a crowd, giving a presentation or finishing an interview for a job application. This type of phobia gives sufferers the feeling of being trapped or removed from the world.
The disorder is closely related to shyness.
They say that social anxiety disorder is closely related to shyness. However, social phobia differs in that it disrupts normal socialization functions. It is true that everyone goes through a stage of shyness in their life, overcoming it is something else. When it becomes too much that interrupts your daily life and relationships to the point where you become sick with worry, it's time to seek advice. It is good to know the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder so that you can identify and treat the condition before it worsens.
Social phobia manifests 2 basic types of symptoms.
People with social phobia have 2 basic types of symptoms: emotional and physical. Emotional symptoms include: intense fear of being in situations where you don't know people, fear of situations where you may be judged, worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself, fear that others will notice that you look anxious, anxiety that interrupts their daily routine, work, school or other activities, avoiding doing things or talking to people for fear of embarrassment, avoiding situations in which you may be the center of attention. Physical symptoms include: flushing, profuse sweating, shaking or tremors, nausea, upset stomach, slurred speech, shaky voice, muscle tension, confusion, palpitations, diarrhea, cold, clammy hands, and difficulty making eye contact.
Basically, this phobia manifests a symptom of being too anxious with other people. Victims think that other people are more confident, that other people are better than them. They feel uncomfortable being around people who make it difficult for them to eat, drink, work, ask questions, make appointments, and even go to the bathroom when other people are around.
The good news is that there is a cure for social phobia
The good news is that there is a cure for this condition. For the past 20 years, a combination of talk therapy and medication has proven very helpful in limiting the effects, if not cure, of this mental condition. Certain antidepressants (paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine), anxiolytics, and beta-blockers are used to help sociophobic people balance certain chemicals in the brain and minimize panic attacks during periods of increased anxiety. Talk therapy teaches people with social anxiety disorder to react differently to situations that trigger their anxiety. The therapist helps the patient to confront negative feelings about social situations and fear of being judged by others. Patients learn how their thought patterns add to the symptoms of social anxiety disorder and how to change their thinking so that the symptoms begin to subside.
Finally
Being shy is quite normal, everyone has gone through a similar phase. Getting over that stage is the hard part. Ultimately, it ends up increasing your confidence to a certain level so that you feel comfortable enough to move around normally. In case you have been diagnosed as a sociophobe, there is nothing to be ashamed of. With a little therapy, the right medication, and enough support from people who believe in you, you can gradually socialize and function normally within a group without being overly anxious.
