Are you feel nervous or self-conscious during a social situation?
Are you really afraid of meeting new people or being judged by others?
Do you avoid social settings that make you feel uncomfortable?
If you are facing the above situations and feel difficulty in doing an everyday task like talking to people at school or work, then you may have a social anxiety disorder.
Are you really afraid of meeting new people or being judged by others?
Do you avoid social settings that make you feel uncomfortable?
If you are facing the above situations and feel difficulty in doing an everyday task like talking to people at school or work, then you may have a social anxiety disorder.
Social Anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, is a type of mental health disorder that causes extreme fear in social affairs. People with this mental illness have trouble talking to new people, public speaking, or attending social gatherings. This distress will affect your work and other daily activities.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety Disorder causes physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes that affect your mind and body. The signs that tend to occur in social situations are:
Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder
The exact cause of this social disorder is unknown. The current researches show that Social Phobia is caused by a combination of environmental changes and genetic mutation. Social Phobia sometimes may run in families. For example, a child might develop social anxiety by learning the attitude from one of their parents who already have this illness.
However, Children can also affect by this social disorder as a result of being raised in an overprotective or controlling environment. Researchers have found that serotonin imbalance may lead to this condition. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that controls fear response and feelings of anxiety.
Some negative experiences may also contribute to social anxiety disorder such as family conflict, sexual abuse, or bullying.
How to overcome Social Anxiety Disorder?
It seems like there’s nothing you can do to overcome the signs of social phobia or social anxiety disorder, in reality, there are many things that help you to ease this illness. Here are some tips:
Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
If the self-help techniques do not prove helpful after a great struggle with disabling social anxiety, then professional treatment is a better option to manage their symptoms, overcome nervousness, and gain self-confidence.
Treatments for Social Anxiety include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Psychotherapy)
CBT is a special type of treatment for social anxiety disorder that teaches you how to think, behave, and react to the situation that makes you feel anxious and fearful. It helps you to learn social skills and convert your negative thoughts into positive vibes.
Interaction with people (Group Therapy)
This treatment helps you to learn and practice social skills to interact with people in social gatherings. Practicing group therapy makes you feel less alone by interacting with others who have the same fear.
Different medicines are also available for the treatment of this disorder. Instead of medication, these physical treatments are recommended to avoid side effects.
You can also treat social anxiety disorder by following some habits:
Avoid Caffeine
Stimulant beverages such as coffee, teas, or soda are the energy drinks that may increase anxiety.
Good Sleep Hygiene
Getting enough sleep at least about 7-8 hours per night is necessary. Lack of sleep at night can lead to social phobia and the worst symptoms of anxiety.
Remember - Social Anxiety is not permanent. You can overcome it by finding the signs and right support. It is good with treatment which changes your life that helps you to cope with the feeling of anxiety and treat well in social situations
Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety Disorder causes physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes that affect your mind and body. The signs that tend to occur in social situations are:
- Blushing, nausea, sweating, increase in heart rate, or feeling the “mind going blank”
- Panic attacks
- Find difficulty in speaking or maintaining eye contact with others
- Fear of being judged by others
- Feeling self-conscious, awkward, or embarrassed in gatherings
- Miss school or work because of anxiety
- Low self-esteem and negative attitude
Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder
The exact cause of this social disorder is unknown. The current researches show that Social Phobia is caused by a combination of environmental changes and genetic mutation. Social Phobia sometimes may run in families. For example, a child might develop social anxiety by learning the attitude from one of their parents who already have this illness.
However, Children can also affect by this social disorder as a result of being raised in an overprotective or controlling environment. Researchers have found that serotonin imbalance may lead to this condition. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that controls fear response and feelings of anxiety.
Some negative experiences may also contribute to social anxiety disorder such as family conflict, sexual abuse, or bullying.
How to overcome Social Anxiety Disorder?
It seems like there’s nothing you can do to overcome the signs of social phobia or social anxiety disorder, in reality, there are many things that help you to ease this illness. Here are some tips:
- Challenge Negative Thoughts
- Focus attention on others, not yourself
- Learn to control breathing when you become anxious
- Face your fear rather than avoid them to ease anxiety
- Make an effort to become more social to challenge your fear and overcome social stress
- Adopt a stress-free lifestyle by eating a healthy diet, better sleep hygiene, and doing regular exercise daily.
Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
If the self-help techniques do not prove helpful after a great struggle with disabling social anxiety, then professional treatment is a better option to manage their symptoms, overcome nervousness, and gain self-confidence.
Treatments for Social Anxiety include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Psychotherapy)
CBT is a special type of treatment for social anxiety disorder that teaches you how to think, behave, and react to the situation that makes you feel anxious and fearful. It helps you to learn social skills and convert your negative thoughts into positive vibes.
Interaction with people (Group Therapy)
This treatment helps you to learn and practice social skills to interact with people in social gatherings. Practicing group therapy makes you feel less alone by interacting with others who have the same fear.
Different medicines are also available for the treatment of this disorder. Instead of medication, these physical treatments are recommended to avoid side effects.
You can also treat social anxiety disorder by following some habits:
Avoid Caffeine
Stimulant beverages such as coffee, teas, or soda are the energy drinks that may increase anxiety.
Good Sleep Hygiene
Getting enough sleep at least about 7-8 hours per night is necessary. Lack of sleep at night can lead to social phobia and the worst symptoms of anxiety.
Remember - Social Anxiety is not permanent. You can overcome it by finding the signs and right support. It is good with treatment which changes your life that helps you to cope with the feeling of anxiety and treat well in social situations
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