Social anxiety is a disorder that makes a person feels nervous or scared at a social gathering. This is also known as social phobia. Under this condition, an individual tends to become anxious and embarrassed while interacting with others. This happens as he feels that everyone around him is constantly judging him.
Social anxiety if not treated can have many negative effects on one’s life. Therefore, one must seek treatments for this. However, it is also important to be sure whether one is suffering from social phobia or not. So, one must learn the symptoms of this disorder.
In this article, you will learn about social anxiety symptoms and treatments.
Social Anxiety Symptoms
There are many ways you can identify whether one is suffering from social anxiety disorders. Some of the physical social anxiety symptoms are:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Blushing
- Nausea
- Excessive sweat
- Stomach upset
- Breathlessness
- Difficulty in speaking
- Light headedness
Besides, there are some behavioral symptoms. These are:
- Excessive worrying about social events or gatherings
- Fear of being judged by others
- Fear of being embarrassed in front of others
- Analysis of own social interactions and finding flaws
- Fear of being noticed by others
- Missing school, college, or work to avoid social interaction
- Depending on alcohol to face a social gathering or event
Causes of Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder
Social phobia can arise out of different conditions or environments. Some of the common causes are:
- Genetic disorder
- Overactive amygdala (a structure in the brain) that causes excessive fear and anxiety
- Unpleasant experiences in social situations in the past
- Sexual, physical, or mental abuse
- Constant threat or bullying by others
- The unfavorable or unpleasant environment at home
- A condition that draws people’s attention
Social Anxiety Treatment
It is not possible to know when and how a person can start having a social phobia. However, you can start by reducing the symptoms or preventing them to appear.
Tips to Prevent Social Phobia
- Avoid Taking Too Much of Caffeine
Food rich in caffeine act as a stimulant. They can trigger anxiety and stress levels in a person. So, it is good to avoid too much caffeine in daily life.
- Keep Yourself Happy and Positive
It is important to keep yourself happy and lead a positive life. Do the things that make you happy. Also, spend time reading inspirational books to be confident and positive in life. Besides, use self-affirmations like, ”I am happy,” “I look beautiful,” “I believe in myself” etc. to boost self-esteem. The more motivated you are, the less anxious you will be about anything in life.
- Keep Your Priorities Ahead
You need to have some goals in life to add a purpose to living. These can be short-term or long-term goals. But make sure to make your goals your priority in life. Living life with a vision adds meaning to it. The more occupied you are with your vision, the less tense or anxious you will be to interact with people.
- Avoid Being Dependent on Alcohol or Drugs
Many people tend to take the help of unhealthy substances to feel confident in social gatherings. These can damage your health, mindset, and confidence level in the long run. So, start feeling confident without using these. If you are unable to quit those on your own, seek medical help.
- Accept No One Is Perfect
Social anxiety can arise from a fear of being judged or embarrassed by others. One of the best social anxiety treatments is to make oneself understand that no one is perfect in this world. So, no one has the wisdom or right to judge others. Also, even if some people may have a habit of judging others, they are not wise enough to know that imperfection is a part of everyone’s life. The better you are in accepting this truth, the less worried you will be about being judged by others.
Therapies to Treat Social Anxiety
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This therapy helps people to learn to get rid of anxiety through breathing practice. Also, the experts teach you some relaxation methods to make you feel calm and relaxed.
- Group Therapy
As the name suggests, this therapy helps one to take part in group interaction to feel relaxed. The groups generally consist of people who have the same anxiety about social situations.
- Psychotherapy
This therapy is conducted by medical experts. This can be combined with medication. Under this therapy, the treatment is focused on improving social interaction. Besides, the therapist helps one to get rid of negative thoughts and feel good about oneself.
Social phobia can be overcome easily with a positive mindset. So, follow the tips if you think you are suffering from a social anxiety disorder. At the same time, if you feel nothing is helping your situation, seek medical help.
