Social Anxiety
About Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, is a type of Anxiety disorder that can have a substantial impact on quality of life since it generates severe anxiety for a sufferer in a social scenario. That being said, most people have experienced social anxiety at some time in their lives (for example, while public speaking), thus it is a common occurrence. However, social anxiety becomes an issue when it interferes with your capacity to enjoy life and operate on a daily basis. People who suffer from social anxiety avoid circumstances where they will have to engage with others. This is because patients tend to become immensely worried, overly self-conscious, and even panicked in daily social interactions, which causes emotions of being adversely appraised and evaluated, leading to future avoidance. Social anxiety is defined by an unreasonable thought pattern that causes the person to be unreasonably nervous in social situations and to feel elevated while alone.
The Impact Of Social Anxiety
If you have social anxiety, you may be extremely stressed by even the most mundane social encounters in your daily life. Meeting new individuals or feeling as though they are being "inspected" by others can be quite unsettling. You may feel panicked about not making a good impression, or you may feel as if you are the center of attention, with "all eyes on you." When you are experiencing feelings of shame and humiliation, you may avoid social events that you might otherwise enjoy. You may even feel physical symptoms such as an elevated heart rate, nausea, shortness of breath, and tension. You may be concerned that you may flush, blush, or stutter, drawing attention to yourself. You may have found it more difficult to talk in public, explain yourself to a group of friends or coworkers, or simply dine and socialize with pals.
People who suffer from social anxiety frequently try to cope by avoiding social situations that they believe would be challenging for them. In the process, people may discover that they are shrinking into a smaller and smaller environment. Instead of alleviating the situation, their anxiety may worsen, leading to issues with alcohol, prescription use, and depression. Does any of this describe you?
The Roots of Social Anxiety
There are several reasons of social anxiety. According to research, children who grow up in homes where their parents continually criticize, exaggerate the dangers of approaching strangers, are emotionally unavailable, overemphasize the necessity of manners/grooming, or are overprotective are more likely to develop social anxiety. Bullying, teasing, repeated criticism, rejection, humiliation, physical abuse, racial abuse/discrimination, sexual abuse/discrimination, and age discrimination can all cause social anxiety in children and teenagers. Many people who suffer from social anxiety do so due to a lack of experience in social situations (e.g. a lack of friends). Although social anxiety may be tough and, in severe circumstances, take over one's life, there are several strategies that can help those who suffer from it.
Is There Help For Social Anxiety?
The good news is that social anxiety may be effectively treated. Recognizing that there is a problem and that it is time to get treatment is the first step in Social Anxiety Treatment. Understanding that your reactions to social events are frequently unreasonable and excessive might be difficult, but it is a vital step toward completeness. Social anxiety sufferers can learn about the triggers that cause their challenging feelings and behaviors by talking with a psychotherapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy can assist you in learning how to begin replacing negative emotions and behaviors with more positive ones. It may be able to identify the roots of the worry and deal with its underlying causes over time.
Social Anxiety Treatment
Although social anxiety may be tough and, in severe circumstances, take over one's life, there are several strategies that can help those who suffer from it.
Relaxation –It is tough to think clearly when in a panic. Keeping calm by breathing in and out will thereby pull the body out of the "fight or flight" state. Muscle relaxation is excellent for soothing the body and releasing stiff muscles during a panic or anxiety attack. Clearing one's thoughts will swiftly bring one out of a confused state of frenzy.
Confront the situation – Exposure work, which involves visiting the location where you felt anxious or apprehensive and remaining there until your anxiety subsides, can be beneficial in overcoming fear associated with a certain social context.
Focusing outward – When we are worried in social circumstances, we pay attention to our thoughts about other people's negative judgments of us, as well as any unpleasant bodily sensations we may be feeling; this feeds into the negative maintenance loop of social anxiety. By refocusing our attention on others, we reduce our sensitivity to these worrisome indicators and, as a result, our worry. In social circumstances, try paying closer attention to what others are saying, the tone of their voice, the color of their eyes, and their facial expressions.
Self-Help material – Learning how to manage social anxiety on a daily basis can give you greater confidence in dealing with a social anxiety panic attack when it arises. You may watch guided self-help videos created by our practitioners to help you overcome social anxiety.
Sessions with a Therapist – A therapist would be immensely useful for someone suffering from social anxiety. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Psychodynamic treatment can assist you in achieving your objective of resolving this condition during therapy.