SOCIAL PHOBIA

 Social Phobia

Everyone is afraid of something. It doesn't matter how tough or successful someone is, if a crazed clown with a knife jumped out at you on a dark night you would probably have some sort of fear-filled action. The perceived threat causes your body to react to the potential danger. These are known as phobias.

Fear itself is generally built within us – it protected our ancestors from things that were dangerous to them and ensured the continuation of the species – but phobias go far beyond this.
Fear itself is generally built within us – it protected our ancestors from things that were dangerous to them and ensured the continuation of the species – but phobias go far beyond this.


A phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. It is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with a phobia either tries to avoid the thing that triggers the fear, or endures it with great anxiety and distress. 


SOCIAL PHOBIA

I came,
I saw,
I had anxiety 
so I left


  
What is social phobia?
Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers. Fear that others will notice that you look anxious. Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice. Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment.
It's normal to feel nervous in some social situations. For example, going on a date or giving a presentation may cause that feeling of butterflies in your stomach. But in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.

Social Anxiety Disorder more than just Shyness

In social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance that can disrupt your life. Severe
stress can affect your relationships, daily routines, work, school or other activities.
Social anxiety disorder can be a chronic mental health condition, but learning coping skills in psychotherapy and taking medications can help you gain confidence and improve your ability to interact with others.


Symptoms of Social Phobia

Feelings of shyness or discomfort in certain situations aren't necessarily signs of social anxiety disorder, particularly in children. Comfort levels in social situations vary, depending on personality traits and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved and others are more outgoing. In contrast to everyday nervousness, social anxiety disorder includes fear, anxiety and avoidance that interfere with relationships, daily routines, work, school or other activities. Social anxiety disorder typically begins in the early to mid-teens, though it can sometimes start in younger children or in adults.

Emotional and behavioral symptoms:-


  • Fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively
  • Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
  • Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
  • Fear that others will notice that you look anxious
  • Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice
  • Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
  • Avoidance of situations where you might be the center of attention
  • Anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event
  • Intense fear or anxiety during social situations

  • For children, anxiety about interacting with adults or peers may be shown by crying, having temper tantrums, clinging to parents or refusing to speak in social situations.

  • Performance type of social anxiety disorder is when you experience intense fear and anxiety during speaking or performing in public but not in other types of more general social situations. 

Physical symptoms:-

    • Fast heartbeat
    • Trembling
    • Sweating
    • Upset stomach or nausea
    • Trouble catching your breath
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • Feeling that your mind has gone blank
    • Muscle tension

    Avoiding common social situations

    Common, everyday experiences may be hard to endure when you have social anxiety disorder, including:

    • Interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers
    • Attending parties or social gatherings
    • Going to work or school
    • Starting conversations
    • Making eye contact
    • Dating
    • Entering a room in which people are already seated
    • Returning items to a store
    • Eating in front of others
    • Using a public restroom

    Social anxiety disorder symptoms can change over time. They may flare up if you're facing a lot of changes, stress or demands in your life. Although avoiding situations that produce anxiety may make you feel better in the short term, your anxiety is likely to continue over the long term if you don't get treatment.


When to see a doctor?

See your doctor or a mental health professional if you fear and avoid normal social situations because they cause embarrassment, worry or panic.

Prevention:-

There's no way to predict what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms if you're anxious:

  • Get help early. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, can be harder to treat if you wait.
  • Keep a journal. Keeping track of your personal life can help you and your mental health professional identify what's causing you stress and what seems to help you feel better.
  • Set priorities in your life. You can reduce anxiety by carefully managing your time and energy. Make sure that you spend time doing things you enjoy.
  • Avoid unhealthy substance use. Alcohol and drug use and even caffeine or nicotine use can cause or worsen anxiety. If you're addicted to any of these substances, quitting can make you anxious. If you can't quit on your own, see your health care provider or find a treatment program or support group to help you.

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