Social anxiety disorder: fear and anxiety leads to avoidance

 

In some social circumstances, it's fine to feel nervous. Going on a date or delivering a presentation, for example, can trigger butterflies in your stomach. However, ordinary encounters with social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, create tremendous worry, self-consciousness, and shame since you are afraid of being examined or assessed adversely by others.

Fear and worry lead to avoidance in social anxiety disorder, which can affect your life. Relationships, daily routines, job, school, and other activities can all be affected by severe stress.

Although social anxiety disorder is a long-term mental health problem, psychotherapy and medicines can help you build confidence and enhance your ability to communicate with others.

Symptoms

Shyness or discomfort in specific situations, especially in children, aren't always symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Personality traits and life experiences influence how comfortable people are in social situations. Some people are more reserved by nature, while others are more outgoing.

Unlike ordinary tension, social anxiety disorder include fear, anxiety, and avoidance that interfere with relationships, daily routines, job, school, or other activities. The onset of social anxiety disorder is most common in early to mid-adolescence, while it can also occur in younger children or adults.

Behavioral and emotional symptoms

• Fear of being poorly judged in social circumstances

• Be concerned about embarrassment or humiliation

• A strong aversion to socialising or conversing with strangers

•  Anxiety that people would perceive your nervousness

•  Fear of embarrassment-inducing physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, or having a shaky voice

•  Fear of embarrassment prevents you from doing things or speaking to people.

•  Avoiding circumstances in which you may be the focus of attention

• Anxiety in the lead-up to a dreaded activity or event

•  Severe anxiety or terror in social circumstances

• After a social scenario, analyse your performance and identify shortcomings in your interactions.

• Anticipation of the worst-case scenario in the event of an unfavourable social experience

• Children who are afraid of interacting with adults or peers may weep, have temper tantrums, cling to their parents, or refuse to talk in social circumstances.

• When you have a performance type of social anxiety disorder, you have acute fear and anxiety when you talk or perform in front of an audience, but not in other types of more general social circumstances.

Physical signs and symptoms

• Blushing

•  Rapid heart rate

•  shivering

•  Perspiration

•  Nausea or upset stomach

• You're having trouble collecting your breath

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

•  Having the sensation that your mind has gone blank

• Tension in muscles

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder might change over time. If you're dealing with a lot of changes, stress, or expectations in your life, they might flare up. Although avoiding situations that cause anxiety may make you feel better in the short term, if you don't get therapy, your anxiety is likely to persist in the long run.

When should you seek medical help?

If you're afraid of becoming embarrassed, worried, or panicked in regular social situations, talk to your doctor or a mental health expert.