What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
We all experience social situations where we may feel fear and apprehension. It’s absolutely normal to feel nervous about speaking in front of a large group or even in front of a small group. And many of us feel shy or awkward when placed in unfamiliar social circumstances. However for some people these mildly nerve-wracking moments become debilitating episodes resulting in extreme anxiety panic attacks or even avoidance of the event. In these cases the anxiety is so overwhelming that it can interfere with the normal functioning of one’s life. People who suffer from a debilitating level of anxiety in social situations are said to suffer from social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder is the third largest mental health care issue in the world. In the US it affects roughly seven percent of the population at any given time. Social anxiety disorder may be triggered by such events as meeting new people public speaking being observed while performing a task being the center of attention or being teased or criticized. This illness is equally common in both men and women. People who suffer from social anxiety disorder are terrified of being ridiculed or causing themselves embarrassment. Physical symptoms associated with this disorder include heart palpitations faintness blushing and profuse sweating. These symptoms often lead the sufferer to avoid social situations.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include heart palpitations shaking profuse sweating diarrhea confusion nausea stuttering and blushing. Blushing is a common reaction for many people when they are startled or embarrassed. But for people who suffer from social anxiety disorder blushing is a further source of humiliation. This condition is also linked to low self-esteem as people who suffer from it tend to be very sensitive to criticism and rejection and have difficulty asserting themselves.
Anxiety is a normal physical reaction to stress. However a person with social anxiety disorder generally experiences chronic and recurrent episodes of anxiety whenever a social situation arises. In most cases the sufferer is well aware of the intensity and over reaction of his or her symptoms and feels that others will ridicule or judge her because of them. This only makes them more terrified of the social occasion. Most people who suffer from social anxiety disorder will go to extremes to avoid social situations.
Do I Have Social Anxiety Disorder?
The most common fears associated with social anxiety disorder include the fear of public speaking the fear of meeting new people and the fear of talking to strangers. People who suffer from social anxiety disorder may feel anxiety when performing in social settings such as eating or drinking in public. Sufferers may fear more than one type of social setting. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you think you may suffer from social anxiety disorder:
1. Do you avoid doing things with other people because you are afraid of embarrassing yourself or people judging you?
2. Are you terrified of being the center of attention?
3. Do you avoid or become anxious in social situations where you may have to meet and/or speak with ...
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