| No man is an island. Whilst it's tempting at times to | | | | they came about, or how they managed to get to the |
| pretend that other people don't exist, we need friends, | | | | intensity that they did. It helps then to explore why your |
| peers, co-workers and family members, in order to be | | | | social anxiety came about. Is it a negative experience |
| productive, emotionally stable and satisfied. | | | | in the past? Is it from modeling a parent? Is it because |
| You can imagine then how much it costs a person | | | | of an upbringing with limited social interaction? The |
| when he or she has Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). | | | | more you know about the roots of your anxiety |
| To be diagnosed with SAD means that you find | | | | reaction, the less intimidating it becomes. |
| situations involving any degree of relating as stressful. | | | | Knowing how you developed Social Anxiety Disorder |
| The impact of this illness goes beyond private | | | | helps you see that social anxiety is but a natural |
| discomfort. Extreme forms of SAD can cut off an | | | | reaction to an event in your life. And if a dysfunctional |
| individual from all sources of functionality and meaning. | | | | reaction can be learned, it can be unlearned. |
| How can you combat Social Anxiety Disorder? | | | | 4. Know your unhelpful ways of dealing with the |
| Knowledge is the key! The more informed you are | | | | anxiety. |
| about this condition and your reaction to it, the easier it | | | | Perhaps one of the reasons why social anxiety is |
| will be to conquer it. | | | | overwhelming for you is because you practice |
| Here are 5 easy ways to combat Social Anxiety | | | | unhelpful ways of dealing with it. You may be giving in |
| Disorder through the power of information: | | | | to the panic attack, or making it worse by entertaining |
| 1. Know your symptoms. | | | | thoughts that reinforce your fears. You may also be |
| Different people experience social anxiety differently. | | | | isolating yourself from relevant support systems, which |
| Some experience it bodily: they get palpitations, | | | | may be effective in the short term, but in the long run |
| sweaty hands, trembling, nausea and headaches. | | | | keep you from learning skills to handle anxiety more |
| Others experience social anxiety mentally: they get | | | | effectively. |
| obsessive thoughts, they blank out, or they have | | | | 5.Last, know your helpful ways of dealing with the |
| difficulty concentrating. Still others have a more | | | | anxiety. |
| emotional response: they get mood swings, suffer | | | | It couldn't have been all negative! After all, you have |
| depression or feel intense fear and helplessness. | | | | survived this far despite a debilitating mental health |
| It is important that you know the specific way you | | | | condition. Your survival implies that you are doing some |
| experience social anxiety. Knowledge of your | | | | things right, and that you have inner strength and |
| symptoms can help you control them better, as you'd | | | | resilience. Focus on these positives! If you can tap into |
| have a warning that an anxiety attack is on its way. | | | | resources that are already within you, then you will |
| When you know how to recognize an anxiety attack, | | | | defeat Social Anxiety Disorder in no time. |
| way before it becomes full-blown, then you can nip it in | | | | What would help is to start a social anxiety diary. |
| the bud. | | | | When an anxiety attack comes, log all these details |
| 2. Know your triggers. | | | | down. Take time to study your patterns. In this way, |
| The anxiety attack is usually preceded by a situation | | | | you can better understand the dynamics of your |
| or event that you find most threatening. For some | | | | anxiety attack. A better understanding of your own |
| people, it's meeting strangers. For others, it's being | | | | anxiety dynamics can help you tailor fit your |
| teased or criticized. And still for some, social anxiety | | | | interventions to your unique case. |
| comes when one is in the company of those with | | | | When it comes to anxiety disorders, the value of |
| power or prestige. | | | | information can't be underestimated. Knowing your |
| If you know what your triggers are, you can take | | | | symptoms, triggers, the origins of your pathology, and |
| extra precautions to avoid, prevent, or manage them | | | | the negative and positive ways of dealing with the |
| when they do come. | | | | anxiety can help you prevent them --- as well as |
| 3. Gain insight on how your social anxiety came about. | | | | control them when they come. |
| The anxiety people with SAD experience can feel | | | | Don't forget, a personalized plan is more effective! |
| larger than life, especially when one has no idea how | | | | |