| Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a | | | | can prepare someone to deal with their anxiety before |
| very common, overwhelming and disabling fear of | | | | it rears its ugly head. |
| critical inspection, embarrassment, or humiliation in | | | | Some common triggers to social anxiety are: |
| everyday social situations which leads to avoidance of | | | | - Being introduced to other people |
| potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. It is | | | | - Being teased or criticized |
| often mistaken for shyness. Social anxiety disorder is | | | | - Being the center of attention |
| so much more than shyness and people who think | | | | - Being watched or observed while doing something |
| they have it should seek treatment in order to live | | | | - Having to speak in public |
| normal happy lives. | | | | - Meeting people in authority |
| Most people experience some shyness or | | | | - Attending parties or other social gatherings |
| nervousness in certain social or work situations, but for | | | | - Becoming embarrassed |
| someone with social anxiety disorder, the anxiety is so | | | | - Meeting other people's eyes |
| extreme that it can become debilitating and cause | | | | - Eating, talking, or making phone calls in public |
| disruptions to social and professional relationships. | | | | Once a person is aware of their social anxiety, they |
| Social anxiety sufferers often experience negative | | | | can resort to one of many coping techniques to |
| thought patterns that contribute to and prolong their | | | | reduce or eliminate the anxiety like: |
| anxiety. If left untreated, social anxiety can lead to | | | | - Slow, shallow breathing. |
| more severe forms of anxiety, depression, drug and | | | | - Consciously trying to heighten or exaggerate your |
| alcohol abuse or work and school problems. | | | | anxiety or symptoms. Paradoxically, this usually has the |
| Warning signs of social phobia include: | | | | effect of decreasing anxiety or its symptoms. |
| - Intense worry for days or even weeks before an | | | | - Positive self-talk can reduce anxiety. It includes telling |
| upcoming social situation. | | | | yourself that your symptoms and anxiety will diminish if |
| - Extreme fear of being judged by others, especially | | | | you wait them out, and that other people in the room |
| people you don't know. | | | | are probably anxious too. |
| - Excessive self-consciousness and anxiety in | | | | - Breaking some of the tension by verbalizing your |
| everyday social situations. | | | | feelings in a humorous way ("Boy, I sure am a nervous |
| - Fear that you'll act in ways that that will embarrass | | | | wreck."). |
| or humiliate yourself. | | | | - Carrying supportive statements, such as "I've handled |
| - Avoidance of social situations to a degree that limits | | | | this before, and I can handle it now," on index cards |
| your activities and causes disruptions to your daily life. | | | | and looking at them when necessary. |
| Children with social anxiety are often lonely, have | | | | Social anxiety disorder is a very real and potentially |
| fewer friends than other children their age, and report | | | | catastrophic condition that has very effective, easy |
| symptoms of depression. Children who develop social | | | | and long-lasting treatments. Sufferers of social anxiety |
| anxiety before the age of twelve are not likely to | | | | disorder should begin their road to happiness and |
| outgrow the disorder. Left untreated, many children | | | | emotional freedom by seeing a medical professional to |
| with social anxiety disorder grow up to be socially | | | | properly diagnose the social anxiety disorder and |
| anxious adults and continue to have problems in | | | | make sure there are no other medical conditions |
| interpersonal situations. | | | | contributing to the disorder. Education and awareness |
| Social anxiety disorder can develop from social and | | | | of causes and triggers to social anxiety disorder will |
| environmental (learned/experiences), psychological | | | | enable sufferers choose coping techniques and |
| (emotional/psychological trauma) or biological (heredity, | | | | thought and behavioral actions that will allow for |
| brain structure, biochemistry) causes. People who | | | | positive results. After all, sufferers of social anxiety |
| suffer from social anxiety disorder often blame | | | | disorder want treatment that leads to positive results |
| themselves for their condition when it was never their | | | | right? Our choice is our power. |
| fault in the first place. | | | | Here's one last secret that is sure to help someone |
| Social anxiety disorder can be treated and there are | | | | feel better about themselves: reach out and help |
| great support networks available. The first step is | | | | someone in need. It's that simple. Volunteering one's |
| education and understanding. Being aware of events, | | | | time and effort to help another person in need will |
| times or situations that commonly trigger social anxiety | | | | absolutely help. Try it. You will like it. |