| Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is anxiety about | | | | Like any kind of mental situation, there is no hard and |
| social situations, meeting new people and fear of being | | | | fast rule of treating anxiety disorder. The first thing to |
| watched. In such situations people are exceedingly self | | | | do in this case would be to consult a physician and |
| conscious and can never relax in public. They always | | | | determine whether the symptoms are due to anxiety |
| feel that they are being watched, stared and judged. | | | | disorder or not. |
| This chronic and persistent fear grows even more | | | | Lifestyle Changes: Even though only bringing changes |
| intense if the situation is unfamiliar. | | | | in lifestyle might not help in overcoming anxiety |
| This disorder could be a part of the development of | | | | disorder, it's a great help in addition to the therapy or |
| social functioning in growing up days and may go | | | | medication. Try making these necessary changes |
| unnoticed. The situations people feel anxiety in can | | | | while trying to fight anxiety disorder:o Avoid Coffee, |
| differ from people to people. | | | | tea, caffeinated soda, energy drinks, and chocolate.o |
| "In any social situation, I felt fear. I would be anxious | | | | Alcohol should be taken in moderation.o Quit Smokingo |
| before I even left the house, and it would escalate as I | | | | Proper sleep |
| got closer to a college class, a party, or whatever. I | | | | Medication: Though medication helps in relieving the |
| would feel sick in my stomach-it almost felt like I had | | | | symptoms of anxiety disorder, they should be only |
| the flu. My heart would pound, my palms would get | | | | taken in addition to the therapy or self help methods. |
| sweaty, and I would get this feeling of being removed | | | | The following three medications are used for the |
| from myself and from everybody else." | | | | treatment:o Beta blockerso Antidepressantso |
| "When I would walk into a room full of people, I'd turn | | | | Benzodiazepines |
| red and it would feel like everybody's eyes were on | | | | Therapy: |
| me. I was embarrassed to stand off in a corner by | | | | CBT or cognitive-behavioral therapy is by far the best |
| myself, but I couldn't think of anything to say to | | | | known treatment for social anxiety. It works on the |
| anybody. It was humiliating. I felt so clumsy, I couldn't | | | | theory that what you think affects how you feel, and |
| wait to get out." | | | | your feelings affect your behavior. It involves |
| Psychological Symptoms:o Worrying for days, weeks, | | | | - Trying relaxation and breathing techniques to control |
| or even months before any social situation.o Fear of | | | | the physical symptoms of anxiety. |
| being watched or judged by others.o Excessive | | | | - Challenging the negative thoughts that fuel social |
| self-consciousness, nervousness and anxiety in social | | | | anxiety and replacing them with balanced and positive |
| situations.o Fear that others will notice that you're | | | | views. |
| nervous.o Fear of getting embarrassed or humiliated. | | | | - Facing the situations in a gradual and systematic |
| Physical Symptoms:o Pounding heart or tight chesto | | | | manner than avoiding them completely. |
| Shaky voice and rapid breathingo Sweating or | | | | For any kind of anxiety disorder treatment, the family |
| blushingo Upset stomach, nauseao Dry mouth, | | | | plays a very important role. The family should be |
| trembling or shakingo Muscle tensiono Dizziness, feeling | | | | supportive and try helping the patient under the |
| fainto Clammy hands or twitching | | | | guidance of his doctor. |
| Treatment | | | | |