Social Anxiety is another crippling Anxiety Disorder which can bring on Panic attacks and is also known as Social Phobia. It's a fear of social situations and being judged or embarrassed when meeting or talking to other people. Social Anxiety or Phobia can be likened to shyness but with a much more intense fear. Shyness becomes an Anxiety Disorder when being around people becomes very difficult and you may stop socializing altogether or at least avoid social situations.
You may also experience symptoms much like those of Anxiety, which include Trembling, Sweating, Palpitations. sinking feeling or an almost irresistible or to run away. You may also feel like your fears are irrational and blame yourself for feeling that way, rather than trying to understand that your fears are a disorder. This is completely normal and you shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed.
The emotional symptoms you may feel can include being self conscious or having a feeling of failure, you may avoid social situations or isolate yourself from friends or family, and you might be more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol to give you more confidence to wonder out into a social situation.
Things You May Avoid Or Be Uncomfortable With, Include:
Being the center of attention
Being introduced to new people
Being watched by people when you are doing something
Meeting people in Authority
Using the telephone
All these things are completely normal for a Social Anxiety sufferer...you are not crazy and there are steps you can take to overcome all the symptoms. Try to find someone close to you for support, they can help if you can't avoid going out and don't want to go alone. One really important thing is to try and avoid alcohol to give you dutch courage, alcohol is a depressant may help you at the time, but in the long time will only increase your anxiety. I know this for a fact as I used to self medicate.
One of the first steps of overcoming Social disorder is understanding your feelings and fears, reading about your disorder or joining a forum for Social Anxiety sufferers can also help you to understand your disorder. The main thing for you do do is to realize you have a disorder and takes steps to treat it and recover, which can be done either by getting therapy or using self help as I did, and by that I don't mean self medicate. There are self help methods that can help you and none of them recommend self medication.
You may also experience symptoms much like those of Anxiety, which include Trembling, Sweating, Palpitations. sinking feeling or an almost irresistible or to run away. You may also feel like your fears are irrational and blame yourself for feeling that way, rather than trying to understand that your fears are a disorder. This is completely normal and you shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed.
The emotional symptoms you may feel can include being self conscious or having a feeling of failure, you may avoid social situations or isolate yourself from friends or family, and you might be more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol to give you more confidence to wonder out into a social situation.
Things You May Avoid Or Be Uncomfortable With, Include:
Being the center of attention
Being introduced to new people
Being watched by people when you are doing something
Meeting people in Authority
Using the telephone
All these things are completely normal for a Social Anxiety sufferer...you are not crazy and there are steps you can take to overcome all the symptoms. Try to find someone close to you for support, they can help if you can't avoid going out and don't want to go alone. One really important thing is to try and avoid alcohol to give you dutch courage, alcohol is a depressant may help you at the time, but in the long time will only increase your anxiety. I know this for a fact as I used to self medicate.
One of the first steps of overcoming Social disorder is understanding your feelings and fears, reading about your disorder or joining a forum for Social Anxiety sufferers can also help you to understand your disorder. The main thing for you do do is to realize you have a disorder and takes steps to treat it and recover, which can be done either by getting therapy or using self help as I did, and by that I don't mean self medicate. There are self help methods that can help you and none of them recommend self medication.
