Social anxiety is a social phobia that affects millions of people. People who suffer from social anxiety disorder are often more reserved than others, and they tend to stay to themselves. Most people can remember a time when they became nervous, such as a school or class presentation, going to a new school or making new friends. Most people find a way to get over these fears and move on with their life. People with social anxiety find any interaction with other people difficult.
Social Anxiety Symptoms
There are many symptoms of social anxiety that include emotional and physical symptoms. Many people who suffer from social anxiety are most affected by the emotional symptoms what include many different things.
Emotional Symptoms
One of the most common emotional symptoms of social anxiety is fear of interacting with strangers. People who suffer from this disorder have an intense fear of being around people they do not know. Being around strangers can cause a person to stress, and could lead to a panic attack.
People who suffer from this condition do not do well in situations where they feel they will be judged. Many sufferers of this disorder will shut down and avoid situations where they feel they will be judged.
Sufferers of social anxiety are as normal as can be, but they often worry about situations a lot more than the average person, such as being embarrassed or humiliated.
Disruption of daily life is another common emotional symptom of this disease. People who suffer from social anxiety have difficulty working, completing school work and participating in activities. Something as simple as speaking to another person can send them into a frenzy and state of panic. In the same situation, social anxiety sufferers experience difficulty making eye contact and initiating a conversation.
Physical Symptoms
There are a lot of physical symptoms of social anxiety. When anxiety sufferers find themselves in situations that would rather not be in or find awkward, there are many different symptoms that can occur, such as:
- confusion
- blushing
- sweating profusely
- rapid heartbeat
- nausea
Causes of Social Anxiety
The experiences that a person endures can cause the brain and other parts of the body to act in ways that they should not. For most people who suffer from social anxiety, the experiences they endured took place when they were a child. Children in today’s society are crueler than they were in past years. A sensitive child may not be able to handle name calling, teasing, and other insults and forms of bullying. For some children and teens, they experience a chemical imbalance or similar malfunction that promotes the social anxiety disorder.
Studies show that social anxiety is an inherited trait. This disorder runs in many families, but research does not reveal how much of the inherited traits are in order by genetics.
Common Risk Factors
Environment
Social anxiety is not always inherited; but learned. The environment a person lives in plays a major role in what a person does, how they act, and the things they think about. The environmental factor plays a major role in a child’s life. A child imitates the things they see and hear.
Temperament
A person’s temperament can put them at greater risk for having social anxiety. People who are often withdrawn or shy when they are in new situations, they may be putting themselves at a greater risk for having this disease than others who embrace a challenge instead of running from one.
Health Conditions
People who are disfigured or have a health condition that draws attention, such as wearing oxygen or something similar can cause a person to have social anxiety. This occurs due to self-consciousness and low self-esteem.
Complications
There are many different complications that are associated with this disorder. The most common complications of social anxiety are low self-esteem and negative self-talk. People who suffer from this condition often wish they could stop being shy and get out and speak to the world, but this condition makes it almost impossible for them. Sufferers of social anxiety often have low self-esteem because they feel they are not worthy of anything. People who suffer from this condition may feel depressed. Once depression sets in and low self-esteem has taken over, the negative self-talk will begin. Negative self-talk is when someone puts themselves down on more than one occasion.
Results of Social Anxiety
People who have social anxiety will often lack in their place or work or business, have a low academic achievement record, and suicide may cross a few people’s minds. Substance abuse may become a factor for people who suffer from social anxiety.
Treatments
As far as treatments for social anxiety are concerned, a person has to endure a social anxiety test. The social anxiety disorder test can be given to people to test them for this condition. Before a person is deemed a sufferer of social anxiety, there are several different qualifications that must be met.
Help and Support
There is social anxiety support for people who suffer from this condition. Dealing with daily life can be beyond difficult and frustrating. People who are surrounded by people that suffer from this condition find it easier to open up and relate to others. They may no longer feel ashamed or have low self-esteem. Sometimes having someone or a few people that someone can relate to and trade stories with is all that is needed.
Like other conditions and illnesses, a support group and is a great way to take baby steps and become reacquainted with the world. Some people can take the steps that are set by the support group and overcome their anxiety by facing their fears and creating a daily routine. Some people who suffer from anxiety require prescribed medication, such as anti-depressants to help them build their confidence and take on the world. Medication does not have to be used in order for people to overcome social anxiety, but people who are looking for quick relief from their symptoms and long-term benefits of being able to relax and experience new things prefer medication.
