Managing life with Social Anxiety Disorder or Social phobia
It is completely normal for everyone to feel anxious about stressful situations in life. We all have even been there where we faced the “stage fear” in our lives—the fear of speaking in front of a public! These kinds of emotions are related to stress only, but Anxiety is not okay if it occurs with no real cause of worry. Anxiety is unhealthy if it disturbs your mind all the time and you can’t control it. Chances are that this is not just normal Anxiety, but Anxiety disorders.
A feeling of worry, restlessness, fear, and uneasiness characterizes Anxiety. It can also be accompanied by sweating, rapid breathing of the heart, and a tense state. While every day may cause us to lose control for a bit, we become. Some types of Anxiety disorders might keep you on edge every time. It is Social Anxiety.
Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social phobia, is a mental condition. It causes fear of public places and Social situations in people to the point that it disrupts their normal functions. People are in fear of being judged by others; hence, they try everything to avoid any Social gatherings.
What are the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social phobia, is not being shy or introverted. Many people assume that if a person is shy, it might be Social Anxiety only. Shyness and introverted nests are not Socially anxious. Being shy is okay. It’s a part of a personality trait, but in Social Anxiety, the constant fear of being judged by others could just make you hide in your closet and never come out!
Anxiety is a series of conditions that are different from being shy. Social Anxiety can be diagnosed based on the following emotional and physical symptoms:
Emotional symptoms manifest in Social Anxiety Disorder;
- Fear of Social situations
- Fear of being judged
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of anticipating what to do—example,this is going to happen!How can I manage,my result is out,What if I failed
- Embarrassment in Social gatherings
- Intense Anxiety when people notice you
- Fear of being around people
- Mind going blank when facing others
- Being extremely self-conscious
Physical symptoms manifested in Social Anxiety Disorder:
Rapid breathing or breathlessness
- Intense Sweating
- Pounding heartbeat
- Blushing
- Trembling voice
- Stuttering while speaking in front of others
- Nausea
- Dizziness
How Social Anxiety looks among children?
Anxiety disorder can happen to anyone regardless of age and gender however, some people show signs of Anxiety disorder at an early stage of childhood.
Children might show signs of Social Anxiety in the form of excessive crying, throwing tantrums, being furious at parents, or staying silent in Social gatherings. Children might cling to their parents and, sometimes, deliberately try to embarrass themselves in front of others. They might lie or complain about getting out of any Social situation, or they won’t leave the house at all.
Performance Anxiety Disorder
Performance Anxiety is a type of Anxiety that occurs only in situations where you are performing in public. It does not happen in other Social situations.Performance Anxiety disrupts the ability to carry out any task properly due to excess Anxiety.Even when you are good at something,you won’t be able to do it because of the presence of the public. Children in early childhood and teenagers tend to have Performance Anxiety Disorder more than adults.
Is there any Diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder or test?
Social Anxiety Disorder can be diagnosed with the help of criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The Social Anxiety Disorder test is conducted by mental health professionals only with the help of certain tools, psychological scales, and psychological assessments. Psychologists and Psychiatrists use tools to assess the symptoms closely to eliminate chances of other disorders and differentiate social Anxiety from everyday Anxiety.
What are the treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder treatment can include:
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or psychological counseling can help deal with the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder. It can help you manage stressful events and learn how to manage your thoughts. Mental health professionals usually provide therapy in combination with ongoing medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that focuses on changing our irrational and negative thoughts and behaviors. CBT tries to identify the root cause of Anxiety and work on resolving it. It helps learn how to react to a particular situation that causes stress and Anxiety and works on reducing fear of distress.
Acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT)
This type of therapy involves adopting mindfulness strategies to deal with the symptoms of Anxiety disorders. ACT is an effective treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder. It helps us acknowledge our thoughts and accept our fears rather than avoid them. ACT focuses on practicing mindfulness and helping to reduce discomfort caused by Anxiety.
Medication
Medication plays a significant role in managing the symptoms of Anxiety. It helps by reducing stress, especially that caused by physical symptoms. Medicines such as anti- Anxiety drugs can reduce fear and panic in people. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in treating long-term symptoms of Anxiety disorder. They quickly show results that are highly effective in managing the symptoms. The psychiatrist usually prescribes them on short-term courses to first check their effects and avoid dependence.