Introduction
In
certain social settings, it's natural to feel nervous. For example, going on a
date or giving a presentation might make you feel like you have butterflies in
your stomach.
But
in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, day-to-day experiences
cause extreme anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and humiliation, so you fear
being scrutinised or judged by others.
In
social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety can lead to avoidance. Extreme stress
can have an effect on your everyday life, job, education, or other activities.
Social
anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition, but learning how to deal
with psychotherapy and taking medication will help you build trust and enhance
your ability to communicate with others.
Symptoms
Feelings
of shyness or discomfort in some circumstances are not necessarily signs of
social anxiety disorder, particularly in children. How comfortable you are in
social settings varies based on personality characteristics and life
experiences. Some people are naturally quiet, others are more outgoing.
Unlike
everyday nervousness, social anxiety disorder involves fear, anxiety, and
averting that interferes with daily life, work, school, or other activities.
Social anxiety disorder normally starts in the early to mid-teens, although it
may often begin in younger children or adults.
Emotional
and behavioural symptoms
Signs
and symptoms of social anxiety disorder can include persistent:
1.
Fear of scenarios in which
you can be judged
2.
Worrying about being
embarrassing or insulting yourself
3.
Intense fear of
communicating or talking to strangers
4.
Fear that someone will
notice you're looking nervous
5.
Fear of physical signs
that may cause you to feel ashamed, such as blushing, sweating, shaking or
shaking your voice.
6.
Avoiding doing stuff or
talking to people out of fear of humiliation
7.
Avoiding circumstances
where you may be at the centre of attention
8.
Anxiety in anticipation of
feared event or activity
9. Enduring a social condition of extreme fear or anxiety
10. Spending time after a social situation to assess your results and find weaknesses in your interactions
11. Expecting the worst
possible effects of unpleasant experiences in a social situation
For
adolescents, anxieties about communicating with adults or peers can be
illustrated by screaming, tempering tantrums, clinging to parents, or refusing
to talk in social situations.
Performance
type of social anxiety disorder is when you feel extreme fear and anxiety only
while speaking or performing in public, but not in other forms of social
situations.
Physical
signs and symptoms can often follow social anxiety disorder and may include:
1.
Blushing
2.
Rapid pulse
3.
Having Shaky hands
4.
Shivering
5.
nausea
6.
Trouble in holding your
breath
7.
Dizziness or
lightheadedness
8.
Feeling like your mind has
gone empty
9.
Tension in muscles
10. Avoiding regular Social
Situations
Daily
encounters that can be difficult to handle when you have a social anxiety
disorder include for example:
1.
Interacting with unknown
or strangers
2.
Participation in groups or
social events
3.
Going to work or to school
4.
Initiating conversations
5.
Keeping eye contact
6.
Dating
7.
Entry into a room where
people are already sitting
8.
Returning things back to a
shop
9.
Eating in front of other
people
10. Using a public toilet
The
symptoms of social anxiety disorder can change over time. They could flare up
if you're facing a lot of tension or demands. While avoiding conditions that
cause anxiety will make you feel better in the short term, your anxiety is
likely to persist over the long term if you do not receive treatment.
Causes
As
most other mental health disorders, social anxiety disorder is going to happen
from a complex interaction of biological and environmental variables. Possible
causes may include:
· Inherited characteristics-
Anxiety disorders typically occur in families. However it is not completely
clear how much of this could be attributed to evolution and how much is due to
learned behaviour.
· Structure of brain- A
structure in the brain called the amygdala can play a role in controlling the
response to fear. People who have an overactive amygdala can have a heightened
reaction to fear, causing increased anxiety in social situations.
· Environment- Social anxiety disorder may be a learned behavior—some people can develop a disease after an uncomfortable or embarrassing social situation.
There may also be a correlation between social anxiety disorder and parents who either model nervous behaviour in social settings or who restrict or overprotect their children.
Factors
of risk
Several
factors can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder, including:
· An occurrence In the
family- if someone from your biological parents or siblings already have social
anxiety disorder, then youre more likely to develop the condition.
· Bad experience- Children
who encounter bullying, abuse, rejection, criticism or embarrassment may be
more likely to experience social anxiety disorder. In addition, other negative
life experiences, such as family conflict, trauma or violence, can be
associated with social anxiety disorder.
· Attitude- Children who are
quiet, timid, withdrawn or restrained when faced with new circumstances or
people may be at higher risk.
· New demands in workplace
or social gatherings- Social anxiety disorder
symptoms normally begin in teenage years, but meeting new people, speaking in
public or making an important job presentation can cause symptoms for the first
time.
Developing
an illness or having an appearance that draws attention to it. For example,
facial disfigurement, stuttering, or trembling due to Parkinson's disease may
increase self-consciousness and may cause social anxiety disorder in some
people.
Complications:
Untreated,
social anxiety disorder will lead your life. Anxieties can interfere with work,
education, relationships, or enjoyment of life. Social anxiety disorder can
cause:
1.
Low self-esteem;
2.
Trouble to be assertive
3.
Negative self-talking
4.
Hypersensitivity to
criticism
5.
Bad social competence
6.
Isolation and complicated
social ties
7.
Low academic performance
8.
Abuse of drugs, such as
drinking too much alcohol
9.
Suicide or attempted
suicide
Other
anxiety disorders and many other mental health disorders, especially major
depressive disorders and drug abuse problems, are often associated with social
anxiety disorder.
Prevention
There
is no way to foresee what causes an anxiety disorder to develop, but you can
take measures to reduce the frequency of symptoms if you are anxious:
· Get support early- Anxiety,
like many other mental health problems, can be more difficult to manage while
you hesitate.
· Keep a diary- Keeping
track of your personal life will help you and your mental health professional
find out what's causing you stress and what seems to help you feel better.
· Prioritize the problems in
your life. You will reduce your anxiety by carefully controlling your time and
resources. Make sure you're spending time doing things you're enjoying.
· Stop harmful drug use-Alcohol
and drug use, and even caffeine or nicotine use, can cause or worsen anxiety.
If you are addicted to any of these drugs, leaving will make you nervous. If
you can't stop by yourself, see your doctor or find a recovery service or
support group to help you.
- By Mehak Sachdeva
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