Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder, formerly known as Social Phobia can be a significant hurdle to your happiness, health, and ability to achieve your potential in a relationship and at work. It is far from being shy. The problem in this part of the world is that people don’t believe that mental issues are real-life problems that affect people.

Are you extremely afraid of being judged by others?

Are you very self-conscious in everyday social situations?

Do you avoid meeting new people?

If you have been feeling this way for at least six months and these feelings make it hard for you to do everyday tasks such as talking to people at work or school. You may have a social anxiety disorder.

It is a mental condition. Characterized by an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Without treatment, this disorder can hinder patients to reach their full potential.

Signs and symptoms of social phobia

When having to perform in front of or be around others, people with social anxiety disorder experience the following

• Blush, sweat, tremble, feel a rapid heart rate, or fee their ‘’ mind going blank”
• Feel nauseous or sick to their stomach
• Show a rigid body posture, make little eye contact, or speak with an overly soft voice
• Find it scary and difficult to be with other people, especially those they don’t really know and a hard time talking to them even though they wish they could.
• Be very self-conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed and awkward
• Be very afraid that other people will judge them
• Stay away from places where there are other people

Causes of social anxiety disorder

Most mental disorders do not have a specific cause. they are mostly hereditary. No one knows for sure why some family members have them. From research, it has been seen that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. Some researchers believe that the misreading of others’ behavior may play a role in causing or worsening social anxiety. For example, you may think that staring or frowning at you when they’re probably not even looking at you. Underdeveloped social skills are also contributors.

Treatment

Like every other health challenge, talk to your doctor first about your symptoms. After assessments, your doctor is now certain that it’s a mental health issue and refers you to professionals in that field.

After a diagnosis has been made, the most common types of treatment for social anxiety are psychotherapy, medication, or the combination.