SOCIAL ANXIETY (causes, symptoms + treatment)

Suppose you are giving a presentation for the first time, and you are feeling nervous and jittery, which is normal. As you spend more time with your co-workers, you become more open to them and after a few more presentations, you don't feel as much afraid as before and your nervousness diminishes. 

But for some people it's different, as for them the fear of being judged negatively will increase to a point where they would feel like they can't do the presentation and then they would not even want to do the job in the first place. 

This type of marked fear or anxiety where an individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others in one or more social situations, is called as Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as social phobia. For instance, anxiety triggered when meeting someone new or asking a question in public. This is the most common mental disorder. The estimated early onset of Social Anxiety is found to be 13 years old. This type of anxiety can affect one's work and problems with attending school/college or developing close relationships with other people.

Social Anxiety Disorder is an ego-dystonic condition i.e people with this disorder usually understand that their anxiety is unwarranted, which in turn, cause more anxiety due to this awareness because they will fear that others can tell how anxious they are. Some times the anxiety is so severe, that it can lead to derealization i.e the feeling of being left out or less able to recognize the environment.

In some cases, people with social phobia are often left untreated, which leads to high-risk behaviors and they may also rely on drugs, alcohol or thoughts of suicide to cope with anxiety triggered by social interactions.

HOW IS SOCIAL ANXIETY DIFFERENT FROM SHYNESS?

Well, shyness is a personality trait. Shy people don't like the spotlight, or being the center of attention. But social situations do not cause them any significant or ongoing distress. It is not unusual at all, and most of us will feel shy in certain situations.

On the other hand, social anxiety is characterized by high levels of distress which lead to avoiding social situations altogether.

SYMPTOMS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER:

• Physical symptoms

1. Blushing
2. Trembling
3. Sweating
4. Difficulty in speaking
5. Dizziness
6. Rapid heart beat

• Psychological symptoms

1. Worrying intensely about social situations
2. Worrying for a long time before any social event
3. Avoiding social situations, or trying to stand afar from a bunch of people if you must attend
4. Worrying about embarrassment and humiliation
5. Missing/skipping school or work
6. Needing alcohol to face social situations

SITUATIONS WHERE SOCIAL ANXIETY IS COMMONLY OBSERVED:

1. Interviews
2. Talking on the phone
3. Eye contact
4. Talking to strangers
5. Public speaking
6. Entering a room
7. Going to parties
8. Eating in front of people
9. Starting a conversation
10. Dating somebody

CAUSES:

The exact causes for Social Anxiety Disorder is unclear but the most significant causes found are genetic factors and environmental factors (bullying, family conflicts, exposure to neglect, sexual abuse, etc.)

TREATMENT:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This therapy helps you learn how to control anxiety through relaxation and breathing, and how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

• Exposure Therapy

This therapy helps you gradually face social situations rather than avoiding them.

• Group Therapy

This therapy helps you learn social skills and techniques to interact with people in social settings through practice.

Treatments from home:

• Avoiding caffeine 

Coffee, chocolate and soda are stimulants and may increase anxiety.

• Getting plenty of sleep

Getting at least eight daily hours of sleep is recommended. Lack of sleep may increase or worsen symptoms of social anxiety.

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