Have you seen people getting timid and distraught in certain social situations? Do you see them panic for no reason, become anxious over a social event, and even go to any extent to avoid it? This person might be suffering from a fear of social situations. This is called social phobia or social anxiety, and when it becomes a chronic disorder it is called social anxiety disorder.
So you think you’re showing social anxiety symptoms, and you have no idea what to do. Don’t ignore your symptoms. Many people actually wait years before they seek help. If you think you have social anxiety symptoms or know someone who does, take action. Your involvement can make a lot of difference in your own or in the other person’s life.
Although it may feel like you’re the only one with this problem, social anxiety disorder is actually quite common. Many people struggle with these fears but the situations that trigger the symptoms of social phobia can be different.
When does social anxiety become a problem? When do you know you have SAD and you’re not simply shy? A good rule of thumb to go by in gauging whether or not you have SAD is this: if you can no longer function well in everyday situations and you are using avoidance as your coping strategy. These are two of the signs that you need to get professional help. The intensity of your fear, the level of your avoidance, and how badly your fear impairs your normal functioning are good indicators of SAD. For instance, people with generalized SAD do not simply feel nervous before they have to give a speech. Rather, they will worry about the speech for days, weeks, or even months before they have to give it. They will lose sleep because of anxiety and exhibit intense symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, or shortness of breath.
Ironically, there are many instances when SAD is misdiagnosed or altogether undiagnosed because it is all too often dismissed as extreme shyness. According to statistics, the symptoms start appearing in childhood but 75 percent of sufferers do not receive treatment. Or, if they do, they wait for a really long time – an average of 14 years, in fact.
If you have reason to believe you have social anxiety symptoms, do not dismiss them. Get yourself screened and evaluated, and find out all you can about your problem. You owe it to yourself to be proactive about your social anxiety symptoms.
Michelle Janosi is an online researcher on the subject of social anxiety symptoms. You can find more insights and groundbreaking research into how people all over the world are helping themselves with their anxiety at http://www.theanxietyblog.com
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