Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder

Another name for the social anxiety disorder is social phobia. This occurs when a person is just terrified to be in any kind of social situation.  The worry and overly self-consciousness come from being afraid of being watched or criticized by our peers.

Persons with this disorder are fearful that he or she will do something humiliating in front of other people. They may not have good social skills or not be comfortable in these settings, and that can make matters worse. Some people go from there into a full-blown panic attack. You might simply try to hide from social situations or be very uncomfortable in them.  They may also have a condition known as anticipatory anxiety. This is just a fear that something is going to happen before it actually does, and this can take place many days or weeks before a social encounter is supposed to happen. Usually, they will realize that this is an unreasonable fear but may not be able to control it.

This particular disorder incorporates untrue or very exaggerated beliefs about what happens in social situations and what negative opinions others may have about them. If they do not seek treatment, this can have a very negative impact on the individual’s daily activities, including their school life, work, social situations, and any type of relationships as well.

If the person has only a mild case, he may be afraid of a certain type of event, such as giving a speech. Usually, however, the fear involves more than one type of event such as eating, writing, being in a group with others, having everyone’s attention on them, asking questions, or even answering questions in public, or maybe something as necessary as using a public lavatory or phone calls.

There are other mental illnesses such as panic attacks, ocdc (obsessive-compulsive disorder, or major depression.  Many people first seek help with complaints from these other illnesses and not this one.

Do not try to take care of this situation by yourself alone. If you feel like you are a sinking ship, and the anxiety is getting the best of you, or affecting your relationships or your work itself, then you probably should make an appointment with your doctor to talk about treatment options. Do not be embarrassed by this disorder and know that there are many people out there just like you. Do not suffer in silence.

Your doctor can talk with you about various treatment plans that will help you get this under control and be able to have a better quality of life.  You may have to take medication to change your brain’s chemistry to lessen many of the symptoms that are so uncomfortable.  Plus, the doctor can also prescribe psychotherapy with a medical professional that will work with you to change your thoughts leading up to the stress and worry that go along with your anxiety.

Remember, talk to a medical professional and do not use this advice in substitution for their expert help.