Discover How To Overcome Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a specific form of anxiety. It is an emotion characterised by a discomfort or a fear when a person is in a social interaction that involves a concern of being judged or evaluated by others. Typically characterised by an intense fear of what others are thinking about them (specifically fear of embarrassment or humiliation, criticism, or rejection), which results in the individual feeling insecure and not good enough for other people, and/or the assumption that peers will automatically reject them.
Developmental social anxiety occurs early in childhood as a normal part of the development of social functioning and is a stage that most children grow out of, but it may persist or resurface and grow into chronic social anxiety during their teenage years or possibly in adulthood. People vary in how often they experience social anxiety, and in which kinds of situations they experience it.
Chronic social anxiety that causes considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life is an anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder (SAD). It is the most common anxiety disorder and one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Wikipedia
Social anxiety is an avoidance of interacting with work, social and family activities. This fear avoidance creates intense anxiety and distress. Small groups, authority figures, being observed, being the center of attention, are all a part of the daily activities to be avoided.
Social anxiety is a pattern of thinking that involves; predicting the future, mind reading, over generalizing, taking things personal and focusing on the negatives. The bodily symptoms can include; sweating, flushing, heart palpitations and elevated blood pressure.
Social Anxiety Companions~Alcohol, Sugar, Nicotine
Many people with social anxiety will use alcohol for liquid courage in social situations. Alcohol affects the brain’s serotonin levels that regulate mood. Alcohol is full of sugar which leads to feelings of nervousness, confusion, restlessness and sometimes dizziness.
While the main strategy is avoidance of social situation, people who suffer from social anxiety, develop social and emotional skill deficits as a results of the avoidance of interacting. While their peers are learning these skills by interacting. As time goes on, the anxiety and distress of avoiding interactions is loneliness and often depression.
Smokers often use the habit to try to relieve tension and anxiety. However, research has shown that smoking cigarettes may be linked to an increased risk of anxiety disorders. The effect of cigarette smoking on your anxiety may be related to the indirect effects of the habit of breathing, as well as the direct effects of nicotine on your body. Not only will quitting smoking be better for your social anxiety, it will also be better for your overall health.
Effective Therapy For Social Anxiety
Research indicates that the most effective therapy for social anxiety disorder is called cognitive-behavioral therapy. New rational ways to deal with and eradicate the anxiety can be learned. By learning to work with the “behavior” rather than being controlled of the anxieties. Anti depression medication can also be of assistance.
Resources To Overcome Social Anxiety
- Video by the University Of California Television. Physician, author, speaker, researcher, and consultant Martin L. Rossman, MD, discusses how to use the power of the healing mind to reduce stress and anxiety, relieve pain, change lifestyle habits, and live with more wellness. Series: UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public.
- Documentary on Social Anxiety Disorder.
- The Social Anxiety Institute offers an online therapy course.
- Text for Social Anxiety.
- Books available
Change your thinking, change your life!
Watch This Video By~Bestselling author, Noah Elkrief, explaining why you have social anxiety and how to completely lose your social anxiety.
More Than Butterflies: Overcoming Social Anxiety ~The Signs, Symptoms, and Learning how to Cope. By Barbara Markway, Ph.D., a psychologist with over 25 years of experience and the author of four self-help books. Barbara has also been featured in the award-winning PBS documentary Afraid of People. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Prevention, Essence, American Health, Real Simple, Web MD, Psychology Today, and her own website The Self-Compassion Project.
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