What is Social Anxiety? and Why is Social Anxiety Disorder Interesting?

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Why is Social Anxiety Disorder Interesting?

Most people feel nervous or apprehensive in new social situations.However, those suffering with social anxiety take that mild apprehension to a whole new level.Social anxiety results in a major disruption to your life, with changes to your daily patterns that help you to avoid the feeling of stress or fear.This article will provide a brief overview of social anxiety, including the symptoms of the disorder and the most effective treatment options available.

Social anxiety may present in a number of ways, with different symptoms affecting people in different ways.The main symptom of the disorder is an irrational fear of social situations or activities, because you fear others are watching or judging you.Another common symptom is the fear that you will embarrass yourself in front of other people.The fear evolves into an unwillingness to participate in many social activities to prevent the inevitable judgment and embarrassment.

In addition to the psychological symptoms of social anxiety, there are also physical symptoms that may be experienced.Some of these physical signs might include heart palpitations, profuse sweating, stomach upset and trembling.When you interact with others, you might have difficulty making eye contact with them and you may find that your voice shakes when you try to speak.

When you deal with social anxiety, you often also have to grapple with self esteem issues and the inability to accept any type of criticism.Most people with social anxiety understand that their fears and anxieties are not logical, but they can’t do anything to stop them.A nasty circle erupts when you begin to fear the social fear itself, which becomes the source of much of your distress.When social anxiety begins to dominate your life and get in the way of your relationships and daily activities, it is time to talk to a doctor.

The good news is that there are effective treatment for social anxiety disorder and they usually involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy.Selective seratonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the medication of choice for treating social anxiety, with commercial names like Prozac or Paxil.The most effective psychotherapy technique is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps the patient alter thought processes to reduce the fear of social situations.When medication and psychotherapy are combined effectively, you can often enjoy less anxiety and a higher quality of life.

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