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Apr 02 2022

Signs That You Have a Social Anxiety Disorder

Therapy

Everyone feels a little shy or uncomfortable in some social situations. Things like the first day of school, the first few weeks at work, attending a party in a new neighborhood, etc, can all cause anxiety, but that nervousness isn’t social anxiety disorder. Many people experience a crippling sense of nervousness and anxiety even in the most mundane situations. These individuals may have an undiagnosed social anxiety disorder. In some cases, the signs of social anxiety remain invisible and undiagnosed.

1. Emotional

Emotional symptoms are the most noticeable among the different responses to social anxiety. They start showing up even before you’re in social interaction. These can include:

  • Fear of being dismissed or rejected.
  • Fear of interacting with people, even if they are familiar to you.
  • Intense fear of engaging with strangers.
  • Avoiding being the center of attention or conversation.
  • Refraining from commenting on topics or entering into discussions even if you’re interested.
  • Being extremely self-critical after the social engagement is over.
  • In children, the emotional response can lead to crying and temper tantrums.

These are the typical emotional responses if you’re facing a social situation and have a disorder. If you or your loved one experiences these, it is a good idea to consult with a professional.

2. Physical Responses

The body responds to emotional stimuli and will react if you experience distress. If you are concerned that someone has a social anxiety disorder, watch out for the physical signs mentioned below:

  • Rapid breathing and heartbeat.
  • Trembling and shaking.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Tense muscles, especially in the jaw.
  • Blushing and avoiding eye contact.
  • Dizziness or a feeling of lightheadedness.
  • Upset stomach, including nausea.
  • Inability to form thoughts or ideas for a moment.
  • Feeling drained and tired after every social interaction.

These are the common physical signs of social anxiety disorder. Many people can even go into panic attacks because they are unable to handle the social stimulus.

3. Behavioral Symptoms

People suffering some social anxiety will adopt certain behaviors on a fairly regular basis. While a person without any disorder may experience the issues mentioned below, they will not face them consistently. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Avoiding interacting with people, especially strangers.
  • Skipping work or school regularly.
  • Avoiding dating or even making new friends.
  • Inability to eat in front of other people.
  • Avoiding using a public restroom.
  • Missing opportunities to further your education or career.
  • Consistently avoiding eye contact.

It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms can change over time, especially as a person grows older and the nature of their emotional response changes. The responses can also change based on the type of social situation.

These are the most common signs of social anxiety disorder. Acute social anxiety can become a big problem. It is best to book an appointment with a therapist to get an official diagnosis and treatment, especially if the concern is impacting your life significantly. eTherapy Pro offers effective and convenient online therapy solutions to help people with social anxiety. You can attend a few sessions for free so see if it is a good solution for you.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Written by Etherapy-Blogs · Categorized: Uncategorized · Tagged: acute social anxiety disorder, severe social anxiety disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder

Sep 12 2018

Social Anxiety Disorder – What Is It?

Social Anxiety Disorder

Many people are nervous when meeting new people, or speaking in public. There are very few people that actually enjoy the idea of speaking in front of a crowd, whether for work or your best friend’s wedding. This is a typical response of mild anxiety that in some ways helps you as it can let you know how important it is and motivates you to prepare and practice. This is not Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder, also called Social Phobia, is debilitating anxiety that reaches a point where it interferes with daily life and actively prevents a person from doing normal day-to-day things, like taking the bus, speaking when called on in class, or talking to their boss. This anxiety disorder will keep a person home from work, they will avoid going out, and will work actively to minimize any social contact they have.

Although the causes are not clear, the experience is generally similar for most people with this disorder. They are extremely fearful of standing out and being judged. They have a negative view of themselves, are certain they will be viewed negatively and receive some type of punishment for it. They feel like they are on the spot, or on display at all times, and people are always watching them and judging them. From all this they will actively avoid social situations as much as possible.

What the anxiety feels like and how they respond to it similar to other anxiety disorders, but there are some symptoms specific to this particular disorder. The  signs and symptoms of social anxiety can include:

  • Blushing, sweating, or trembling
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Mind goes blank, leaving you unable to respond to others
  • Feel nauseous or sick to the stomach
  • Rigid body posture
  • Make little eye contact
  • Speak with an overly soft voice
  • Find it scary and difficult to be with other people, especially those they don’t already know, and have a hard time talking to them even though they wish they could
  • Very self-conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed and awkward
  • Very afraid that other people will judge them
  • Stay away from places where there are other people
  • Anxious or fearful when thinking of, or discussing, social situations
  • Desire to stay as “invisible” as possible in social situations

It’s easy to see there are some more standard signs of anxiety in there, like worry, stomach reactions, rapid heartbeat, but there are also more specific responses like the meekness, the desire to become invisible in social situations, and always feeling in the spotlight. This is a painful experience over and above simple shyness.

This illness limits some of the basic human needs, hindering work, and cutting a person off from friends and family. It is painful, but it can be treated. Reaching out for help is the first step, and as with the other anxiety disorders, the sooner treated, the better the prognosis.  Social anxiety disorder can be effectively treated by mental health professionals such as a therapist, psychiatrist, or online counselor.

An online counselor maybe the best solution for a person suffering with social anxiety. Online therapy programs allow a person to communicate with a professional from the comfort of home, without the need to travel, or deal with a busy office.

Talk to an Expert about Social Anxiety Today! Start a trial of online counseling.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Written by Wendy Minks · Categorized: Uncategorized · Tagged: anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, extreme social anxiety disorder, generalized social anxiety disorder, overcoming social anxiety disorder, sad social anxiety disorder, severe social anxiety disorder, signs of social anxiety disorder, social anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, social anxiety disorder causes, social anxiety disorder cure, social anxiety disorder diagnosis, social anxiety disorder help, social anxiety disorder in children, social anxiety disorder psychotherapy, social anxiety disorder social phobia, social anxiety disorder symptoms, social anxiety disorder therapy, social anxiety disorder treatment, treatment for social anxiety disorder in adults, types of social anxiety disorders

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