Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or also known as Social Phobia is not to be confused with shyness. Social Phobia is far more intense than shyness, and can interfere with ones daily functioning. People with social phobia want to interact with others, but are overcome with fear and much distress.
Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer fears social or performance situations or being scrutinized by others and therefore, they are afraid of embarrassing or humiliating themselves in public. Exposure to the feared situation almost instantly provokes anxiety, which may take the form of panic attacks. The feared social or performance situations are either avoided or endured with anxiety or distress and interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational or social functioning. Public speaking is one of the most common anxiety-provoking situations for people in general and it is the single situation most commonly feared by SAD patients as well. Other situations most feared by people suffering from social phobia are eating in front of others, dealing with authority figures or unfamiliar people, dating, performing on stage and informal speaking, which is avoided by 71%. When put in these social or performance situations sufferers may become anxious and have symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, blushing or even sweating.
Social Phobia has two subtypes: specific or generalised phobia. Specific phobia refers to when the sufferer may only fear and/or avoid only one specific situation whereas the generalised subtype is when one may be concerned about several social or performance situations. Risk factors for social phobia include: early experiences of embarrassment, humiliation or scrutiny by others in social or performance situations, and having rigid rules of social behaviour, such as always having to sound intelligent or fluent. Parenting influences can also put children at risk for developing social phobia. For example, parents with elevated self-criticism or those that encourage avoidance of threatening situations which build coping and resilience.
There are some helpful tips and treatments readily available to effectively manage and reduce social anxiety in social or performance situations. Taking slow, deep breaths in a controlled manner in socially anxious situations can be a great way to reduce social anxiety and manage social phobia. Take deep, long breaths and feel your stomach and chest rise with each inhalation and exhale slowly.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to focus externally rather than internally. SAD is based on intense feelings of dread, fear and apprehension in social settings. Sometimes, people suffering from social anxiety are so involved in their own physical symptoms and discomfort that everything else vanishes into the background. However, by trying to focus on external rather than internal stimuli - such as the people, conversations and information around you - attention may be diverted away from any physical sensations and allow for better social functioning and reduced social anxiety.
It may also be helpful to try and identify and remove deeply ingrained fears and false beliefs. Even though that may be easier said than done, negative thoughts, false beliefs, prior conditioning, self-esteem issues only help to feed social anxiety. By challenging and refuting these negative beliefs and irrational thoughts, great healing and change can occur. A popular and widely available therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps you change your thought patterns, beliefs, feelings, and behavior associated with the phobia and much research has shown it can be highly successful.
Taking small steps is vital to help overcome social phobia and build social confidence. Exposure therapy is frequently used for social phobia. By gradually exposing the person to feared social situations, usually beginning with small exposures and then slowly moving onto longer exposures, the brain is learning that the social or performance situation it once feared is actually not so bad. Social skills training may also help a person suffering from social phobia to become more confident in certain feared social or performance situations.
Lastly, Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests that if you suffer from social anxiety disorder you should try avoiding isolation during the holidays as it only reinforces social anxiety. If friends, family or others who you may feel comfortable with are available then keep in contact with them. It may also be beneficial to leave time for relaxation, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. It should also however, be kept in mind that social anxiety is likely to get worse if left untreated.
References:
Bandelow, B., & Stein, D.J. (2004). Social Anxiety Disorder. Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York.
http://www.socialphobia.org/
http://www.au.reachout.com/
www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/easing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays
http://www.ehow.com/ - How to Reduce and Manage Social Anxiety
By Aly—ADAVIC Volunteer
Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer fears social or performance situations or being scrutinized by others and therefore, they are afraid of embarrassing or humiliating themselves in public. Exposure to the feared situation almost instantly provokes anxiety, which may take the form of panic attacks. The feared social or performance situations are either avoided or endured with anxiety or distress and interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational or social functioning. Public speaking is one of the most common anxiety-provoking situations for people in general and it is the single situation most commonly feared by SAD patients as well. Other situations most feared by people suffering from social phobia are eating in front of others, dealing with authority figures or unfamiliar people, dating, performing on stage and informal speaking, which is avoided by 71%. When put in these social or performance situations sufferers may become anxious and have symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling, blushing or even sweating.
Social Phobia has two subtypes: specific or generalised phobia. Specific phobia refers to when the sufferer may only fear and/or avoid only one specific situation whereas the generalised subtype is when one may be concerned about several social or performance situations. Risk factors for social phobia include: early experiences of embarrassment, humiliation or scrutiny by others in social or performance situations, and having rigid rules of social behaviour, such as always having to sound intelligent or fluent. Parenting influences can also put children at risk for developing social phobia. For example, parents with elevated self-criticism or those that encourage avoidance of threatening situations which build coping and resilience.
There are some helpful tips and treatments readily available to effectively manage and reduce social anxiety in social or performance situations. Taking slow, deep breaths in a controlled manner in socially anxious situations can be a great way to reduce social anxiety and manage social phobia. Take deep, long breaths and feel your stomach and chest rise with each inhalation and exhale slowly.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to focus externally rather than internally. SAD is based on intense feelings of dread, fear and apprehension in social settings. Sometimes, people suffering from social anxiety are so involved in their own physical symptoms and discomfort that everything else vanishes into the background. However, by trying to focus on external rather than internal stimuli - such as the people, conversations and information around you - attention may be diverted away from any physical sensations and allow for better social functioning and reduced social anxiety.
It may also be helpful to try and identify and remove deeply ingrained fears and false beliefs. Even though that may be easier said than done, negative thoughts, false beliefs, prior conditioning, self-esteem issues only help to feed social anxiety. By challenging and refuting these negative beliefs and irrational thoughts, great healing and change can occur. A popular and widely available therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps you change your thought patterns, beliefs, feelings, and behavior associated with the phobia and much research has shown it can be highly successful.
Taking small steps is vital to help overcome social phobia and build social confidence. Exposure therapy is frequently used for social phobia. By gradually exposing the person to feared social situations, usually beginning with small exposures and then slowly moving onto longer exposures, the brain is learning that the social or performance situation it once feared is actually not so bad. Social skills training may also help a person suffering from social phobia to become more confident in certain feared social or performance situations.
Lastly, Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests that if you suffer from social anxiety disorder you should try avoiding isolation during the holidays as it only reinforces social anxiety. If friends, family or others who you may feel comfortable with are available then keep in contact with them. It may also be beneficial to leave time for relaxation, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. It should also however, be kept in mind that social anxiety is likely to get worse if left untreated.
References:
Bandelow, B., & Stein, D.J. (2004). Social Anxiety Disorder. Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York.
http://www.socialphobia.org/
http://www.au.reachout.com/
www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/easing-social-anxiety-during-the-holidays
http://www.ehow.com/ - How to Reduce and Manage Social Anxiety
By Aly—ADAVIC Volunteer
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