Social Anxiety
Steve wanted to go to the concert. He loved Phish, but the thought of being around other people made his heart skip a beat, his palms sweaty, and a lump form in his throat as if he had dry swallowed a ping pong ball. What if his friends made fun of him and his new hair cut? What if he did something stupid and embarrassing? People can be awfully judgmental, he thought as he replied to his friends message asking him to join. He regretfully declined the invitation. Though now he felt empty, alone and saddened, he thought it was much better than the potential horror that could come from possible public humiliation.
What exactly is Social Anxiety?
Steve is not a unique case, as roughly 3-7% of people in the USA suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD. Those who struggle with social anxiety experience an out-of-proportion response of fear or anxiety related to a social situation. Usually this is related to concerns of embarrassment and harsh judgment by others and often leads to unwarranted criticisms of the self and a state of poor self perception. SAD can interfere with normal daily functioning as the anxiety centered around social situations tends to be so immense patients with SAD try to avoid as many social activities as possible. This can cause negative outcomes on relationships, work performance and overall wellbeing.
How do I stop feeling socially anxious?
Like Steve, physical symptoms of SAD often present as sweating, feeling flushed, experiencing palpitations or fluttering of the heart. Not fun. How do you get your body to not respond this way? How do you get your mind to free itself from this anxiety? Cognitive behavioral Therapy is recommended to challenge core beliefs and face the source of this critical personal perception head on. Medications can also be useful to chemically balance neurotransmitters that may be off-kilter. Ultimately, beating this beast of burden requires a combination of building your self confidence through altering your view of yourself (positive daily affirmations are a good place to start), desensitizing yourself to anxiety-inducing scenarios (recommended only with the help of a trained professional), and balancing the chemicals in your body through diet, breathing techniques and medications.
Always discuss with your doctor any supplements or medications prior to taking them.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/social-anxiety-disorder-in-adults-epidemiology-clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis?search=social%20anxiety%20disorder%20adult&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~132&usage_type=default&display_rank=2
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pharmacotherapy-for-social-anxiety-disorder-in-adults?search=social%20anxiety%20disorder%20adult&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~132&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H13590089
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673608604882?casa_token=XDIztHnAESUAAAAA:DYZ3h2So2P1h4fAVEDn5S1ooII9BX7cKH2AaeB6J75qWQ_oKCG8IpGie_SF4kEVW53Hk8SXgFNfv
https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tips-for-living-with-social-anxiety
https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jubk/article/view/25494
