Social anxiety sufferers feel a lot of physical symptoms that are often mistaken for other illnesses. The most common one is the feeling of accelerated heart beating (cardiac arrythmia). Symptoms can also include muscle weakness, dizziness or vertigo, shortness of breath or hyperventilation, tightness in the chest or throat, and trembling or shaking limbs. And that’s not all! Sufferers often experience dry mouth and nausea as well.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for social anxiety, with cognitive behavioral therapy being among the best. This therapy aims to change people’s thoughts and behaviors, so they’re no longer afraid to become involved in social activities. social anxiety psychologist helps patients understand their symptoms and how to cope with them. Cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder can help about 80 percent of all people who try it.
At the same time, there are many ways to manage your physical reactions during social anxiety. During cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychologist will work with you to address the negative thoughts and beliefs contributing to excessive fear or avoidance of social situations. There are two components of this treatment. The first component deals with how you view yourself and the world around you, and the second component is about how you react when faced with specific situations that bring on your anxiety.
One method has you mentally picturing your body reacting to the anxiety, then slowly calming it down. Deep breathing can help to ease heart rate and muscle tension. You can press your fingertips on your pulse points and take a few slow deep breaths. If all else fails, head for the restroom, where you can splash cold water on your face and make sure you’re sitting up straight without slouching or having any tension in your shoulders.
Once you know what’s causing feelings of social anxiety and learn how to manage them when they occur, it’s time to embark on an activity that’s challenging but not overwhelming. It’s important to take things one at a time and not set yourself up for failure by trying to make too many changes at once.
Change gradually is the key to long-term relief from social anxiety. The reason it’s so hard to end social anxiety is that you’ve been doing the same thing in the same way for so long that any change feels like something new and frightening. With a little awareness and practice, you can slowly start making changes that will ultimately free you from your symptoms.
Many people experience social anxiety, but a few have problems that are so severe they keep them from participating in many daily activities. If you think you may have a case of social anxiety disorder, it’s important to get evaluated by a professional.
By leaving the house (when certain situations occur), people with social anxiety disorder can learn that the consequences of their actions are not nearly as bad as they thought or feared. Although learning this is an important step, it does not indicate that a person’s fear has been overcome.
There is no specific and established definition for what would be considered normal or abnormal behavior in an individual with Social Anxiety Disorder.