Social anxiety is
a fully treatable condition
and can be overcome with effective therapy, work, and patience.
- Control Your Breathing.
- Try Exercise or Progressive Muscle Relaxation.
- Prepare.
- Start Small.
- Take the Focus Off Yourself.
- Talk Back to Negative Thoughts.
- Use Your Senses.
While it may seem
impossible
to overcome a feared social situation, you can do it by taking it one small step at a time. The key is to start with a situation that you can handle and gradually work your way up to more challenging situations, building your confidence and coping skills as you move up the “anxiety ladder.”
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is among the most frequently observed psychiatric disorders, with estimates of approximately 10% of people likely to suffer from the disorder during their
lifetime
.
You don't “outgrow” social anxiety
or snap out of it; you'll likely need therapy, a medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or a combination of the two to alleviate your symptoms.
The exact cause of social phobia
is unknown
. However, current research supports the idea that it is caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetics. Negative experiences also may contribute to this disorder, including: bullying.
Does anxiety get worse with age?
Anxiety disorders don't necessarily get worse with age
, but the number of people suffering from anxiety changes across the lifespan. Anxiety becomes more common with older age and is most common among middle-aged adults.
At what age does anxiety peak?
Anxiety disorders seem to peak at two main times: during childhood
(between five and seven years of age)
, and during adolescence. There is definitely a cohort of patients who have anxiety disorders in childhood, which corresponds to when they have to leave the house and go to school.
People who have an overactive amygdala may have
a heightened fear response
, causing increased anxiety in social situations. Environment. Social anxiety disorder may be a learned behavior — some people may develop significant anxiety after an unpleasant or embarrassing social situation.
Social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia) is
a mental health condition
. It is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others.
Left untreated, social anxiety disorder
can control your life
. Anxieties can interfere with work, school, relationships or enjoyment of life. This disorder can cause: Low self-esteem.
Constant worry
about saying or doing something embarrassing. Feelings of severe awkwardness or inferiority around authority figures. A fear that others will notice the social anxiety sufferer's discomfort and reject them because of it.
Shyness is another trait that often gets mixed up with social anxiety and introversion. It's even been suggested that social anxiety simply represents an extreme form of shyness. Like people with social anxiety, shy people usually
feel uncomfortable around strangers and hesitant to open up in social situations
.
A new study in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors has found that perceived addiction to pornography—that is, “feeling addicted to Internet pornography irrespective of actual pornography use”—is associated with forms of
psychological distress
including depression, anxiety, anger, and stress.
The only SSRIs that are currently FDA-approved for this condition are
sertraline (Zoloft)
and immediate- and extended-release paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR). Extended-release venlafaxine (Effexor XR) — a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) — is also FDA-approved to treat social anxiety disorder.
- Treat Yourself Well. …
- Visualize Success. …
- Reduce Stressors. …
- Do Your Research. …
- Don't Succumb to Pressure. …
- Interview the Interviewer. …
- Release Anxious Energy. …
- Take Your Time.
