Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is the intense fear of being exposed to certain situations that involve public speaking and social interactions. Read further to know more about the symptoms, causes and ways to cope with social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder is the intense fear of being exposed to certain situations that involve public speaking and social interactions. The person who has social anxiety disorder symptom is anxious about being subjected to negative scrutiny. They become uneasy at the thought of possible embarrassment and humiliation if they fell short of their expectations.

People who have social anxiety disorder often have negative thoughts about being in front of the many. For example, a person who is about to give a toast to his brother’s wedding have started feeling nervous even if the wedding is still a couple of months away. This is because thoughts about not being able to carry out the task well of “giving the toast” at his brother’s wedding reception have already started to creep into his mind. He will begin to think that he’s going to blow it all or that he’s going to screw it. Thoughts like these definitely have no basis and should be challenged with positive and rational thinking.

Although it may seem easier said than done but countering your negative thoughts with positive thinking is one way towards reducing that fear of being in front of the public. Why not think about yourself being better than anyone else in the audience? Why not think about you being the best? The fact that you’re the one right there performing in front of them only means that there’s something that you can do that they couldn't. Don’t be too conscious about what the crowd or other people may think about you. If you only know, they’re also too busy thinking about how to make themselves more pleasing to others.

Excessive sweating is one of the manifestations of a social anxiety disorder symptom. The persons affected with this disorder also experience blushing, vomiting or trembling. Their voices have a breaking sound, and they are often at loss for words. Their abilities to keep organized thoughts are diminished. Situations that could trigger their social anxiety disorder symptom may include speaking in front of an audience, acting on stage or performing. In some cases, even the simple social interactions as dining out with a number of people causes anxiety.

Anti-anxiety medications are usually taken by persons before they engage in any public speaking or performance. These drugs may give them the temporary relief from the physical discomfort of the social anxiety disorder symptom. After the effects of these drugs have worn out, they will again show anxiety if made to undergo the same experience.

The person should seek permanent solution to their social anxiety disorders especially if they continually engage themselves to public encounters. Seeking the help of a licensed professional can properly guide the afflicted person with the methods to treat his disorder. One method is exposure therapy, wherein the person is made to encounter public events to diminish his anxiety, and learn by his own realization that his fear of social exposure or public speaking is unfounded. Nothing that is life-threatening will take place. The other one is a cognitive-behavior therapy that teaches the person to control his reactions to these situations so that they will not be disruptive to his normal functions and daily life.