Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia by Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist

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Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia
by Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Many people get nervous or self-conscious on occasion, like when giving a speech or interviewing for a new job. But social anxiety, or social phobia, is more than just shyness or occasional nerves. With social anxiety disorder, your fear of embarrassing yourself is so intense that you avoid situations that can trigger it. But no matter how painfully shy you may be and no matter how bad the butterflies, you can learn to be comfortable in social situations and reclaim your life.

What is social anxiety disorder / social phobia?

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Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, involves intense fear of certain social situations—especially situations that are unfamiliar or in which you feel you’ll be watched or evaluated by others.

These social situations may be so frightening that you get anxious just thinking about them or go to great lengths to avoid them.

Underlying social anxiety disorder or social phobia is the fear of being scrutinized, judged, or embarrassed in public. You may be afraid that people will think badly of you or that you won’t measure up in comparison to others. And even though you probably realize that your fears of being judged are at least somewhat irrational and overblown, you still can’t help feeling anxious.

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about the symptoms of social anxiety disorder or social phobia, in reality, there are many things that can help. It starts with understanding the problem.

MA’s story

MA skipped class today. It’s the first day of the new semester, and he’s afraid that the professor will go around the class and have the students introduce themselves. He knows it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it really stresses him out. Whenever he has to speak in front of more than just a few people, his voice starts shaking and his face gets red. He always feels so humiliated afterwards.

Since public speaking is MA’s worst nightmare, he’s been avoiding a speech class he has to take in order to graduate. He’s also dreading his brother’s wedding, even though it’s over six months away. As the best man, he’ll have to give a toast at the reception and he’s already nervous about it.

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Source for Treatment: Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Contact for Appointment:03008142763

http://www.psychologistinlahore.com/

Common social phobia / social anxiety disorder triggers

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Although it may feel like you’re the only one with this problem, social anxiety or social phobia is actually quite common. Many people struggle with these fears. But the situations that trigger the symptoms of social anxiety disorder can be different.

Some people experience anxiety in most social and performance situations, a condition known asgeneralized social anxiety disorder. For other people with social phobia, anxiety is connected with specific social situations, such as speaking to strangers, eating at restaurants, or going to parties.

The most common specific social phobia is fear of public speaking or performing in front of an audience.

Triggers for social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

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The following situations are often stressful for people with social anxiety disorder:

Meeting new people
Being the center of attention
Being watched while doing something
Making small talk
Public speaking
Performing on stage
Being teased or criticized
Talking with “important” people or authority figures
Being called on in class
Going on a date
Making phone calls
Using public bathrooms
Taking exams
Eating or drinking in public
Speaking up in a meeting
Attending parties or other social gatherings

Signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder / social phobia

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Just because you occasionally get nervous in social situations doesn’t mean you have social anxiety disorder or social phobia. Many people are shy or self-conscious—at least from time to time—yet it doesn’t get in the way of their everyday functioning. Social anxiety disorder, on the other hand, does interfere with your normal routine and causes tremendous distress.

For example, it’s perfectly normal to get the jitters before giving a speech. But if you have social anxiety disorder or social phobia, you might worry for weeks ahead of time, call in sick to get out of it, or start shaking so bad during the speech that you can hardly speak.

Source for Treatment: Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Contact for Appointment:03008142763

http://www.psychologistinlahore.com/

Emotional symptoms of social anxiety disorder / social phobia

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Excessive self-consciousness and anxiety in everyday social situations
Intense worry for days, weeks, or even months before an upcoming social situation
Extreme fear of being watched or judged by others, especially people you don’t know
Fear that you’ll act in ways that that will embarrass or humiliate yourself
Fear that others will notice that you’re nervous
Physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder / social phobia
Red face, or blushing
Shortness of breath
Upset stomach, nausea (i.e. butterflies)
Trembling or shaking (including shaky voice)
Racing heart or tightness in chest
Sweating or hot flashes
Feeling dizzy or faint

Behavioral symptoms of social anxiety disorder / social phobia

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Avoiding social situations to a degree that limits your activities or disrupts your life
Staying quiet or hiding in the background in order to escape notice and embarrassment
A need to always bring a buddy along with you wherever you go
Drinking before social situations in order to soothe your nerves

Social anxiety disorder / social phobia in children by Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist

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There’s nothing abnormal about a child being shy, but children with social anxiety disorder or social phobia experience extreme distress over everyday activities and situations such as playing with other kids, reading in class, speaking to adults, taking tests, or performing in front of others. Often, children with social phobia don’t want to go to school.

Social anxiety disorder treatment

http://www.psychologistinlahore.com/

Source for Treatment: Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Contact for Appointment:03008142763

http://www.psychologistinlahore.com/

#1: Challenge negative thoughts
#2: Learn to control your breath
#3: Face your fears
#4: Build better relationships
#5: Change your lifestyle

When self-help for social anxiety / social phobia isn’t enough

The best treatment approach for social anxiety disorder varies from person to person. You may find that self-help strategies are enough to ease your social anxiety symptoms. But if you’ve tried the techniques above and you’re still struggling with disabling anxiety, you may need professional help as well.

Therapy for social anxiety disorder / social phobia

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Of all the professional treatments available, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to work the best for treating social anxiety disorder, or social phobia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the premise that what you think affects how you feel, and your feelings affect your behavior. So if you change the way you think about social situations that give you anxiety, you’ll feel and function better.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social phobia typically involves:

Learning how to control the physical symptoms of anxiety through relaxation techniques and breathing exercises.

Challenging negative, unhelpful thoughts that trigger and fuel social anxiety, replacing them with more balanced views.

Facing the social situations you fear in a gradual, systematic way, rather than avoiding them.

While you can learn and practice these exercises on your own, if you’ve had trouble with self-help, you may benefit from the extra support and guidance a therapist brings.

Group therapy for social anxiety disorder / social phobia

Other cognitive-behavioral techniques for social anxiety disorder include role-playing and social skills training, often as part of a therapy group.

Group therapy for social anxiety disorder uses acting, videotaping and observing, mock interviews, and other exercises to work on situations that make you anxious in the real world. As you practice and prepare for situations you’re afraid of, you will become more and more comfortable and confident in your social abilities, and your anxiety will lessen.

Saturday, 10 October 2015