What causes your social anxiety?
Social anxiety or social phobia as it is sometimes known causes people to become totally overwhelmed by everyday situations. Situations that most of us take no notice of can drive a person who suffers with anxiety into deep fear and sometimes panic.
Not everyone with anxiety disorder will have the same symptoms, we are all different so anxiety will have different effects on all of us. Some people will fear fear itself and fall into the ongoing circle of fear and anxiety while others fear nothing apart from being embarrassed.
Do you feel sweaty and sick when going into a new situation? Do you start trembling and feel your heart pounding in your chest? If this sounds like something you experience every time you are faced with a new social experience or situation then you may have or be developing an anxiety disorder.
These symptoms of anxiety can often lead to embarrassment for the person that has social anxiety. Some people that have social anxiety disorder are comfortable being only with close family and friends.
Social anxiety isn't something that only happens when you go out to a bar or party. When they are at work dealing with people who are in higher positions within the company they start to feel anxious and that can affect their thinking and reasoning which makes them look less knowledgeable, this is how social anxiety can affect your working life as well as your social life.
Speaking in public is a common fear of people with social anxiety disorder. Other fears can be eating in restaurants, using public restrooms, and using telephones.
No one really knows why but women are more likely than men to have social anxiety disorders, some people have a theory that there are many men who suffer but never say anything and don't get treatment for it. If this is the case they must just retreat into their own world of pain and that is a shame, there are ways for all of us to get help and no one should suffer from anxiety disorders alone.
If your child or someone you know is considered to be a shy person then you probably know what to do , however if they start avoiding every social occasion, avoiding parties, meetings and maybe even eating alone constantly, you may have a case of social anxiety disorder on your hands. It is best to see a professional at this point rather than leaving it to long, the sooner that treatment starts the greater the chance for recovery.