Do you always skip social gatherings or feel extremely nervous, stressed, and try everything just to escape that situation? It may be due to social phobia. Diagnosis will help you understand the triggers behind it and manage them better.
Learn more about the symptoms, treatment, and therapy for social anxiety disorder below.
An Introduction To Social Phobia
Nervousness to interviews, public speaking, and facing strangers is obvious and happens with everyone. But once we face it, all the nervousness goes away. This does not happen with people having a social phobia.
They get too anxious and fearful about the situations that negative thoughts keep flooding their brain. All these affect not only one’s personal and professional life but also their mental health. And if not treated on time, one may get into depression and even get suicidal thoughts.
Since it is treatable, one should keep an eye over these physical symptoms to know whether they have social phobia or not.
- Symptoms of Social Phobia
- Panic attacks
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty making eye contact
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
Cause Of Social Anxiety Disorder
Knowing what causes this disorder or phobia is very important to tackle the situation in a better way. Unfortunately, health experts say that there is no one and accurate cause behind it. The cause varies as per an individual’s surroundings, genetics, and lifestyle.
However, sexual abuse, bullying, physical abnormalities, a hyperactive amygdale, and family conflicts can be the possible causes. Social phobia is inherent as well, so if someone in a family has an anxiety disorder may suffer from social phobia.
Therefore, parents need to observe their kid’s behavior to prevent low self-esteem, suicidal tendency, and other future complications.
Social Phobia Diagnosis
By monitoring these symptoms in a particular situation, one can easily identify social phobia in others and themselves. But, a proper social phobia diagnosis by a health care provider will help you in treatment and therapy.
Physical examinations and self-report questionnaires are two ways on which the diagnosis will be based. Once it fulfills the criteria mentioned in DSM-5 of APA, your doctor may suggest the following treatments and therapies.
Social Phobia Treatment
Psychotherapy
Several therapies such as CBT, family therapy, interpersonal and more can be suggested to bring positive changes in behaviors during anxiety trigger situations.
Medications
Your doctor may give you antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta-blockers to reduce the symptoms. However, these are short-term solutions and should be taken as per instructions.
Alternative Therapies
Yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation can help one deal naturally without the risk of side effects. Physical exercise also helps as it improves endorphins production that regulates your mood and anxiety.
Lifestyle changes
Although it is not a therapy, changing your lifestyle can bring permanent positive changes. So, join social groups, avoid junk food, caffeinated drinks, sleep better, and indulge in positive self-talk.
Conclusion
Social phobia seems very common; thus, few may ignore it and don’t even call it a disorder. However, not everyone needs proper medical treatment, but those with suicidal thoughts need immediate treatment.
