Tips for Social Anxiety Sufferers

Do you usually feel apprehensive around others due to fear of possible embarrassment? Do you develop sweaty palms, shaky legs or feel you have butterflies in your stomach when called up to speak before an audience? Do you feel others are constantly scrutinizing your every move with a view that’s critical of you? If so, you are not alone. You have lots of company. In the United States alone, about 40 million American adults suffer from various forms of anxiety disorders, with over 15 million adults suffering from social anxiety, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The problem affects men equally as it does women. If left untreated, it could adversely affect the quality of life for social anxiety sufferers. But what exactly is social anxiety? Social Anxiety: Is it the same as shyness? The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes social anxiety as a condition where the sufferer experiences extreme and persistent fear in social settings or situations involving performance evaluation or scrutiny by unfamiliar people. The sufferer usually fears that his or her actions will be viewed as awkward, leading to possible embarrassment or humiliation. Due to this intense fear, social anxiety disorder sufferers usually avoid social gatherings. This intense anxiety can be triggered by a wide range of situations, leading to feelings of uneasiness. The anxiety is usually heightened in the workplace, in the school environment and around persons o...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Agoraphobia Anxiety General Social Phobia anxious thoughts Loneliness making friends Social Anxiety Source Type: news