Social phobia or social anxiety disorder is an illness caused by anxiety particularly when it comes to everyday social situations. Social phobias can vary in intensity and may be limited to just one type of situation such as speaking publicly or eating in front of others or in its most severe form it can affect the person in any situation which involves them being around other people.
What are the main signs and symptoms of the illness?
The person suffering from this illness will have an intense fear of being around other people and will have a persistent fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing anything that would cause them embarrassment. In certain situations such as just knowing they have a wedding to attend for example can cause the person to worry continually day and night for many weeks or even months prior to the wedding taking place.
Most people who suffer from this illness find that they continually make excuses so they don’t have to attend functions which in the end can mean a total lack of social life, with some eventually never leaving the confines of their home. The symptoms of the illness will of course vary widely from person to person, as does the severity of the illness itself, generally speaking the symptoms are:
* Blushing profusely
* Excessive sweating
* Trembling of the limbs
* Tension headaches
* Butterflies in the stomach
* Nausea
* Difficulty in talking
While the majority of people realize that their phobia is unfounded, most are unable to overcome them without help, if the situation they fear is unavoidable then they will worry persistently for many hours beforehand and after the event, they will continue worrying about what people thought of them for many hours.
Treatment for social phobias
It is essential if you think you might be suffering from social phobia that you contact you Doctor, who will then determine whether you are suffering from anxiety. Once diagnosed as having a social phobia your Doctor will probably suggest that medication is started to help reduce the symptoms and cognitive therapy is also started to help you deal with the issues of the phobia and help you find practical ways of dealing with the illness.
Most medication for anxiety and phobias have to be taken for a number of weeks before the full benefits of taking them are shown and it is important that you don’t stop taking them once you start to feel better.
Many people with phobia disorders also find it helpful to join a self-help or support group once medication has been started and they can venture out a little more. For those who feel they aren’t up to venturing out and meeting people yet, then internet self-help groups with chat rooms may be advised, however it is important to use only those who are supported by your mental health worker of Doctor.
Stress management techniques may also be used and can be extremely helpful to those suffering from anxiety due to the disorder and there are several techniques to choose from. Aerobic exercise, yoga and meditation are particularly beneficial to those who suffer anxiety and depression, as are deep breathing exercises.
Family members of those suffering should also realise that loved ones do have a medical condition and it’s not something which they can snap out of immediately and they should offer plenty of support.
Plenty of patience and understanding will be needed on the family’s part as the illness may seem trivial to them but to the sufferer it is far from trivial. It is important to realise that although the patient may be having treatment, treatments for phobias are not miracle cures and it may take some time before the person feels they can venture out amongst people without feeling the effects the phobia brings.
