Social Anxiety Symptoms
Social anxiety is often confused with generalized anxiety but the symptoms of social anxiety differ. People who have social anxiety are triggered in social and public situations. For example, it would be very difficult for a person with social anxiety to speak in front of a large group of people without triggering a panic attack.
People who have social anxiety usually only feel most comfortable around people that they know; friends, family, their spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Other than having extreme social anxiety about speaking in front of a large group of people, there are many other symptoms and signs of social anxiety.
People with social anxiety suffer from symptoms like these: intense anxiety or panic attacks in social situations, intense nervousness, paranoia, excessive sweating, blushing, shakiness, racing heart, extreme fear of embarrassment, avoiding social situations, avoiding interaction with people, avoiding dates, avoiding doctors appointments, avoiding parties, avoiding talking on the phone, avoiding meeting new people, and avoiding going to new or unknown places. Social anxiety symptoms are based on fear, and include false beliefs about social situations and automatic negative thought processes. The symptoms of social anxiety can have a negative affect on the person’s every day life, including work, school, friendships, relationships, and social activities.
It seems as though most of the symptoms that come along with social anxiety revolve around avoiding something, whether it be a person, place or thing. A person with social anxiety knows what triggers them and they avoid whatever it may be that will provoke their anxiety. This can seriously hinder a person’s potential in life; social anxiety can prevent someone from going to school, getting a job, having relationships, and generally prevent them from growing and thriving. Other things that social anxiety symptoms will cause a person to avoid are: being the center of attention, eating; drinking, working or writing in front of other people, asking questions, speaking in front of people they don’t know, using public toilets or bathrooms, meeting a person of authority, meeting a person that they are attracted, facing a person that intimidates them, looking into another persons eyes, making phone calls in front of other people, and being watched while doing something.
Being teased or criticized is extremely embarrassing for someone with social anxiety; they tend to take everything very seriously and literally rather than lightheartedly. There are physical symptoms that occur from social anxiety like confusion, pounding heart, sweaty palms, sweating, diarrhea, upset stomach, tense muscles, shaking and blushing. Blushing is a major symptom of social anxiety that occurs when the person feels embarrassed, usually blushing makes their anxiety and self consciousness ever more intense. One thing a person can do if they know they are going to be in a social situation that will trigger their anxiety and blushing (face turning bright red) is put an ice cube in their mouth before the blushing starts. The coolness of the ice will cool their face and relieve some anxiety.
There are so many steps a person can make towards conquering social anxiety and any other trials they may be faced with. One thing that will not help and only worsen social anxiety symptoms in the end is getting on a prescription medication for anxiety. Anxiety medication such as xanax or valium will only hide social anxiety symptoms. Talking with a counselor is the best way to start to understand social anxiety and learn how to keep it under control. Curing social anxiety symptoms can only be done over time through therapeutic practices, relaxation, meditation, yoga, massage, nurturing environments and people, rebuilding confidence, or whatever works for each individual.
People with social anxiety suffer from symptoms like these: intense anxiety or panic attacks in social situations, intense nervousness, paranoia, excessive sweating, blushing, shakiness, racing heart, extreme fear of embarrassment, avoiding social situations, avoiding interaction with people, avoiding dates, avoiding doctors appointments, avoiding parties, avoiding talking on the phone, avoiding meeting new people, and avoiding going to new or unknown places. Social anxiety symptoms are based on fear, and include false beliefs about social situations and automatic negative thought processes. The symptoms of social anxiety can have a negative affect on the person’s every day life, including work, school, friendships, relationships, and social activities.
It seems as though most of the symptoms that come along with social anxiety revolve around avoiding something, whether it be a person, place or thing. A person with social anxiety knows what triggers them and they avoid whatever it may be that will provoke their anxiety. This can seriously hinder a person’s potential in life; social anxiety can prevent someone from going to school, getting a job, having relationships, and generally prevent them from growing and thriving. Other things that social anxiety symptoms will cause a person to avoid are: being the center of attention, eating; drinking, working or writing in front of other people, asking questions, speaking in front of people they don’t know, using public toilets or bathrooms, meeting a person of authority, meeting a person that they are attracted, facing a person that intimidates them, looking into another persons eyes, making phone calls in front of other people, and being watched while doing something.
Being teased or criticized is extremely embarrassing for someone with social anxiety; they tend to take everything very seriously and literally rather than lightheartedly. There are physical symptoms that occur from social anxiety like confusion, pounding heart, sweaty palms, sweating, diarrhea, upset stomach, tense muscles, shaking and blushing. Blushing is a major symptom of social anxiety that occurs when the person feels embarrassed, usually blushing makes their anxiety and self consciousness ever more intense. One thing a person can do if they know they are going to be in a social situation that will trigger their anxiety and blushing (face turning bright red) is put an ice cube in their mouth before the blushing starts. The coolness of the ice will cool their face and relieve some anxiety.
There are so many steps a person can make towards conquering social anxiety and any other trials they may be faced with. One thing that will not help and only worsen social anxiety symptoms in the end is getting on a prescription medication for anxiety. Anxiety medication such as xanax or valium will only hide social anxiety symptoms. Talking with a counselor is the best way to start to understand social anxiety and learn how to keep it under control. Curing social anxiety symptoms can only be done over time through therapeutic practices, relaxation, meditation, yoga, massage, nurturing environments and people, rebuilding confidence, or whatever works for each individual.
