Are you extremely worried before social events? Do you feel anxious about meeting your friends? Are you afraid of others judging you? Are you scared to go to public events? Do you avoid your colleagues, friends or your family members? Are you scared of meeting new people?
If you have been feeling like that for more than six months and these feelings limit your daily life, you may have a social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition. It is an overwhelming, persistent fear of being judged by others. Job interviews, going to a gym, answering or asking a question, and participating in social events might cause you intense anxiety or fear. It is a fear of being humiliated, judged and rejected.
This feeling is out of control and limits everyday functioning.
Some people with social anxiety disorder experience performance anxiety when giving a speech, playing a sports game, doing a presentation or performing on a stage.
Social anxiety disorder usually starts with being shy at a young age, but the shyness deepens into an overwhelming fear and presents with physiological symptoms such as
- Blushing, sweating, trembling, rapid heart rate, or the “mind going blank”
- Feeling nauseous
- Feeling dizzy
Behavioural symptoms are often
- No or little eye contact, or speaking quietly
- Avoiding people, especially new ones
- Being very self-conscious, feeling embarrassed
Cognitive symptoms:
- Staying away from busy places or social events
- Safety is at home, alone
Social anxiety disorder is generally treated with psychotherapy or talking therapy, medication, or both.
Social Phobia
Social anxiety and social phobia describe two different ends of the social anxiety spectrum.
Social anxiety on its own is not a formal diagnosis. It is a way to describe a shared experience of the following symptoms when engaging with others in a social setting: nervousness, fear, avoidance or apprehension.
Anxiety presents when there is an uncertainty in a social setting, such as meeting new people, going to unfamiliar places or being in the spotlight
For some people, social anxiety can be intense in the moment, but it does not typically cause ongoing disruption in everyday life.
Social phobia, which is also known as social anxiety disorder in diagnostic manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), is a diagnosable mental health disorder. Health experts classify it in the DSM-5-TR as an anxiety disorder involving specific diagnostic criteria and symptoms that cause major impairment in important areas of function (Medical News 2024).
At Urmston Hypnotherapy, we do not diagnose, but we use psychotherapy and hypnotherapy to help you overcome your fear.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can help you discover the root cause of your anxiety; it teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations, and encourages you to practice social skills.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can help you learn relaxation skills and mentally practice situations where you usually would feel anxious. This gradual, gentle exposure lessens fear; you learn to manage your feelings and emotions, both subconsciously and cognitively, and eventually you will be able to put your new skills into practice.
Integrative hypno-psychotherapy can help you to take back control over your worries.
You are not alone! You don`t have to do it alone!
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Reference: What is the difference between social anxiety and social phobia? Medical News Today, March 2024 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/social-phobia-vs-social-anxiety#treatment
