Dealing with social anxiety disorder
Dealing with social anxiety disorder can be a tremendous burden on a person. Getting help for social anxiety disorder might be just as difficult. Overcoming social anxiety requires support. Support from loved ones, friends, or getting social anxiety treatment for your problem. Social anxiety disorder is known as social phobia. It's more than just general nerves one feels. We've all been nervous in our lives. Simple nerves doesn't define social phobia.
Social anxiety disorder symptoms deals with extreme cases of nerves. For example, social situations, or interactions with others become very difficult to manage. One with dealing with social anxiety disorder lives in complete fear of interactions with others. Or phobias over things they've not experienced. Examples, one can feel very uncomfortable eating in front of others, or writing a check, and just doing very simple things in front of others. Those dealing with social anxiety disorder can start to shake, stutter with words, or constantly obsess to themselves on how they're being perceived when making common interactions with people.
Social anxiety is an illness, and it's very serious. Simply being shy has become an illness. Some people might have very mild cases of social anxiety disorder, where some are much more serious. Extreme cases of social anxiety is when they effect a person's life. Meaning they make life changes revolved around this illness. A person can become a shut in, and quit their job because of this illness. A person can choose jobs based on their illness.
Social anxiety disorder more than likely will lead to depression as well. Alcoholism and drugs are symptoms of social anxiety disorder as well. Those who suffer from a mental illness, will lean toward drugs and alcohol to self medicate themselves. This is why mental illnesses like this need to be treated seriously. It can lead to dangerous and life changing situations.
What causes social anxiety disorder can be genetic, or neurological problems. A lot times you can develop this disorder if you put yourself in situations with very little interactions with others. Those who work jobs that require a lot of time alone, for example. It's important and healthy to maintain human interactions in your life. Being shut off from people, even without intentions, can lead to potential social anxiety disorders. Social anxiety disorder sometimes develops later in life for some people.
Treating social anxiety disorder
1.) Practice social interactions. Get in front of a mirror, and have conversations with yourself. Practice greetings, conversations, and speak in front of the mirror on a regular basis. Get used to your interactions, mannerisms, and speech. If you can learn to get use to them, it will help you more in social situations. It will help you to adjust, not think, and let it become just natural.
2.) Apply a good diet. Eating brain foods might help enhance your neurological health. Foods have been linked to improve depression and anxiety. Consider taking Omega-3 fish oils.
3.) Practice simple interactions. Sometimes saying hello to a neighbor is difficult for one with social anxiety disorder. Make the effort to greet a neighbor, or stranger by saying hello. It doesn't require much conversation, just mutter the words "hi", or "how are you doing".
4.) Get professional help. Don't be afraid to get help professional treatment. It might be scary to express your personal problems with someone. However, there are millions of people who've been where you are. You're not alone with this illness. If you're not ready to get professional help, join some online social anxiety support groups. Talk to others who can share in the same experiences. Talking to others might help influence you to get social anxiety treatment needed.
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Comments
Nice piece here godfather. I have social anxiety disorder to an extent and I sometimes need to take a low-dose Xanax before I got hang out in a large group setting or visit people I'm not too familiar with, like some of my girlfriends friends. Its a pretty horrible condition. I have tried my hardest to overcome this without medication but after suffering for years I finally gave in. I hope to not have to rely on medication in the near future. I used to just use alcohol to treat it, but that's a horrible idea and I can't drink anymore anyway thanks to good old hypoglycemia messing with me all the time nowadays.
The tip about eating correctly may not seem like a big deal, but you're right on - diet can have a huge impact on mood and energy levels.
Exercise can help also - hikers are a generally very friendly and unassuming bunch, so easy & local trails are a great option to get out there in a low-pressure environment.
I think as social anxiety becomes more well-known and understood, the stigma will begin to fade on a societal level, and those suffering will be seen as just people, not people with a disorder - Godfather, thanks for shedding some light on the issue.
@ Travis_Aitch, congrats on making steps to overcome your anxiety! I frequently see you around Info Barrel and would have never guessed - you're not only a success story here on Info Barrel, but out in the "real world" too - keep it up, and thanks for sharing your story!
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