SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER AFFECT MILLIONS

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, over 15 million people suffer from some form of social anxiety disorder. Many go untreated for years because their fear holds them captive in a body that will not allow them to move out the front door or to change something as simple as going to the doctor.

A social anxiety disorder is an irrational – to the rest of the world or people around this person – persistent and intense fear of any kind of social interaction with another person or people, such as meetings, going out for dinner or to the movies.

People who suffer from social anxiety disorders fear being embarrassed, humiliated, being judged or criticized by others. Many of these social anxiety disorders stem from something that happened in childhood or a series of events and have remained untreated. These anxieties have grown into a social anxiety or a real phobia of social situations that causes the person to suffer in silence.

There are physical symptoms as well as the mental anguish that accompanies the social anxiety disorders. Often people feel as if they are going to faint in a social situation, or that their throat is about to close up on them, they also experience blushing, trembling, sweating and stammering or stuttering. These are real symptoms and can be worked out with a therapist and several sessions of treatment.

Gaining control over your life or at least a sense of control over your life is one of the treatments that are called cognitive behavior treatment in which the patient with the social anxiety disorder changes or modifies some of their behaviors so that they are not as fearful in public situations. 

Living with a social anxiety disorder can be a lonely life because you are afraid of any social interaction, even going to the grocery store can be a major big deal in your life and you might put it off until the middle of the night when no one is around. And in today’s society of “buy it on the Internet” that’s exactly what you could do if you don’t want to face anyone, buy everything you need on-line. However this is not a good way to live and to face your fears. Doctors discourage this type of living for even the most debilitating of social anxiety disorder suffers.

Taking ‘baby steps’ to over-coming a social anxiety disorder is the key to getting better and being able to live a normal, healthy and sometimes a happy life. Many of the social anxiety disorder patients are depressed as well as have the social anxiety disorder.

If you are in a relationship and you suddenly develop a social anxiety disorder, you should not let it go and should seek help as soon as you are able. Social anxiety disorders have ruined relationships and can cause pain and suffering for not only you but for your friends and family as well. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you will feel better with your friends and family again.