Emotional Symptoms
- Self conscious
- Worrys for social situations even if they are days, week, or months away
- Extreme fear of being judged or watched by people they know and especially by people they do not know
- Fear that other people will notice that they are nervous
- Worrys for social situations even if they are days, week, or months away
- Extreme fear of being judged or watched by people they know and especially by people they do not know
- Fear that other people will notice that they are nervous
Behavioral Symptoms
- Avoiding social situations
- Hides in the background and stays quiet to avoid being noticed
- Drinking before social events to calm their nerves
- Usually they bring a friend with them to feel more comfortable
- Hides in the background and stays quiet to avoid being noticed
- Drinking before social events to calm their nerves
- Usually they bring a friend with them to feel more comfortable
Physical Symptoms
- Sweating or hot flashes
- Red face/blushing
- Upset stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy
- Shaking in appearance and in voice
- Tightness in chest or heart is racing
- Red face/blushing
- Upset stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy
- Shaking in appearance and in voice
- Tightness in chest or heart is racing
Treatment
Treatment is different depending on the person. Some treatments include:
- Therapy
- Medication (antidepressants, beta blockers, and benzodiazepines)
- Group therapy
- Self therapy includes challenging negative thoughts, control breathing, face fears, build better relationships, and changing lifestyle
- Cognitive-behaviour group therapy which includes both cognitive restructuring and exposure. Being in a group setting provides opportunities for exposure. Participants in cognitive-behaviour therapy work as a group on cognitive restructuring exercises and practice social interactions and role play situations that are associated with social anxiety.
- Skills training and relaxation training
* Click here to see a clip of someone with a Social Anxiety Disorder*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIdHQNHO1vk
- Therapy
- Medication (antidepressants, beta blockers, and benzodiazepines)
- Group therapy
- Self therapy includes challenging negative thoughts, control breathing, face fears, build better relationships, and changing lifestyle
- Cognitive-behaviour group therapy which includes both cognitive restructuring and exposure. Being in a group setting provides opportunities for exposure. Participants in cognitive-behaviour therapy work as a group on cognitive restructuring exercises and practice social interactions and role play situations that are associated with social anxiety.
- Skills training and relaxation training
* Click here to see a clip of someone with a Social Anxiety Disorder*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIdHQNHO1vk