Social Anxiety Disorder : How To Deal With It
Posted by Mary Jane
Friday, Apr. 9th 2010It's not uncommon to have a social anxiety disorder. It's estimated that as many as 10% of the population suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives. It may affect people when they are faced with any kind of social situation, or the symptoms may only occur in certain circumstances, such as when having to give a presentation, or when meeting new people. Sufferers are aware that these fears are unreasonable but that doesn't stop them from being excessively anxious. Overcoming social anxiety is crucial because if unchecked and untreated, it could lead to a more severe social anxiety disorder which can even greatly interfere with your daily life and it may lead to needing professional psychiatric help.
Overcoming social anxiety is not simple to do since it interferes with your daily routine. Those suffering from social anxiety disorder deal with this problem every day. Feeling extreme fear or anxiety can be caused by simple things such as the ringing of the door bell, answering the phone or the idea or going to the mall with other people. Those who suffer badly from social anxiety disorder may do their best to avoid whatever social situations that they can. Some even go to the extremes of avoiding situations where there are other people involved like social events, work meetings and school classes. They don't show up at the events for fear that they will do something that will humiliate or embarrass them. If they do show up, they will not get involved.
The cause of social anxiety disorder is not yet known. It is thought that it's more a case of nurture than nature though, and that past events, or maybe even just one event, in which a person was made to feel extremely uncomfortable in front of others haunts them, and they are constantly in fear of a repeat occurrence. Some research has suggested that it could be due to imbalances in chemicals in the brain, but studies have not proved to be conclusive. There are many different approaches that can help in overcoming social anxiety these days. The most successful technique that's used is one called cognitive behavioral therapy, which is carried out by specially trained therapists. The purpose of this therapy is to replace the negative thoughts that occur with positive ones.
Alternatives to cognitive behavioral therapy include relaxation therapy, exposure therapy and breathing techniques. All methods of treatment can be done either in one on one sessions with a therapist, or in group sessions. Reading self help books is also recommended, and there are many useful ones to choose from. For those who suffer really badly from social anxiety disorder, courses of medication may also be administered. The point of the medication is to address possible chemical imbalances in the body. You can get these medications with the right assessment and prescription from a doctor. However, medication alone will not be sufficient to overcome social anxiety disorder. It must only be used to supplement therapy techniques.
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Find Out More : Social Anxiety Support Or Improve My Self Esteem
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