Say Good-bye to Social Anxiety Symptoms
Do you fear that others might belittle your or see you in a bad light? Are you afraid of being humiliated in pubic? If your answer is yes, then you might have social anxiety or social phobia. Others characterize social anxiety as being overly shy. But in some cases when shyness leads to a person avoiding any social situation, then this becomes a phobia. Social anxiety symptoms center on being in public. If you are wary of speaking in public, meeting new people, being teased or criticized, making small talk or even making a phone call or going on a date, then you might have social anxiety.
Physical Symptoms
Social anxiety symptoms include: pounding heart, rapid breathing, sweating, upset stomach, dry mouth, trembling and shaking, blushing, dizziness, clammy hands and twitching. The physical symptoms for anxiety and social anxiety are more or less the same. It is the trigger that is different.
People who are shy or those who get self-conscious in a public setting do not have social anxiety automatically. However if your shyness gets in the way of your daily routine and causes you distress, then this is when it becomes a problem.
Psychological Symptoms
People who suffer from social anxiety also have psychological symptoms. They often worry days or weeks before any social engagement. They are scared of being judged and criticized by others. They also have this fear that their fear will be noticed by others. People with social phobia are extremely self conscious and worry about being in social situations everyday. Most people with this phobia avoid any social situation.
In children, we usually see shyness as normal. But when we see kids who experience distress while playing with other kids, or while reading in class or talking to adults, then this might already be a sign of social anxiety disorder in children.
Remedies
If you feel that you have social anxiety symptoms, then perhaps a change in lifestyle will do you wonders. While it will not cure social phobia completely, it will lessen stress in your daily life. One thing you can do is to cut down on caffeine. Avoid carbonated beverages, energy drinks and coffee. These are loaded with caffeine which is a stimulant.
Avoid alcohol whenever possible. Some people think that alcohol can help you overcome your shyness and loosen you up a bit. But alcohol can sometimes increase your chances of having a social anxiety attack.
Quit smoking. Nicotine like caffeine is a stimulant. This will only add to your agitation and increase your anxiety levels.
Get adequate sleep. People who are low on sleep are naturally cranky and on edge. Getting the right amount of sleep will help reduce sleep levels and make you less vulnerable to anxiety. Also, being well rested will help you stay calm especially in a social setting.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the best solutions to eliminate social anxiety symptoms. It is based on the premise that the way you think affects the way how you behave. If you change how you feel about social situations, then you will begin to feel and function better especially in a public setting.
