If you are working at overcoming social anxiety, then you do not want your condition dismissed as ordinary shyness if you’re suffering from a genuine anxiety disorder. You want to be treated appropriately, so that hopefully you can bring this problem under control and have a better life. Yet at the same time, if shyness really is your main problem, rather than a social anxiety disorder, then you don’t want to be bombarded with drugs when a little coaching in public speaking might be all that’s needed. In analyzing the cause of your social fears, you want your doctor to be able to make the correct diagnosis so you can get the help that fits best.
Shyness usually manifests at a young age, where the person feels nervousness and fear in an unfamiliar social situation or when they encounter new people. Much of the nervousness revolves around the feeling that they will do something to look foolish in front of the people, or that they will have negative judgments made of them.
This phenomenon often fades as the person grows older and learns that they can do public things without looking foolish, and their confidence builds. When the fears of social circumstances get worse and can’t simply be “gotten over” with a little work, they are identified as genuine anxiety disorders.
Fear of social situations, like shyness, revolves around the thought that people are going to make negative judgments about you, no matter what you do. What distinguishes a real phobia from simple shyness is the symptoms, which can involve trembling, heart palpitations, excessive blushing or sweating, nausea and even panic attacks. The social fears that require serious treatment can even lead to clinical depression, which only compounds the situation.
Discovering the difference between genuine social fears and a severe case of ordinary shyness is crucial to applying the right treatment. Overcoming a social phobia may involve cognitive therapy, which might resemble the coaching people sometimes get to help overcome shyness. But you are also likely to be given antidepressants, which are often good treatments for the social anxiety, but which should not be used just to help a person overcome shyness. Having the right treatment involves first making the correct diagnosis.
Darren Wilson is a regular contributor to Panic and Anxiety Disorders. You might be interested in his latest article on Anxiety Depression Syndrome.
Related posts:
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- Overview Of Social Anxiety Or Social Phobia
- Various Types Of Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
- How Anyone Can Beat Social Anxiety
- Identifying The Different Types Of Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
- Symptoms, Causes And Treatments For Social Anxiety
- Learn More About Social Anxiety Disorder
- What You Need To Know About Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
- Social Phobia Symptoms
- What Causes Your Social Anxiety?
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