Are you shy, introverted, and find it difficult, even suffocating, to engage in any socially-engaging situation? If so, your shyness may be symptomatic of a much more severe mental health-related issue; a mental illness behavioral professionals refer to as, social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder - also referred to as, social anxiety - is a mental illness that is characterized by feelings of constant anxiety and fear of social interactions of any kind.
According to the Mayo Clinic, those who experience social anxiety are prone to intense physical and mental symptoms including, constant fear of embarrassing oneself, avoiding situations that may include socialization, fearful of being in public or around large groups of people, dizziness, sweating, trembling, nausea, and an immense tension (both physical, refers to the tensing of the muscles, and mental, which pertains to a person’s character as being, “observably tense”)
As chief scientist and founder of The Behavioralist, Nick Hobson, states, there are two distinct types of social anxiety disorder. According to Dr. Hobson, these two types of anxiety disorders are known as “social interaction anxiety and social performance/observation.”
Dr. Hobson goes on to explain the differences between the two disorders, "The former (social interaction anxiety) is triggered by social gatherings and meetings, and even by casual conversation with another individual in a one-on-one. The latter (social performance/observation) is more triggered by a performance that a person has to give, such as a presentation, interview, or game. A big component of both of these is the excessive worry or fear of being embarrassed, or ridiculed in front of a group of people."
Unfortunately, those who have a social anxiety disorder are often misconstrued as simply being, “shy.” As author and researcher Dan Buettner described in a recent interview for Psychology Today, social anxiety disorders are very “commonplace” and are often mistaken for “run-of-the-mill shyness.”
The fact that these social anxiety disorders are so often mistaken for one’s choosing to be more reserved than others belies the incredibly large population of those who have already been diagnosed with having a socially-related mental illness. As the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports there, are (at least) as many as 15 million Americans today who have at least one of the two types of anxiety disorder.
As to why there is frequent confusion between being an introvert and having a legitimate social, mental health disorder, is due to the fact that they appear, at least ostensibly, very similar on the surface. Unfortunately, while one relates to one’s natural character and personal choice, the latter happens to be a severe mental health condition that needs specific and intensive, professional psychiatric treatments.
Fortunately, once diagnosed, psychiatric treatments used to alleviate the intense symptoms of a social anxiety disorder are plentiful.
As Max Karimbeik, the Clinical Director of The Giving Treatment Center, recently told the publication Bustle, "Common therapies for social anxiety disorder are meditation, mindfulness skills, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy."
Of course, there are many other types of treatments and regimens that, with the help of a psychiatric physician and possible pharmaceuticals, that can dramatically improve the quality of a social anxiety disorder-diagnosed person.
Do You Suspect that You or Even a Loved One May Have a Social Anxiety Disorder? If So, It’s Important to Recognize The Signs and Symptoms!
After reading this article, are you worried that you, or someone you love, might have some form of social anxiety disorder? If so, it’s important to recognize and understand the warning signs that may suggest a proper diagnosis is in order.
Below is a list of seven symptoms and signs that may suggest a person has a social anxiety disorder:
According To Experts, These are Seven Signs That May Suggest You Have a Social Anxiety Disorder:
- You Have an Overall Fear Of Social Situations
- Your Anxiety Seems Unwarranted
- You're Overly Anxious About Being Embarrassed
- You Experience Physical Symptoms
- You're Scared In Anticipation Of A Social even
- Your Relationships Are Negatively
- You Avoid Social Events Altogether
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