How to Help Yourself with Social Anxiety

We often feel that those around us are watching us and assume that they, in turn, are judging us. The problem arises when we experience these feelings toward others in every social situation or occasion. In this article, we try to answer many questions about social anxiety, including: What is it? How do you know if you have social anxiety? Where does it come from? Answering these and many other questions will help you understand social anxiety and how to treat it yourself.

What is social anxiety?

Social anxiety is a type of general anxiety and is the most common type among people around the world. General anxiety is normal in certain situations, at certain times, and under particular circumstances, such as when someone is about to take an exam. These circumstances do not prevent the person from living normally or fulfilling social and personal responsibilities. Social anxiety, or social phobia, however, discourages and prevents people from fulfilling their personal and social responsibilities. They may experience physical or emotional symptoms when they are outside the home, outside their usual environment, or among strangers. The severity of these symptoms varies. Social anxiety and social phobia have the same meaning, but symptoms differ in their depth and intensity.

How do you know if you have social anxiety?

A range of emotional and behavioral symptoms may indicate that you have social anxiety, including:

1. Fear of situations in which you are the focus of other people's attention.
2. Fear of interacting with others because of the negative judgments they may make about you.
3. Fear of taking the initiative to meet and speak with strangers.
4. Fear that those around you will notice the anxiety you experience while interacting with them.
5. Always expecting the worst-case scenario from every social occasion or situation you encounter.
6. A rapid heartbeat.
7. Sweating.
8. Muscle tension.
9. Stomach problems.
10. Feeling dizzy.

Is social anxiety a mental illness?

Social anxiety is classified as a mental disorder called social anxiety disorder. It affects a person's feelings and behavior, which is reflected in their actions and manner of speaking in any social situation they encounter. It is classified as a disorder because the person repeatedly experiences symptoms every day and in every social situation, particularly feelings of anxiety and fear.

Where does social anxiety come from?

Both environmental and genetic factors play an important role in the development of social anxiety. The causes include:

1. High levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and excessive activity in several neural circuits.
2. Strict upbringing, including parents being severe when directing their child and preventing them from making mistakes.
3. Parents being overprotective toward their children, which can create a fearful child who lacks self-confidence.
4. Repeatedly treating a child poorly, in addition to neglecting them.

What is life like for someone with social anxiety?

Their lives can be difficult because they feel apprehensive about attending social occasions or doing certain things. They always expect negative outcomes before anything happens and fear being insulted, judged, or bullied. At first, the symptoms may appear mild when the person interacts with others. In advanced cases, however, the person anticipates certain events and prevents themselves from participating, leading to isolation. They may become unable to go to work or engage in social life. The situation worsens as they compare themselves with others and wonder why they cannot exchange social pleasantries. People with this condition have insight into their illness and circumstances, but many try to cure themselves and often fail, after which the symptoms become more severe.

How can you treat yourself for social anxiety?

Social anxiety usually begins in early childhood or at the start of adolescence. If these symptoms are present, treatment should be sought promptly from a doctor. Treatment has two methods:

1. Direct behavioral therapy:This involves encouraging the patient to participate and emerge from isolation, and helping them create a plan for their achievements and the things they can do in the community.
2. Cognitive therapy by strengthening the patient's personality:This involves helping patients recognize their abilities and the likelihood of feared events, and understand that these are merely thoughts with no basis in reality.
3. Social support from family and relatives:The younger the person is, the easier treatment is because they have encountered fewer negative situations in life.

Download the Tatmeen app for online psychological and family consultations from the App Store or Google Play. You can also register on the Tatmeen mental-health website to access valuable information and practical tools for strengthening your mental and family well-being.