Does Social Anxiety Hold You Back?

In the "Anxiety Disorders" section of the manual entitled
"Diagnostic Criteria from DSM IV," which is used for the ndiagnosis of mental health conditions, there are 12 anxiety ndiagnoses covered.

The fifth, and what may appear to be a soft diagnosis, is Social
Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder). In contrast to "Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" and "Panic
Disorder" this diagnosis may seem to be lighter than the rest.

Please don't be fooled by names or the sound of names or even nthe fact that many of the others have achieved more press time.
Social phobia is a very real threat to the quality of life for nmany individuals.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Glad you asked. Following is na list of life areas impacted by social anxiety --

1. Meeting new people
2. Answering the doo
3. Interacting with merchant clerks at banks, groceryn stores etc.
3. Setting appointments with doctor's offices etc.
4. Attending church
5. Buying or returning items at retail outlets
6. Sick days where your anxiety has made you sick
7. Driving (fear other drivers looking at or thinking ofn you)
8. Paying at the gas statio

9. Eating in front of other people
10. Signing your name in front of others
11. Attending or hosting social events
12. Datingn13. Talking in a small or large group
14. Expressing your opinio

15. Performance situations, such as playing on an athleticn team, singing in a choir etc.
16. May or may not have panic attacks
17. Fear of what others are thinking of you
18. Fear of being embarrassed or humiliated

Next is a general physical symptom list of the physical signs of nsocial anxiety --

1. Blushingn2. Sweatingn3. Dizzinessn4. Heart palpitations
5. Muscle tensio

6. Dry mouth
7. Shakingn8. Nausean9. Diarrhean10. Headache

These are a few of the symptoms of social anxiety as experienced nin life areas and physically. Many folks have social anxiety nbut do not realize that this is what they struggle with.
Oftentimes thinking about or engaging in any of the activities nlisted above will induce anxiety.

The real danger with this disorder is that it cannsubtly grow into a monster. Left unattended, social anxiety can nreshape the life that you should be living into one that is ncentered around avoidance of anxiety. Some of you are aware nthat you have anxiety and fight with it constantly. Many others nare not aware of anxiety as the culprit, even though it's nimpacting all these life areas. That's powerful!

Ongoing social anxiety can result in developing a pattern of navoidance, whereby you begin putting off many of life's nactivities. Too often, you have only the best of excuses, but nif you suffer from social anxiety, it's really anxiety driving nyour life's bus.

There are many keys in the overcoming of anxiety. At the top is nbolstering your self-confidence. Ironically enough, the more nwithdrawn you become while feeing anxious and avoiding nactivities, the stronger the social anxiety becomes.

A FEW KEY AREAS TO TARGET IN OVERCOMING SOCIAL ANXIETY:

1. Participate in activities which increase esteem and an sense of personal safety

2. Establish an area of expertise or mastery and allowingn those abilities to be present in anxiety situations

3. Learn relaxation strategies that become serenity-hygienen habits

4. Challenge irrational thought patterns that support then anxiety

5. Keep an anxiety scale journal to chart goals and progress

6. Seek a caring individual to hold you accountable to you
goals

7. Know that peace and anxiety cannot exist at the samen time. Any ritual which brings peace into your life is an great tool to use to eliminate anxiety

8. Practice knowing that you are loved and have a right ton live a joy-filled life!

This is your life! If you find yourself angry over being nanxious, that's GOOD -- but only if you direct your anger at nanxiety and allow it to become an energizer in your efforts to nreclaim your life.