Your Questions Answered on Shyness and Social Anxiety

Chances are you'll suffer from shyness and social anxiety assuming you have at any time dealt with anxiety in any of the following situations: Taking something back to the shop or sending food back at the diner; writing in public like filling out a check in the supermarket; talking to authority figures; giving an important speech or presentation; writing an exam in school or for professional accreditation.

How to define shyness and social anxiety?

Shyness and social anxiety (occasionally called social phobia), are generally identified as a overall avoidance of judgement and criticism in favor of praise and acceptance. It is projected that around 3% to 15% of all people today get some degree of social phobia, but, only one-quarter of them are in search of professional treatment for their challenge.

Just who is afflicted with shyness and social anxiety?

Shyness and social anxiety range across all sexual, ethnic, financial, and cultural barriers. Anyone can potentially acquire a social anxiety condition. Lots of professional therapists think that the bulk of shyness social anxiety challenges have their beginnings in adolescence, with just about half dating to before the age of ten.

Is there a discrepancy between shyness and social anxiety?

Though related, shyness is often characterised by a simple avoidance or unwillingness to get involved in social activities. With social anxiety, the knobs of shyness are turned up and amplified to the point that the unwillingness turns into a complete phobia.

What are the physical signs and symptoms to social anxiety?

Generally, someone with strong social anxiety will suffer severe headaches, tight muscle groups, increased sweating, as well as blushing when they must experience a situation they fear. Usually, it may even turn into a extreme anxiety attack. Some people with social anxiety tend not to suffer from these symptoms though, and say that they exclusively feel shy or scared.

It is typical that people experiencing social anxiety will be secretive about it and may be unlikely in admitting that they are stricken by it. If you suppose that somebody you know may have a type of social anxiety, it is necessary that you are cautious not to put them on the spot when dealing with it. Be gentle and understanding, and eventually, your friend may sooner or later confide in you.

What is the answer to alleviate shyness and social anxiety?

You will discover several strategies to help you manage or eliminate shyness and social anxiety. In severe instances, it is undoubtedly best to find help from a qualified expert who can help you in your recovery. This person can help inform you about your issue and help you discover new tools and ways you can deal with your challenge.

Other methods of healing consist of challenging yourself to do small things that will ultimately help you feel secure in conditions you find difficult. I personally dealt with some of my social anxiety around meeting new people and asking women out on dates by pushing myself to step up to 100 strangers in a week and simply say "hello." It was not simple at first (truly it was quite scary), but it became easier with practice and in time I actually came to enjoy the process.

You can also come across tons of tools available these days, such as guides and programs out there that help people incrementally recover from their social anxiety. Lots of these can be located online and can be accessed immediately as either ebooks or video courses.