How To Deal With Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a fear or dread of social events or situations where people might judge you or notice you. This disorder can be connected to being shy. Most people who suffer from social anxiety disorder say it feels like a dread of upcoming events or a fear of being embarrassed by something you will do. Most individuals avoid situations that may put them in the spotlight or make other people notice them.
Three Kinds Of Social Anxiety Disorder
Performance social anxiety disorder is the type where the individual has a palatable fear of speaking in public or performing in public. The individual who suffers from performance or non-generalized social anxiety disorder usually feels this way only when he is obligated to face some number of people, but in general when socializing with other individuals on a personal level, he is alright.
Generalized social anxiety disorder is one that can affect an individual on many occasions such as social gatherings or talking to someone of importance. This disorder is the one that most commonly occurs to people. This is the disorder in its true form and not just a one-time occurrence where you just suddenly feel shy or nervous about performing in public. Sometimes even the most seasoned speaker gets nervous about speaking in front of a lot of people but people with the disorder always get nervous and have the urge to just clam up and flee.
Avoidant personally disorder is the social anxiety type that is the most extreme form of this disorder. This type of social anxiety disorder usually affects males and starts at an early age of the individual’s life. It can impair the socialization ability of most if not all individuals and make it harder for them to make friends and even get married. The individual really has a hard time staying at any event. Usually in school, they are just silent and hardly participate in class for fear of being ridiculed.
Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder can be a genetic quirk that you have inherited from your family. Just as some people get cleft chins from their parents or blue eyes from their ancestors, you can get this disorder that way. Chemical disturbances in our brain can also trigger social anxiety. Ongoing research may have found connections to our brain and the social anxiety disorder.
Some medication can alleviate the disorder although much study needs to be done regarding the psychological impact of social anxiety disorder on people.
1 Comment on How To Deal With Social Anxiety Disorder »
July 22, 2008
Melissa Pullum @ 7:01 pm:
Help me please! My boyfriend has the avoidant personaaly disorder (social anxiety) that was mentioned here. I would not even be seeing him, except I am very outgoing and happen to get his attention many times before he agreed to even get together. We have alot of fun, but he constantly (even though he seems happy with me) tries to come up with excuses to end or sabatoge our relationship. He even says he does not want a relationship, but when we are apart, he misses me like crazy. He has told me I am the best thing in his life, and I make him feel so good about himself and he enjoys seeing me, but then he will try to run away from me the next time I see him. I really love him, and I’m not usually a very patient person except with me kids, but I try to be very patient with him. We have been talking for about 9 months and seeing each other for 3 months. He doesn’t even call it dating!? He has only heard of my children and seen thier pics. so far. He is terrified of children and knows I have them, but still chooses to see me. He does not even have any friends. His brother is his best friend. For years before I came along, he has only spent time with his mom and brother outside of home or work. I get really confused by him sometimes, but I love him so much and want to be helpful and patient. He has a hard time trusting others, and he thinks everyone is just users and that no one really cares about anyone but themselves. We have such fun talking, laughing, watching movies, and playing games. We have been getting very intimate lately, but it scares me too, because I am getting closer and closer to him and I don’t know what to expect from him. Do we have a chance of making it at all? What can I do to not push him, but try and keep him in my life? Will all the patience and listening to him make any difference in weather we might stay together? What does he need from me the most? Any answers and/or websites for me to explore on how to understand him more and what kinds of things I can do and/or say to help him would be greatly appreciated.