Understand the symptoms, causes and treatments of social phobia, discover how to overcome social anxiety, and gain insight into your level of social anxiety through PsycTest.
What is social phobia?
Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is a psychological disorder that experiences strong fear and anxiety in social situations. Many people have moments of nervousness when speaking in public or uneasy when dating strangers. For most people, these situations can be dealt with with simple adjustment and self-relaxation. However, for people with social phobia, these daily social interactions can become extremely painful and even allow them to avoid social activities, resulting in a serious decline in quality of life.
According to the American Psychological Association, about 5.3 million people are affected by social anxiety. The onset age of this condition is usually between 11 and 19 years old, and the adolescence is the peak of the onset.
When do you need to be alert?
The manifestations of social anxiety vary from person to person. For some, anxiety only occurs in specific situations, such as speaking publicly or talking to strangers; for others, any social situation can cause extreme anxiety and tension. Here are some common social situations that make people feel anxious:
- Talk to strangers
- Public speech
- Eye contact
- Participate in the party
-When eating or drinking water - Social interactions at school or work
- Start a conversation in front of others
Some of these situations may not stress you, while others may feel overwhelming. For example, you may feel comfortable in a one-on-one conversation, but feel anxious once you enter a crowded room or face the pressure of a public speech.
All people with social anxiety have different trigger points, but overall, common fears include:
- Be judged or watched by others
- Embarrassment or humiliation due to shyness, blushing, sweating or trembling
- Fear of offending others or becoming a social focus
Symptoms of social phobia
Social phobia is not just psychological discomfort, it can also cause a series of physical symptoms. Here are the common emotional and physiological reactions in people with social anxiety:
Emotional Symptoms:
- Strong awareness of social occasions
- Extreme fear and anxiety, especially if you may be judged or watched
- Very upset during group discussions, public speeches
- Hesitation and avoidance about talking to others
- Difficult to make eye contact
Physiological symptoms:
- Heartbeat speed
- Sweating or shaking hands and feet
- Muscle tension
- Stomach discomfort (such as diarrhea)
- Shortness of breath or feeling suffocated
- Flushing or involuntary crying on your face
- Dizziness and dizziness
These symptoms may appear before a social event or may continue after the event, causing prolonged anxiety and self-doubt.
Social phobia online review
You can use the PsycTest website’s social phobia self-test to evaluate your level of social phobia:
-Social phobia self-measurement table online test
-Social phobia self-assessment test
These tests can help you better understand your anxiety levels in social situations and provide a reference for further treatment and adjustment.
Causes of social phobia
Social anxiety disorder is not caused by a single factor, it may be caused by the combined action of multiple factors. Here are some common causes:
- Gene factors: If your family member has had social phobia, you will have a higher risk of illness.
- Brain Chemistry: Studies show that the amygdala of people with social phobia, the brain area responsible for dealing with fear and emotions, may be overactive.
- Past Experiences: Experiences of abuse, bullying, or excessive social shaming may make you more likely to develop social anxiety disorder. Especially some teenage experiences, such as exclusion or criticism at school, may be the catalyst for triggering social phobia.
- Personal Characteristics: People who are more introverted, over-critical, and over-responsive to others are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder.
The impact of social phobia on life
Social phobia not only affects an individual’s performance in social situations, but may also have a wide impact on individuals’ lives in all aspects. When you avoid social activities, it gradually erodes your quality of life, which can lead to:
- Damaged relationships: Because of fear of social interaction, you may avoid interactions with friends, family or colleagues, resulting in isolation.
- Decline in job or academic performance: Social anxiety disorder may affect your workplace performance or academic performance because you cannot effectively participate in meetings, classroom discussions or speeches.
- Mental Health Issues: Long-term social anxiety can lead to problems such as inferiority, negative thinking, depression, etc., and may even lead to addictive behaviors such as alcohol abuse or drug abuse.
How to deal with social anxiety?
Fortunately, social anxiety is treatable. Treatment methods usually include two forms: drug therapy and behavioral therapy, and the specific regimen depends on the severity of the individual’s symptoms.
1. Drug treatment
For some patients, medication is an effective way to relieve symptoms of social anxiety. Commonly used drugs include antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and beta blockers. While medications can quickly relieve symptoms, they usually only treat symptoms rather than causes.
- Antidepressants: Such as Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox and Effexor, have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of social anxiety disorders.
- Beta blockers: Applicable to specific social situations, such as public speaking.
Although medications are effective, they can also bring side effects such as headaches, stomach upsets and sleep problems.
2. Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are considered the main treatments for social anxiety disorders. By working with a therapist, you can learn to identify and change the negative thinking that causes your anxiety, gradually adapting to and dealing with the stress of social situations.
Exposure therapy is especially effective, helps you learn to cope better with anxiety and reduce its impact on life by exposing you to social situations of fear.
When should I seek professional help?
If social anxiety disorder affects your daily life and happiness, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. A doctor or psychotherapist can help you evaluate symptoms and develop a suitable treatment plan. Through medication, behavioral therapy, or the combination of both, you can effectively relieve anxiety symptoms and restore normal social life.
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