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Can Social Anxiety Go Away

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How Anxiety Disorders Affect People

Does Social Anxiety Go Away On Its Own?

For people dealing with anxiety disorders, symptoms can feel strange and confusing at first. For some, the physical sensations can be strong and upsetting. For others, feelings of doom or fear that can happen for no apparent reason can make them feel scared, unprotected, and on guard. Constant worries can make a person feel overwhelmed by every little thing. All this can affect someones concentration, confidence, sleep, appetite, and outlook.

People with anxiety disorders might avoid talking about their worries, thinking that others might not understand. They may fear being unfairly judged, or considered weak or scared. Although anxiety disorders are common, people who have them may feel misunderstood or alone.

Some people with anxiety disorders might blame themselves. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed, or mistakenly think that anxiety is a weakness or a personal failing. Anxiety can keep people from going places or doing things they enjoy.

The good news is, doctors today understand anxiety disorders better than ever before and, with treatment, a person can feel better.

If I Believe Something Wont Help Me It Never Will But If I Believe That Something Can Help Me Maybe It Will

Let me start by telling you that if you feel like anxiety will never leave your side, have a little faith in yourself. Put some faith in the belief that it will go away or that you will manage it better. I started to pray, I was raised Hindu and I had faith growing up but somewhere along the line, I lost it because of the things that happened in my life. I wanted to give faith another chance. Believing that there is something bigger and greater than you out there, someone or something that will help you, made a big difference in my life. It made me feel like I was not alone in this struggle and helped me find a social network where I didnt feel crazy for feeling the way I did. I am not saying start going to church, but have faith that something that you believe in will help you heal. Believe in yourself that you will heal.

When you are anxious, deep down you know that you have nothing to worry about, but you still cannot help it. Maybe its the environment or maybe its the brain, some of us just work that way.

What Causes Social Phobia

Social phobia is about twice as common in women as it is in men. Most people begin to notice it as children or teens. The condition can be genetic and run in families. Other potential factors include hormones and environment. For example, race, culture, economic status, and neglect can increase a persons risk. Social phobia also can be related to other conditions, including depression, other anxiety disorders, or addiction.

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Talk With A Therapist

Despite what some people might suggest, social anxiety goes beyond shyness, or feeling uneasy and nervous around new people. Social anxiety is a mental health condition, and its not always possible to work through symptoms yourself.

You can do a lot on your own to manage the anxiety and distress you experience, but getting professional support is always a good place to start.

A trained mental health professional can:

  • offer more insight on the difference between social anxiety and shyness
  • help you identify social anxiety triggers
  • teach helpful coping strategies, social skills, and relaxation techniques
  • offer guidance with challenging and replacing or reframing negative thoughts

Therapy also offers a safe environment to practice navigating anxiety-provoking situations through graduated exposure, one potential treatment for social anxiety.

Your therapist might recommend group therapy or support groups, which give you the chance to practice social skills and interact with other people also coping with social anxiety.

A therapist can also refer you to a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication for social anxiety. Medication can provide some relief from severe symptoms, making it easier to start working through them in therapy.

Living With Chronic Anxiety

Does Social Anxiety Go Away

While the disorders differ, chronic anxiety is best described as anxiety that you experience most days without a clear and reasonable trigger. Someone that works in a dangerous part of town and has to walk home alone at night isnt experiencing chronic anxiety because it has a trigger . Someone that gets nervous every once in a while when they talk to strangers isnt experiencing chronic anxiety because it doesnt happen very often.

Chronic anxiety is more like an illness. Its something that weighs on your mind and thoughts often and doesnt require any obvious outside trigger. Those with chronic anxiety often experience both physical and mental symptoms such as:

  • Mental: Excessive worries, such as worrying about someone getting hurt, worrying about social situations, worrying about worst case scenarios, or even worrying about their own anxiety.
  • Physical: Shaking, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, chest pains, leg weakness and tingling, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and more.

You may experience some or all of the above symptoms, depending on your personality and the type of anxiety youre suffering from. Those with generalized anxiety disorder are more prone to worrying thoughts. Those with panic disorder are more prone to physical symptoms. But there is a lot of overlap between all of these disorders.

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All Anxiety Is Serious Anxiety

Although it is possible for some anxiety to be more severe for some than for others, in many ways all anxiety is considered severe because of its impact on various aspects of your life now and later on:

  • Quality of Life â Your quality of life is always important. Going through life with anxiety may mean experiencing less happiness because of its ability to interfere with your focus, sense of adventure, peace of mind, self-esteem, your projection of yourself in the world, etc.
  • Stress â Stress is different from anxiety in that it does not cause impairment of your ability to function in life. Nevertheless, long term stress can still result in deleterious effects on your organs, weakening your immune system, impairing memory, accelerating aging, etc.

Also, if left untreated, anxiety may only worsen. Whether you already suffer from severe anxiety or you experience daily anxiety that simply makes it more difficult to manage life, all anxiety is relevant and damaging.

How To Find Help For Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety, as well as the other anxiety disorders, can be successfully treated. In seeking support for this problem, search for a specialist — someone who understands this problem well and knows from experience how to treat it.

Become an informed client and ask questions. For example, does the therapist understand that you feel very self-conscious and that others are watching and forming a negative evaluation about you? or do they minimize what youre saying and just say, “No, No, No, youre fine … you’re just exaggerating….” or expect you to go out and do unreasonable “exposures”?

It is true that we who have lived through social anxiety do realize our mind is many times irrational and we over-exaggerate, but it still FEELS like others are watching and judging us. Our self-consciousness is a feeling and it is very real.

If your psychologist/mental health care worker does not understand this, you know more than they do about social anxiety. Under these circumstances, it is very doubtful they will be able to help you.

Also, remember that the professional should always welcome your questions. If someone seems unfriendly or too clinical, they should not be your choice of a therapist.

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How Is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated

If youre concerned you may have symptoms of social anxiety disorder, talk to a health care provider. After discussing your history, a health care provider may conduct a physical exam to ensure that an unrelated physical problem is not causing your symptoms. A health care provider may refer you to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. The first step to effective treatment is to get a diagnosis, usually from a mental health professional.

Social anxiety disorder is generally treated with psychotherapy , medication, or both. Speak with a health care provider about the best treatment for you.

Why Treatment Is Important

3 Ways to Beat Social Anxiety!

While many medications, such as antibiotics, cure the illnesses they are designed to treat, antidepressants do not cure depression. Their effect is only temporary. This is because antidepressants work by changing the brainâs chemistry, but only for as long as the person is taking them. They do not address the underlying causes of depression.

The National Institute of Mental Health shares that depression has a number of potential, and oftentimes complex, causes. Some may be genetic or biological and others may be environmental or psychological.

No matter the cause, untreated depression can be extremely debilitating to an individual, interfering with every part of life. In addition, severe depression can potentially lead to suicide if it does not receive immediate attention.

Depression has also been linked to a variety of physical health issues, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimerâs disease, and other chronic disorders. In the case of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, depression may accelerate the progression of the disease.

Having depression can even make it more difficult to treat other medical illnesses because the lack of motivation and energy associated with depression makes it more difficult for patients to comply with their treatment regimens.

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Addressing Your Anxiety Right Now

There are some things you can do in the short-term to deal with anxiety. You can call a trusted friend or family member who can offer an ear and perhaps advice to help you adjust your perspective. Mayo Clinic advises lifestyle changes that can make it easier to manage anxiety. Among its suggestions are:

Staying physically active. Adopt an exercise routine that can help you keep stress in check.

Get sufficient sleep. Getting enough rest should be a priority, as it can help you feel refreshed to face the day and any matters that come up. If you are having trouble getting sleep, visit a doctor who may be able to help.

Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking. All of these can contribute to high anxiety levels. Mayo Clinic also advises cutting back on caffeinated drinks.

Eat healthy meals, snacks. Consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, and drinking water regularly can help you be kind to your body and adopt a wellness mindset.

Practice mindfulness and meditation. Finding time to spend in quiet meditation can lower stress levels, which can help you get a better handle on your anxiety. Yoga and other exercises that encourage mindfulness can also help you focus on addressing your fears head-on with a way of thinking that is beneficial to you.

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Learn Mindfulness And Meditation

Being mindful means stepping back, tuning out the inconsequential, and paying attention to whats happening in the moment.

Meditation can take some practice. Try downloading a meditation app or taking a meditation class to help you learn. Itll also come in handy when you need help in moments of stress.

  • Nausea or stomach cramps.
  • Feeling detached or unreal.

Its important to seek help if youre starting to avoid certain situations because youre afraid of having a panic attack. The truth is that panic attacks are highly treatable. In fact, many people are panic free within just 5 to 8 treatment sessions.

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Katies Story: Recovering From Panic Attacks Anxiety And Depression

I am not a laid back person. I never have been. I worry and get stressed and can be quite negative sometimes. Last year, this started to get slowly worse.

It took a long time to notice it but I lost control of how stressed I was getting. I would randomly start crying in the taxi on the way to a party or struggle to answer the phone at work because I was terrified. I felt like I was losing my mind thoughts were racing constantly and I kept seeing images in my head of death.

Then one day at work I had my first SEVERE panic attack. Nothing happened, I was just at my desk replying to emails and then suddenly I felt myself losing it. It was like I just couldnt cope anymore with anything. I didnt know I was having a panic attack at the time all I remember is feeling like I was going die.

With encouragement from everyone I booked myself an appointment with the GP as well an appointment with the counselling service. I was taught different techniques and ways in which to cope with what was happening to me I learnt about mindfulness, breathing techniques, visualisation and the power of just ACCEPTING that youre experiencing anxiety and thats okay its going to go away eventually. It was really helpful.

Now, things are good. Not perfect! But thats never going to happen and I can accept and be okay with that.

Look after yourself and be patient, kind and non-judgemental to others.

Thank you so much for reading.

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Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness

Quotes about Anxiety (588 quotes)

Are you afraid of being judged by others? Are you self-conscious in everyday social situations? Do you avoid meeting new people due to fear or anxiety? If you have been feeling this way for at least 6 months and these feelings make it hard for you to do everyday taskssuch as talking to people at work or schoolyou may have social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and other daily activities. It can even make it hard to make and keep friends. The good news is social anxiety disorder is treatable. Learn more about the symptoms of social anxiety disorder and how to find help.

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Ask Your Support System For A Helping Hand

It can be embarrassing or humbling to admit to people in your life that youre anxious in social situations and might need help. However, letting a friend or loved one know you might need some extra support can be a major boost. Many times, people are going to feel more comfortable if theyre in a social situation with somebody that theyre close to, Dr. Potter says. Especially if somebody has been fairly isolated in recent times, it can be helpful at first to have a buddy when you go back into a social situation.

The key to this support is helping an anxious person become more independent over time. Eventually, people with more generalized social anxiety will find it uncomfortable to go shopping or order food by themselves, Dr. Potter explains. You want to balance supporting a person and encouraging them to do it themselves.

If youre a friend or family member of somebody anxious in social situations, one way to offer support is to bring them into the conversation. You might be like, Oh, I think Sara has something she would probably like to say on that subject. Shes really interested in that, Dr. Potter says. You can support them by bringing them out of their shells. Before doing that, however, be sure to ask the person if thats OK. If youre a person with social anxiety, you may not like being put on the spot to say something. Talk to that person in advance about how they want to handle certain things.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Social Anxiety Disorder

When people with social anxiety have to perform in front of or be around other people, they tend to experience certain symptoms, behaviors and thoughts. A person with social anxiety disorder can have these symptoms during specific types of social situations or they can have them in several or all social interactions.

Physical and physiological symptoms of social anxiety disorder can include:

  • Blushing, sweating, shaking or feeling your heart race in social situations.
  • Feeling very nervous to the point of feeling nauseated in social situations.
  • Not making much eye contact when interacting with others.
  • Having a stiff body posture when youre around other people.

Thoughts and behaviors that can be signs of social anxiety disorder include:

  • Being very self-conscious in front of other people.
  • Feeling embarrassed or awkward in front of other people.
  • Feeling your mind go blank and not knowing what to say to other people.
  • Feeling very afraid or worried that other people will judge you negatively or reject you.
  • Finding it scary and hard to be around other people, especially strangers.
  • Avoiding places where there are people.

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Specific And Generalized Social Anxieties

A specific social anxiety would be the fear of speaking in front of groups , whereas people with generalized social anxiety are anxious, nervous, and uncomfortable in almost all social situations.

It is much more common for people with social anxiety to have a generalized type of this disorder. When anticipatory anxiety, worry, indecision, depression, embarrassment, feelings of inferiority, and self-blame are involved across most life situations, a generalized form of social anxiety is at work.

Look For Silver Linings And Be Kind To Yourself

Overcome social anxiety WITHOUT therapy

If your social anxiety isnt going away as fast as youd like, thats perfectly normal. It might be that you moved too fast and need to spend more time practicing other social encounters before youre up for the one youre stuck on, or you need to work more on relaxation techniques and distraction techniques so you can tolerate that situation next time, says Dr. Potter.

Analyzing after the fact what triggered a reaction, whether a panic attack or something else, can also help. Try to break down, How can I think about that differently? or How can I change the situation next time? Dr. Potter suggests. Lets say you go to a concert and start to have a panic attack because youre enclosed in by a lot of people. Maybe next time, you might sit in the back or on an aisle, or stay somewhere where you feel like theres an exit route if you feel anxious or closed-in.Dr. Potter adds that other people are generally way more focused on themselves than they are on others. They are most likely not scrutinizing your behavior in social situations, because they are busy thinking about what they are going to say or do next, she says. Your anxiety usually magnifies the negative and minimizes the positive so the things youre acutely aware of about yourself may not be particularly noticeable to others.

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