Social phobia is also known as social anxiety disorder and this is not just about being shy the condition goes much deeper as people suffering from social phobia become exceptionally anxious about what other people think of them and how other people may judge them which results in them having extremely difficulty socializing and this eventually affects their entire lifestyle.
People that present with a social phobia present with symptoms such as:
• A defined fear of social situations
• A fear of acting in a humiliating or embarrassing way
• They fear that other people will think that they are inadequate or stupid
• They become anxious when they meet strangers
• They will not participate in social gatherings
• They will not eat or drink in front of other people
• They do not participate in sports or other extra mural activities
• They usually have a concave posture and speak in a low voice
• They stand alone and back from social situations
• They avoid public places like malls and ablution areas
These are only some of the most defined symptoms and in some cases these people only have a specified fear such as a speaking in public or having to read out loud in class but otherwise lead a normal life and participate in social gatherings and other activities.
Some subjects are inclined to build up anxiety weeks in advance before an event and will try and avoid the situation at all costs this causes stress as well as depression in many of the subjects and they may even develop physical symptoms such as palpitations, tremors, chest pains, headaches, vomiting, rapid breathing and many other related illnesses.
Despite these symptoms they are fully aware that there anxiety is unreasonable and are helpless when it comes to rectifying the situation. Social phobia can affect their lives to such an extent that they eventually resort to drug or alcohol abuse, become manic depressive or contemplate suicide in some instances.
One will find that children become poor achievers and don’t excel at school and become totally withdrawn from society and will try and avoid any social contact with their peers. As adults these people do not cope with their day to day activities and find it hard to hold down a job and in many instances because they are afraid of being watched or criticized they are unable to meet the necessary requirements stipulated in their job description which usually leads to isolation.
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Social phobia is one of the third most common mental health illnesses and stats have shown that one out of every ten people suffers from social phobia in one way or another and that it usually develops during the person’s teen years and will remain a lifelong problem until they seek professional help. It has also been noted that far more women are prone to social phobia than men.
Researchers are saying that the probable cause may be due to a genetic condition or the person suffered a bad experience as a child. There is factual evidence that many subjects developed a social phobia after having an embarrassing experience and others stated that they have had this debilitating condition since childhood and could not remember what triggered it.