5 Common Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety can significantly affect your daily life, interactions with others, and overall mental health, and getting to the root of the issue is imperative for managing anxiety symptoms. If you believe you may be struggling with social phobia or social anxiety disorder, Riverside Psychology has outlined five common symptoms to help you understand this condition and research therapy options to achieve mental wellness.
Intense Fear of Social Situations
Individuals with social anxiety disorder may experience extreme fear when performing in front of others, interacting with strangers, or speaking in public. This fear may be overwhelming and sometimes lead to panic attacks without the proper tools to self-soothe.
Excessive Worry
Social anxiety disorder can cause stress surrounding upcoming social events, interviews, and other interactions. The individual might become preoccupied with anxious thoughts weeks or months ahead of time.
Physical Anxiety Symptoms
Social anxiety disorder can also cause physical symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shaking, trembling, or skin flushing in social situations.
Self-Consciousness
Individuals may be hyperaware in social situations, causing them to be preoccupied with being judged or embarrassed, leading to self-consciousness.
Avoiding Social Interactions
Since the fear and anxiety associated with social anxiety disorder can overwhelm a person, they may begin avoiding social situations entirely. This can worsen the problem and cause issues with work and other responsibilities in daily life.
Social Anxiety Treatments
Therapy can help you manage your anxiety through methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and exposure therapy. Riverside Psychology offers a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to express your thoughts and feelings and provides practical strategies and coping skills to improve emotional regulation.
Your Partner in Achieving Mental Wellness
Riverside Psychology would be honored to be part of your path to mental wellness. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can help you manage social anxiety disorder and live a more stress-free, fulfilling life.