Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is a disorder that can be extremely debilitating, isolating those who suffer with the condition, creating a life ruled by fear and worry. Unlike occasional shyness or nervousness in public situations, the symptoms of social anxiety extend to normal living activities.

Fear

The underlying fear that drives a social phobia is the concern that the sufferer is being watched or followed and judged by others. The fear of embarrassment is so intense that people with the condition begin to fret about the exposure long before they encounter other people. The intense worry begins days or even weeks prior to a social occasion. They talk about their fears constantly and become obsessed with the possible outcomes of the situation. They spend time going over the scenarios that they fear the most. Eventually, the fear becomes so overwhelming that many people who suffer from social anxiety will cancel appointments, call in sick to work and generally refuse to accept invitations. They become reclusive as the condition intensifies over time so that any external contacts become unbearable.

Physical

While the anxiety begins in the mind and becomes intensified by constant mental reinforcement, the body eventually responds to the mental signals and the sufferer experiences uncomfortable physical symptoms. The heart rate rises so that the person feels his heart racing and pounding. The pain can feel like a heart attack. Sweating and hot flashes move from the palms to the entire body. The person might begin shaking when he thinks about the occasion and have trouble talking when encountered by others. Muscles become tense and twitching occurs in some people with the disorder. Some people pass out when they feel social contact is imminent. The fight or flight mechanisms take hold as the body prepares to defend the person from physical harm.

Self-esteem

Most people with a social phobia recognize the condition. In addition to the irrational fears about going out in public, incriminating self-talk about being so fearful serves to lower a person's self-esteem even further. People with social anxiety tend to be extremely shy and incapable of asserting themselves. They are overly sensitive to criticism and overtly embarrassed when they are corrected or fail to understand directions. Social anxiety also results in poor social skills. With little experience in meeting or interacting with others, people with social anxiety disorders fail to learn appropriate social behavior, such as what to say when they meet someone new or how to participate in a group discussion. They are not proficient at sharing or teamwork.