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Don't Ignore Social Anxiety As Mere Shyness

Some people are extremely fearful of being judged scrutinized by others in social situations. At times, the fear can be so intense that it can wreak havoc on the lives of the sufferers. And the reason behind this could be social anxiety disorder (SAD), or social phobia, which is a common problem that can disrupt daily activities, including occupational performance and social life.

People with SAD love solitude and have hardly any social relationship. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the condition has affected approximately 15 million adults in the United States. Many a time, SAD is considered as an attribute similar to shyness. The state of being socially anxious is often mistaken as the person's reserved nature. But this is a wrong notion. SAD and shyness are two different things. Understanding each of these conditions separately is important for an early diagnosis and treatment.

Shyness doesn't carry negative emotions
A shy person prefers to stay alone due to his or her fear of social humiliation. Such person is constantly worried and lives under the fear of what other people would think about him or her. Unlike a person affected by SAD, an individual who is shy does not harbor any negative emotions against anyone. He or she leads a perfectly normal life and does not consider shyness as something negative, which does not impact his or her choices in life.

Shyness is a normal facet of personality characterized by inhibited behavior in certain situations. Sadly, shyness is often presumed to be similar to social anxiety since everyone can relate to feeling shy at some point in his or her life.

Social anxiety needs professional help
On the contrary, social anxiety is an extreme fear of social humiliation. People with social anxiety are extremely fearful and tremble weeks before any social event is scheduled. Social anxiety is all-consuming and stays for a longer period than shyness. At times, the condition gets so severe that it begins to affect the individual's performance at school or work. Experiencing panic attacks is also common for an individual with it.

In extreme conditions, constantly high levels of anxiety and fear lead to avoidance even of activities that might be interesting to the sufferer. This is not a normal personality trait.

It has been found that only about half of those diagnosed with anxiety disorder suffer from shyness. Problematic social anxiety is a serious disorder that needs immediate medical help. Those diagnosed with mild to moderate social anxiety disorder can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). However, those suffering from severe conditions need to be treated with a combination of medications and CBT.

Treatment for social anxiety disorder
Being a shy person is not a big issue as the choices and preferences vary from person to person. However, living with a fear of being judged by other people is a serious problem that needs to be eradicated at the earliest. Living a life accompanied by friends, family members and loved ones can boost one's self-confidence. Trying out some simple techniques, such as knowing one's strengths, avoiding bullies and teases, and practicing deep breathing exercises can greatly help in overcoming difficult situations in life. However, given the seriousness of the problem, one should immediately consult an expert to find appropriate help.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Barbara_Odozi/2218626


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