Anxiety is a word used to describe feelings of unease, worry, and fear, which are at times so excessive and unreasonable that they can interfere with the daily routine. People with social phobia feel anxious, nervous, and possibly fearful about the idea of stressful events. They are often more afraid by the thought of embarrassing or humiliating themselves.
It is important to have natural social anxiety disorder therapy such as relaxing – sitting back or lying down and doing slow and deep breathing. A professional therapist's help may be required in certain cases, while anxiety medications may also be recommended to control panic attacks.
It has been shown that social phobia is a common condition in families. Most often, it starts in youth. Symptoms of this debilitating condition become visible in six months; this is when a doctor can tell if a person actually has social anxiety.
According to the 2015 Anxiety Depression Association of America (ADAA) report, approximately 15 million Americans have a social anxiety disorder. The average age at onset is around 13 years. People with social phobia tend to show any of the following symptoms:
- Anxiety about speaking to other people.
- Self-consciousness in front of others.
- Be anxious for several days or weeks ahead of an event where others will be participating.
- Avoid places with many people.
- It is difficult to make friends.
Although it is not clear how or why phobias develop, most anxiety disorders can be managed by competent mental health professionals. Studies have demonstrated that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders, helping therapists identify and manage the factors that contribute to anxiety.