We all know the feeling of being nervous or feeling uncomfortable in a social situation. Public speaking or walking into a room full of strangers isn’t exactly exciting for everybody. For people who suffer from social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, the stress of these situations is too much to handle.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the US, affecting 40 million adults. Approximately 15 million adults have social anxiety.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a common type of anxiety. When people with social phobia are put into situations where they have to meet new people or interact with others, they have this impending fear of being judged. Some of the most common symptoms of social anxiety includes fear, nausea, excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, worrying intensely about social situations or worrying about what others must think of you.
Because social interactions trigger these symptoms, people with social phobia tend to avoid these social situations. If you have been feeling these symptoms for at least six months, it’s important to have an evaluation at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates.
Social Anxiety vs. Introversion
Many people consolidate being an introvert with having social anxiety. While both type of people may seem shy, they are living in different mental states. Introverts get emotional energy from being alone, but that doesn’t mean that being in groups of people causes stress. On the other hand, people with social phobia feel such overwhelming fear in social situations that they avoid these gatherings at all costs.
If you are struggling with social anxiety or social phobia the exceptional team at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates, now expanding to add locations in Chicago, Illinois, can help you. You can simply request an appointment by visiting www.bostonneurobehavioral.com or call at 800-250-3407.
Coping with Social Anxiety
Self-help strategy is one way that can help people overcome social anxiety. It includes learning to assert your feelings with “I feel” statements, talking to trusted loved ones about social phobia or exposing yourself to increasingly bigger social situations. While self-help strategies can take the edge off of social anxiety, some people need additional help to cope with social anxiety. By using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the qualified and caring providers at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates can help people change their thinking patterns.
Boston Neurobehavioral Associates provides comprehensive outpatient behavioral health and psychiatric care to all ages. Moreover, when you don’t have the time to visit your doctor for medical care, you can turn to the exceptional team at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates that is now providing telehealth services in Chicago, Illinois. Through telehealth it gives you the ability to video conference with your doctor and receive help to cope with social anxiety while staying in the comfort of your own home.
Book your anxiety evaluation through the website or connect with us by calling on 800-250-3407.
