Do you think you have a social phobia and would you like to confirm it? Thinking of going to a specialist to treat your panic in social situations? What to do to overcome social anxiety disorder and what expectations should we have?
Social phobia can be a very serious problem. Some people experience extreme shyness - this is social anxiety on a milder level that doesn't deserve to be considered an anxiety disorder, but can still detract from your quality of life. Other people experience more severe anxiety where the thought of exposing themselves to social situations paralyzes them with terror.
No matter what you are dealing with, social anxiety can make it much more difficult to enjoy activities related to happiness and joy, and that is the most important reason why you should solve your social anxiety.
What is the difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder?
As far as most mental health professionals know, there is no difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder regardless of its severity. Shyness can be distressing for those who want to have fun in public easily, but it can be dealt with quite easily. Social anxiety disorder is often stressful enough that a person cannot enjoy a good quality of life while suffering from it.
If you discover that you have a social phobia, then you will need to know the basic guidelines for get through psychological therapy successfully and the steps you need to take to choosing a good anxiety specialist .
How to cure social anxiety disorder?
You may be thinking of going to a psychologist or receiving hypnosis therapy for social phobia. The Cognitive-Behavioral Theory is an effective resource to combat social anxiety disorder. However, for many people it is especially expensive, or they do not feel prepared enough to commit to it immediately.
For that reason, many people seek techniques that help them cure their social phobia without a therapist and without the use of unnecessary medications.
Don't start until you feel like you should start
Social phobia disorder can be a bit confusing, because one of its main signs is avoidance disorder. Those with social anxiety disorder can do whatever it takes to avoid or leave social situations as soon as possible. These behaviors produce what is known as negative reinforcement: where social situations are avoided or abandoned if they become stressful. The brain is ordered to give up something scary, and that staying away keeps it safe. For that reason, it is logical that in the future you will remain socially isolated and that you will find more and more situations that make you feel that way.
For that reason, while it is important to maintain a good quality of life that responds to your social anxiety disorder, it is equally important to ensure that you feel sufficiently committed to it. If for any reason you try to avoid making the necessary changes, you may reinforce these fears even more. Here are some effective keys to combat social phobia.
Mindfulness
You can try mindfulness. It is not an ordinary treatment, but it is a way of being self-aware. You need to make sure that you are training beyond your own anxiety, so that you can prevent it from returning in the future.
Anxiety causes negative thoughts, and often helps their development. You need to know what happens to you to learn to blame your anxiety for how you feel, instead of blaming yourself. The more you are able to recognize anxiety symptoms as they occur, the easier it will be for you to pursue treatment.
Change your thought process
One of the things the therapist will tell you is to try challenging the thought processes that drive your anxiety. When you see yourself feeling something that causes you anxiety, just ask yourself why you think that, what other alternatives are there, what the consequences may be, and how important it is to your life if that happens.
Desensitization to fears
Social phobia can cause many specific fears. One of the most common fears is that of shame, while others include fear of being judged, or fear of losing social support. In some cases you may be afraid of anxiety, worrying that others will find out that you have a social phobia.
In some cases, you can take those specific fears and address them in parts. This is called desensitization, and it is when you face a fear for a long time without consequences until you manage to overcome it.
Friends
One of the most recommended resources to end social phobia anxiety is to try to make friends, more to get closer to the ones you already have. Finding supportive people who maintain a positive attitude will allow you to express how you feel about your anxiety.
Distractions
The word distraction has always been associated with something negative. But when it comes to curing anxiety, the term flips. A large part of overcoming anxiety is based on reducing the amount of negative thoughts you have during and after anxiety.
Distractions feed the senses, making it harder for anxiety to reach your thoughts. You can try exercising, hypnosis online, spending more time with your family friends, reviewing interesting content online, listening to music or practicing any other hobby that interests you.
Keep in mind that overcoming social phobia is a process where there are no shortcuts. Many times it is about breaking each fear slowly individually, and making negative thoughts more and more neutral. It also requires some courage as it implies that you are able to commit to overcoming the social phobia before it begins.
