Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder
You may be a recent transplant to Denver or the state of Colorado and you may feel the strain of needing to make all new friends. Or, like me, you may be experiencing a new post-pandemic lack of social life. This all can be scary! Most of us have some sort of awkwardness or shyness.
Social phobia, aka social anxiety disorder, causes someone to intensely fear social interactions. This condition is more than shyness or a fear of public speaking—someone with social anxiety disorder excessively worries about being judged during everyday situations such as making eye contact with someone or talking to a stranger. They may be reluctant to attend school, work, a date, or a party, and they also may feel anxious about eating in front of others, using public restrooms, or returning items to stores.
Physical Signs of Social Anxiety Disorder
In addition to feeling anxiety, embarrassment, fear, humiliation, or self-consciousness, someone with social anxiety disorder may experience:
- Blushing
- Difficulty catching their breath
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle tension
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Voice shakiness
If someone with social anxiety disorder experiences physical signs like the ones listed above, they may also worry that others will notice that they appear anxious.
How Is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?
Treatment for social anxiety disorder varies depending on factors such as symptom severity. With that said many people with this type of anxiety benefit from attending counseling and taking medication such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
The Provider to Choose for Anxiety Disorder Treatment
If you’re worried that you or a loved one have social anxiety disorder or another type of anxiety, you can rely on me for compassionate counseling services. We can meet online if that suits you best. I can also refer you to knowledgeable psychiatrists in Colorado who can officially assess you and recommend medication if that is the path you choose. Contact me today to schedule an initial video consultation.