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A social phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is defined by a severe fear of being poorly regarded, judged, or rejected in a social setting. People who struggle with social anxiety frequently avoid interacting with anybody besides their immediate relatives and close friends. Social anxiety affects people differently, but it can endure and have an adverse effect on happiness, self-esteem, and everyday activities. However, there are various Adolescent support and counselling services as well as psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy that are effective treatments for social anxiety, just like they are for other mental health conditions.
Social Anxiety Disorder has seen a sharp rise in recent years especially during the pandemic when people were locked in their homes for several months and were afraid of COVID-19 as well. There might be many reasons for social anxiety and one is definitely the changing lifestyle of people which is pushing them towards depression. In this article, we will discuss how somebody who has SAD, can deal with it while consulting with a therapist.

Is Social Anxiety common?

Social anxiety is fairly common, yet it’s not unusual for someone with a social anxiety condition to feel alone and misunderstood. In actuality, SAD affects close to 7% of the global population. Social anxiety is curable, but if it goes untreated, individuals who have it might suffer greatly. From moderate to severe, social anxiety can be brought on by a variety of circumstances. Dates, job interviews, parties and social events, public speaking, business meetings, etc. are examples of situations that frequently cause social anxiety.
While most individuals encounter this regularly, in rare instances it can develop into a serious and persistent problem. Even the smallest social interactions can become awkward and unpleasant if social anxiety is not controlled. It might also be difficult to establish deep bonds and relationships with other individuals which makes the individual to stay alone more and that loneliness slowly starts to turn into depression which is worse.
In general, there are two types of social anxiety: non-generalized and generalised. A person who has non-generalized social anxiety does not constantly feel anxious. The opposite is true; instead, some social situations serve as a trigger for their anxiousness. The majority of social encounters are avoided by someone with generalised social anxiety disorder. These people have a crippling fear of being rejected or judged negatively, which makes it difficult for them to interact with others.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Beyond a passing concern about social interactions, social anxiety affects many people. People who suffer from significant social anxiety worry that others will judge them, and this dread prevents them from fully engaging in life. Physical signs of this anxiety over time may include shivering, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and profuse perspiration. If you see such symptoms in your loved ones or experience them yourself, you must consult the best therapist in Dubai so that you may start to receive the treatment soon.
People with social anxiety feel negative about themselves and often question their existence as well. They think they do not belong to the society and often feel inferior to the people around them. Many people who struggle with social anxiety frequently desire to participate in social activities and like interacting with others. However, they are unable to because of their anxiousness. An individual with SAD can benefit from therapy by addressing the underlying causes of their social anxiety disorder and receiving the tools and strategies they need to manage their anxiety.

How can therapy prove helpful in social anxiety?

When you experience social anxiety, it can be challenging to be open with a psychologist or therapist. After all, therapy is a social experience, and social anxiety is triggered by social situations. It may be challenging for people with social anxiety disorder to put their faith in their therapist or be honest during sessions at first. They could also find it difficult to be open and vulnerable out of concern for criticism or rejection.
You must give the connection time, just as you would with any other. Although it might be hard to imagine, patients become used to their therapists with time. While you may have social anxiety, if you meet the proper therapist, you will start to trust them enough to be open and honest about your life. It has also been observed that even children of a certain age group suffer from social anxiety due to a variety of reasons like exams and important dates, in such cases, you must consult a Adolescent psychiatrist Dubai who are specialised to cure children suffering from social anxiety.

How do you control social anxiety?

As discussed earlier, Social anxiety, if not treated in the initial stage might be a cause of worry in the future, there are certain ways by which it can be controlled.

• Consult a therapist: Contrary to what some may believe, shyness, or feeling unpleasant and apprehensive around new people, is not the same as social anxiety. Being a mental health problem, social anxiety can sometimes be difficult to treat oneself. Although there are many things you can do on your own to manage your anxiety and discomfort, seeking professional help is always a smart place to start.

• Figure out what triggers your anxiety and work on it: You may start your search for answers to overcome your emotions of anxiety by identifying the reasons and times when you experience them most frequently. List the situations that make you feel the most uncomfortable and that you find impossible to confront first.

• Fight with the negativity: Even if you do commit a little social error, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that other people will think less of you. In reality, they could recall an instance in which they were in a comparable situation and instead give understanding and compassion. You could even meet a new buddy by bonding over uncomfortable prior experiences. Try fighting out the negativity inside you and everything will be fine.