Social anxiety disorder is a form of chronic anxiety directly caused by social environments and interactions. Someone who suffers from this disorder is in a constant state of fear and worry concerning the thoughts of others referring to him or her. Below are some characteristics associated with social anxiety disorder.
1. Sweating – Sweating is a bodily response from exertion, heat, or stress. In this case, someone suffering from this disorder can be sweating from the stress of being in a social environment, such as a dinner or party. As the person attempts to stay calm, the body responds to the stress by sweating.
2. Panic attacks – The social situation can escalate because of many reasons, but if it does, a panic attack can ensue. A panic attack can be brought on because of stress in their environment, or on some occasions, there is no trigger for the attacks.
3. Gateway disorder – Social anxiety disorder is commonly associated with alcohol or other “courage” drugs that have been known to reduce worry and inhibitions. This disorder can easily lead to different forms of alcohol or drug abuse, so it should be treated if there is a concern that someone may be struggling with this anxiety.
People seek individual counseling for a wide variety of reasons, from coping with major life challenges or trauma to dealing with depression or anxiety, to simply desiring personal growth and greater self-knowledge. We are fortunate at Solace Counseling to have 2 Master’s Level Licensed Therapists on staff at both locations, each of whom has a wide range of experience in helping patients with mental health, addiction, and life issues. Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions about individual therapy or have questions about Social Anxiety Disorder.