Nearly all of us get edgy about meeting new people from time to time.If you are dealing with social anxiety however, that minor apprehension or fear is taken to a whole new level.Social anxiety results in a major disruption to your life, with changes to your daily patterns that help you to avoid the feeling of stress or fear.This article will provide a brief overview of social anxiety, including the symptoms of the disorder and the most effective treatment options available.

Social anxiety may present in a number of ways, with different symptoms affecting people in different ways.The main symptom of the disorder is an irrational fear of social situations or activities, because you fear others are watching or judging you.Another common symptom is the fear that you will embarrass yourself in front of other people.The fear evolves into an unwillingness to participate in many social activities to prevent the inevitable judgment and embarrassment.

Along with these fears and avoidance of social situations, physical symptoms can appear when you are forced into social situations that frighten you.Possible physical signs are many and might include stomach upset, muscle tension, clammy hands and profuse sweating.Those suffering with the disorder might also find their voice shakes and they have difficulty making eye contact with those around them.

People with social anxiety usually don’t think very highly of themselves and they have difficulty handling the criticism of others.A person with social anxiety often knows that there is no logical basis for their fears, but that knowledge does very little to curb their stress.People begin to fear social situations of all kinds, and that fear can become a source of the anxiety all by itself.If your fears become so intense that they get in the way of your daily life, it is time to talk to your doctor about an effective treatment plan.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for social anxiety and they usually involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy.For medication, most doctors will begin by prescribing a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like Paxil or Prozac.Cognitive behavior therapy is usually used in tandem with medication to help the patient readjust thought patterns to avoid the fear associated with social situations.When medication and psychotherapy are combined effectively, you can often enjoy less anxiety and a higher quality of life.