Feeling our heart skip like a restless puppy on our first date or an important presentation is normal. But if you are afraid to speak every day, if you are ashamed to look into the eyes and ask questions, if you prefer to be silent for fear of what they will say or if you are afraid to go to a party, you are suffering from social anxiety . The good news is that there is psychological therapy and its proven positive effect on this type of disorder.
What is social anxiety disorder?
It is an irrational fear that prevents you from facing situations of interaction with unknown people or authority figures, such as your boss or teachers. It can be presented in very everyday things such as asking for an address or the price of a product or in a more demanding context such as making a presentation and even going to a party.
Do not confuse a shy or introverted person with suffering from social anxiety . The key to identifying it is, if it interferes with the routine and daily life of the person and prevents their proper performance, in the necessary and inevitable interaction with others.
What are the symptoms of social anxiety?
- Feeling that everyone is judging and watching you.
- Negative thoughts about one’s own action (eg “they will make fun of what I do “).
- You prefer to be silent for fear of stuttering, coughing or shaking your voice.
- Irrational beliefs of being classified as a stupid, weak or weird person.
- You prefer solitude before exposing yourself to contact with others out of fear and shame.
- Tics such as moving a leg, pinching or biting nails and the skin around the fingers are also common.
If you have any of these symptoms, seek help from a specialist. You will be surprised how quick and easy it is to overcome this disorder at the hands of an expert and in a controlled environment.
The benefits of psychological therapy.
If you don’t like your results, review your beliefs and change your behavior.
It will reassure you to know that it happens to other people too and they have sought help. The opportunity to change your life is within your reach.
The psychological therapy specialist is trained to psychoeducate you. It will explain what is happening on a physical and psychological level, it will help you create awareness and understand your problems.
It will train you in relaxation techniques. You will learn to loosen the muscles that are tense in moments of anxiety and, above all, to breathe correctly.
It will also work with you on your belief system, the thoughts you have about others and about your own performance, which in most cases are irrational and do not correspond to reality. It will train you to stop or change these thoughts.
When you control the physical and psychological symptoms, it will teach you, by successive approximations, new behaviors to develop social skills.
Cheer up! Improvement is possible. Today can be the day.