Are you aware of Social Anxiety Disorder? If not, you need to note that it is a mental disorder that is on the rise in India along with other countries of the world. It is what you must not ignore. The disorder needs to be rightly diagnosed and treated effectively. Before we go into further details, let us first understand what it is and why it should be treated effectively.
Social Anxiety Disorder: What it is?
Putting in simple terms, people who suffer from social anxiety disorder are fearful of and often anxious about certain social situations. It is caused, due by the fear of negative judgment, embarrassment, or rejection on these social occasions. You need to note that anxiety owing to giving a presentation or going on date for the first time is quite normal. But if the anxiety of these social interactions is very intense and the same affects works or personal life, then if it lasts over six months there may be preliminary indications that something is wrong and steps need to be taken to have it treated.
The usual symptoms of social anxiety disorder
For having any disorder treated rightly first, and foremost, it is important that it is identified. The usual symptoms include appearing anxious which include blushing, or even trembling. The patients suffering from this disorder also feel awkward or sometimes even unintelligent. Apart from this, some people may even suffer from health conditions that could be physical symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating, or even feeling sick. The people who suffer from this condition, often acknowledge that their fear is excessive and the anxiety that they feel might sometimes seem to be overpowering to them.
Now that we know the basic symptoms let us see what could trigger these health conditions:
Triggers of Social Anxiety Disorder could include
- Meeting unfamiliar people
- Talking to new people at Work or School
- Delivering a public speech
- Having to speak to the counter staff
- Using the public restroom
- Being seen eating or drinking at a public place
- When one is required to perform in front of others especially if they are not well known.
So in case you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned conditions, you need to be careful and consult a psychiatrist if possible. The other face to take note of is that young children too might be suffering from this condition. In such cases, children might be crying excessively, throwing tantrums, freezing, not speaking in social conditions, cling to the parents or caregivers, and so on.
The Right Treatment
Speaking of treating social anxiety disorder, the options are many. So once you or any of your near and dear ones have been diagnosed with it is important that you have the problem treated rightly. If the symptoms persist if it is left untreated it would only get worse and lead to a crisis. Thus you need to have the same treatment urgently.
Treatments broadly include Psychotherapy and medications. Sometimes a combination of the two may be ideal.
Psychotherapy: How it can help?
Psychotherapy is basically, in simple terms talking therapy. It is what is used to understand the mental condition of the patient and thereafter, devising methods to have the same treated.
CBT
When it comes to Psychotherapy, CBT is quite a common form of therapy. The basic aim of this treatment, is to help the person concerned to identify the negative thought patterns and thereafter change them and the beliefs that they might have developed. Along with the same it also aims at changing people’s behavior or reactions to situations that trigger the anxiety. It is about identifying their thoughts not those of others. Once it has been identified, they are counseled and guided on the right way to deal with it and the right behavior.
Exposure Therapy
Along with this, it is seen that exposure therapy or cognitive delivered exposures in certain cases, might prove to be helpful. In this approach, the person gradually works up to facing the situations that they fear the most with a therapist in a safe environment. With the help of the therapist, he or she is guided to behave in the right manner.
Medications
Apart from the above sometimes certain medications may also help to treat the health condition. At times a combination of the two may be recommended based on the seriousness of the condition.
To conclude we can say that social anxiety disorder is a common problem that many are now suffering from. The good news is that if detected early it can be treated and rectified easily. If you are based in Kolkata then Moner Alo is the best psychiatrist center in Kolkata, here you can avail yourself of the best psychiatrist treatment in Kolkata even for Social Anxiety disorder.