Growing Up With Social Anxiety

From birth we begin to develop social anxiety as we become more self-conscious. We all have an embarrassing story to tell from our childhoods. Remember being asked to stand and give answers to a math question you weren't paying attention to in class? Or perhaps a time when you had to perform on stage with your parents watching you?

Even young infants display shyness. Some babies and toddlers even shy away from family members. As children grow up, they frequently face criticism and new experiences that can be daunting. By the time they turn into teenagers, puberty kicks and multiple physical and mental changes happen.

Young people begin feeling things different emotionally. As they grow more self-aware they become insecure about how they are perceived by their peers. We've all had moments when we've felt shy. Meeting new people, public speaking and even talking on the phone can create feelings of shyness.

When a person has constant anticipation of doing something embarrassing in front of others they might have social anxiety disorder. Those with this disorder are terrified of making mistakes in front of others and inevitably find daily life difficult to bear. Even simple tasks such as going grocery shopping can be extremely tough to manage.

Physical symptoms include blushing, profuse sweating, shaky voice, shaking and dizziness. Symptoms of social anxiety can worsen if the sufferer is in an emotional state or in poor health. Feeling stressed and tired can intensify symptoms of anxiety. Each social experience might also produce different levels of anxiety. For example, while a meeting with a close friend might cause little anxiety, having a meeting with the boss might cause intense feelings of anxiety.

People who have social phobia might be considered as shy but this does not define what this disorder is. Social anxiety sufferers are extremely fearful of social situations and will try their hardest to get out of such situations. Social anxiety can however develop from constant feelings of shyness and negative past experiences.

Fear of particular situations can increase through learnt and habitual behavior. Usually people who have social phobia can recall several bad experiences which were of similar setting. These experiences create a domino effect of emotions and sensations when a similar situation occurs.

Fears can be conquered through controlled and gradual exposure to situations that would trigger anxiety. More importantly profound changes to the unconscious mind can lead to full recovery. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is such a therapy that helps amend patterns of thought and behavior to overcome social phobia.

One overlooked aspect of reducing social anxiety includes improving physical health. Taking care of your body through exercise and eating well can help reduce stress and anxiety. More energy and better health will only help boost self-confidence and positivity.

You don't have to live with social anxiety anymore. Get the answers to overcome this disorder at the anxiety symptoms site.