Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms & Treatments

According to the Mayo Clinic, social anxiety disorder is the extreme fear and self-consciousness an individual experiences in everyday interactions. Certain symptoms are indicative of social anxiety disorder; effective treatment can help the individual overcome them.

Triggers

• Individuals with social anxiety disorder may feel stressed when meeting new people, making small talk, being watched while performing a task, speaking to authority figures, going on a date, taking exams, attending social events and being criticized or teased.

Symptoms

• The psychological symptoms include worrying incessantly about an upcoming social event, fear of embarrassing or humiliating yourself, and avoiding social situations to the extent that it disrupts your life. Physical symptoms include pounding heart, trembling voice, sweating, dry mouth, rapid breathing, blushing, clammy hands and muscle tension.

Lifestyle Changes

• Avoiding or limiting caffeine such as coffee and soda can reduce anxiety symptoms. Drinking alcohol in moderation decreases the risk of an anxiety attack.

Medications

• For severe social anxiety disorder, antidepressants such as Paxil and Zoloft can be effective treatments. Beta blockers reduce heart pounding and shaking limbs and voice; they are most effective when used irregularly for a particular situation such as public speaking.

Therapy

• The Mayo Clinic notes that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) improves social anxiety disorder symptoms in up to 75 percent of patients. CBT operates under the premise that your thoughts influence your behaviors and reactions.