We are all familiar with the feeling of discomfort and nervousness in some social situations. Whether it be clamming up while meeting someone new, walking into a room full of strangers, or public speaking. These experiences aren’t really thrilling for anyone, but most people can get through them. However, if one experiences social anxiety, also commonly referred to as “social phobia”, the stress from these situations can be very overwhelming.
Social anxiety is a chronic mental health condition in which social interactions can cause irrational anxiety in a person. For people with social anxiety disorder; everyday social interactions can result in irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and even embarrassment. The things that other people might consider “normal” like making small talk and maintaining eye contact while conversing might make one feel so uncomfortable that they start avoiding social interactions entirely- which can lead to several aspects of life falling apart.
Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders, so there is scope for its treatment. It is always difficult to ask for help, but with the assistance of a medical professional, social anxiety disorder can be treated and managed, and the person suffering from it can lead a healthy life.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder to look out for:
- Feeling hesitant to initiate conversation
- Feeling the need to avoid eye contact with others
- Feeling uncomfortable when people are watching you
- Feeling very conscious in social scenarios
- A persistent feeling of being judged by others
Some people might even experience physical symptoms of social anxiety, such as:
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach and diarrhoea
- Excessive sweating
- Raised heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Blushing
- Muscle tension
If social anxiety disorder is left untreated for long, it can lead to depression, alienation, and low self-esteem. It is important to watch out for the warning signs and seek the help of a mental health professional.
The disorder can be treated through medication or therapy, or a combination of both. Both must be administered by a licensed professional. In most cases, the treatments help the person suffering from the disorder lead a healthy and comfortable life. It is important to remember that having social anxiety does not make one “abnormal”, several people experience it at some point in their lives and it is important to seek help to treat it.
Our Customized EAP solutions
At KelpHR, our experts can help you with solutions for the mental health and well-being of your employees through our Counselling and Employee Assistance Programs. For more on our customized and confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) solutions that help provide mental health and wellness for organizations and their employees, do get in touch with us at info@kelphr.com, call +91-95001-29652.
About KelpHR
KelpHR was incorporated in 2013 to provide the best HR solutions to organizations, and to improve workplace culture across the board. Over the last 8 years, we have serviced more than 500 clients in India and a few overseas, across various industries in the areas of POSH (prevention of sexual harassment at workplace), D, E & I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and EAP. But the common objective of all of these services is to build safer, happier, inclusive and productive workplaces.
For any of our other services related to Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D, E&I), do get in touch with us at info@kelphr.com, call +91-95001-29652 and we’d be able to help you with customized offerings suited to your organization.
