It is completely normal to feel nervous in some social situations, such as going on a date or before a job interview. However, social anxiety causes everyday interactions to cause significant anxiety for the sufferer. It causes you to feel anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment due to a fear of being scrutinized or judged negatively by other people. Although in some cases, anxiety improves with age, that is not the case for everyone.
Most people with social anxiety use various treatments and approaches to try and overcome their anxiety. Treatments such as psychotherapy, counselling and medications can work for some people but can be unsuccessful for others.
When someone is suffering from social anxiety, it can impact their self-confidence, relationships, social life, and career in a negative way. The individual will often look for ways to avoid the feelings of anxiety by staying away from social situations altogether.
Common Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Emotional and behavioural symptoms of social anxiety can include:
- Fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively
- Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
- Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
- Fear that others will notice you look anxious
- Avoidance speaking to people due to a fear of embarrassment
- Avoiding situations where you may be the centre of attention
- Anxiety during social situations
- Expecting the worst possible scenario in social situations
- Fear of physical symptoms such as blushing, having a shaky voice
Physical symptoms of social anxiety can include:
- Blushing
- Trembling
- Shaky voice
- Fast heartbeat
- Upset stomach/nausea
- Sweating
- Troubling breathing/catching your breath
- Dizziness
- Feeling your mind has gone blank
- Muscle tension
How can hypnotherapy help?
Social anxiety can be caused by emotional and physical experiences in an individual's life. These experiences can create a negative cycle, as the next time something similar happens the anxious response will happen again.
Solution-focused hypnotherapy is an excellent treatment for social anxiety, as it focuses on a clear goal and helps you work on an achievable path to get there.
Hypnotherapy offers a safe and relaxed way to tackle anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help you be calmer and more confident when handling these situations and help to stop anxiety affecting your daily life. If you would like to book a free consultation or have any questions, get in touch with us today on the contact details below.