Do you have social phobia?
As I said many of us feel social anxiety sometimes but for some people their daily life becomes influenced by social anxiety. If you have social anxiety for more than 6 months in a way that affects your daily life you may be you have social phobia.
Symtoms for social phobia are:
1. A persistent fear of one or more social situations where the person is exposed to other people. The person is afraid that he/she will act in a way (or show anxiety) that will be embarassing or humiliating. The individual does not have to do anything embarassing but the fear of it leads to anxiety.
2. Exposure to the social situation activates anxiety.
The subject the individual is afraid of can variate. It can be fear of making phone calls, having a conversation, walk into a room full of people, eat or write when other people are watching etc.
3. The individual understands that the fear is not logical and exagerated.
Often you understand that you fear is unnecessary and that it makes things worse. This makes you feel unsecure, inferior and inadquate.
4. The individual avoids or endures the anxiety provoking situation with intense feelings of anxiety.
To be continued…
Cognitive Behavior Psychologist Monica Emanell