Do I Have Social Anxiety?

Are everyday social situations a source of crippling fear or anxiety? Do you struggle to navigate social interactions that are seemingly effortless for your friends and family? If so, you may be exhibiting social anxiety symptoms and wonder if you will ever learn how to overcome social anxiety. We know the signs of social anxiety and understand that suffering can be debilitating. Thankfully, there is professional help available. You can learn how to overcome social anxiety through our anxiety disorder treatment in Massachusetts. Contact Greater Boston Addiction Centers online or call 877.920.6583 today.

What Is Social Anxiety?

It is entirely normal to feel a little anxious when confronted with interactions from time to time. Still, there’s a big difference between experiencing some nerves about a situation and having an anxiety disorder. Understanding the many social anxiety symptoms may help you identify your issues and help to usher you toward anxiety disorder treatment in MA.

It can be tough to know the line between nervousness and anxiety. This makes it difficult to know whether you should seek help for the signs of social anxiety you are experiencing or simply keep going forward in life, hoping your nervousness and anxiety fade allowing you to be more confident and engaging in social situations.

Social anxiety disorder is a condition that interferes with a person’s ability to engage with others. Social anxiety manifests itself in many ways, and the social anxiety symptoms are not always obvious to spot. For example, you can be confident in everyday social situations but experience a crippling amount of social anxiety as you prepare to leave the house on a daily basis. You might also be feeling a number of social anxiety symptoms while appearing to be a personable, happy-go-lucky person with no apparent signs of social anxiety to those who interact with you every single day at work, school, or home.

Identifying the Common Symptoms of Social Anxiety

In order to know if you have social anxiety and to learn how to overcome social anxiety, it is essential to be able to identify the many different symptoms of social anxiety disorder. These symptoms may manifest themselves in various degrees of severity in different situations, and you may only experience a few of the signs of social anxiety. Because social interaction is such an integral part of life and our feelings of self-worth, symptoms of social anxiety disorder can crop up at any moment throughout your life. Typically, the signs of social anxiety are broken down into three categories:

1. Psychological symptoms of social anxiety
2. Physical symptoms of social anxiety
3. Behavioral symptoms of social anxiety

Psychological Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Psychological symptoms of anxiety disorders are often the most prominent for those suffering the effects of social anxiety on a daily basis. These crippling feelings can be incredibly intense and challenging to handle. During treatment at Greater Boston Addiction Centers, you will learn that the harmful thoughts you are experiencing from day to day are inaccurate, overly harsh, and exaggerated.

These crippling thoughts are composed of negative beliefs and only work against you to validate your negative feelings. They work in a cyclical fashion and fuel each other to prevent you from shining as brightly as you can. At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, our dedicated staff of caring professionals can provide treatment to help you manage those troubling thoughts and banish the negativity.

Physical Symptoms of Social Anxiety

There are many physical symptoms of social anxiety that an individual may experience. Some are obvious, but others are subtle, including:

• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Tightness in your chest
• Dry mouth
• Rapid heart rate
• Ringing in your ears
• Breathing difficulties

As your physical response to anxiety intensifies, it makes interacting in social situations even more difficult.

Other physical symptoms of social anxiety are easier to identify, like:

• Blushing
• Sweating
• Flushed face
• Shaky voice

Behavioral Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Behavioral symptoms of social anxiety have to do with how you organize your life and behave in response to anxiety. The impact of these signs of social anxiety is, at times, more dangerous long-term because they prevent you from growing, experiencing life, and moving forward. Some examples include:

• Avoiding certain social situations out of fear of embarrassment
• Not applying for jobs because of the interview process
• Skipping college because public speaking is involved
• Choosing to not spend time with friends or date

These behavioral obstacles can be treated with compassionate, professional care. You do not need to continue suffering through social anxiety.

Learn More at Greater Boston Addiction Centers

If you think that you are experiencing some of the signs of anxiety, our expert medical team at Greater Boston Addiction Centers is ready to help you learn how to manage your disorder and overcome the anxiety that is holding you back. Contact us using our secure online form or call us confidentially at 877.920.6583 to learn more about anxiety disorder treatment in Massachusetts.