Assalamualaikum
Hello Readers
Tonight I will try to discuss about the definition of social anxiety. Maybe you are wondering, why you should read a definition on the article regarding "overcoming" social anxiety. But you know, in order to overcome a problem it is important to understand what is keeping it going.
On the definition of social anxiety part, you will recognize some different forms the problem can take and different ways in which it can affect you.
      What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety is a shorthand term that describes the fear, nervousness, and apprehension most people at times experience in their relationship with other people. Social anxiety makes you think that other people are judging you, talking behind you, and self conscious: Aware of possibility that you might indeed do an embarrassing action. Social anxious people tends to "suudzon": they will assume that their interaction with others will painfully revealing. They thought the others is noticing their weakness and will ignoring, dismissing, and criticizing them for not behaving more acceptably. Social anxiety is normal at some amount such as when you start doing a new job, but it truly bad for your life in excessive amounts.
Maybe you are curious, what the effect of social anxiety on your life. Well, the answer is almost everything. According to some research, social anxiety affects your thinking, your behaviour, your body, and your emotions. Sounds like a nonsense? Well, it turns out to be true. Have you experiencing some of these?
1. Worrying about what others think of you
2. Focusing attention on yourself; being painfully aware of what you do and say
3. Dwelling on things you think you did wrong after the event. Or, overthinking about what might go wrong ahead of time.
4. Speaking quickly or quietly, mumbling, getting words mixed up
5. Doing things to make sure that you do not attract attention
6. Keeping safe: in 'safe' places, talking to 'safe' people, about 'safe' topic
7. Feeling Tense (unable to relax), Panicky Feeling (dizziness etc), and over sweating
8. Frustration and anger
9. Feeling unconfident
10.Feeling Depressed or hopeless about being able to change
I think you notice it. 1-3 is an example of thought which has affected by social anxiety, 4-6 is behaviour change, 7 is effect on body, and 8-10 are effects on emotions or feelings. In practice, the symptoms link up with each other, so every one will affect all the others.
The characteristic of social anxiety is the existences of 'subtle kind of avoidance', 'safety behaviour', 'feeling of inferiority and frustration'. The first on is about not doing something because to do it would make you anxious (although it's important action) such as avoiding talking about anything personal, waiting for someone else to arrive before entering a room full of people, etc. The second one is doing something to keep yourself safe. Many of the safety behaviour involve trying not to attract unwanted attention. Such as keeping safe: in 'safe' places, talking to 'safe' people, about 'safe' topic or saying nothing that might challenging or controversial: Always agreeing. And the third one is actually quite devastating on your life. When social anxiety hit you and interferes you with doing the things you want to do, being sort of person you would like to be, it will bring a whole range of others feeling with it. Such as despair, hopelessness, inferiority, etc.
      Oh yeah, same like some exemplary of physiological diseases. Social anxiety has a vicious cycle which make many people have difficulties on breaking free from it. But the good news is "Social anxiety could be changed"
See ya on Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness (Part 2/4)
