Social phobia can occurs through setting excessively high personal standards, based on the ‘I must not show my weaknesses’ syndrome. This is a preconceived unconscious belief ('I can't handle social situations') undermining social performance.
It is often the fear of being humiliated (receiving negative evaluation by others) – particularly by those viewed as ‘superior’ or an authority figure, say a boss, teacher, senior colleagues, and the like. Often an underlying sense of inferiority prevails. In some way this is viewed as potentially harmful to the individual’s fragile ego.
A Self-fulfilling prophesy (based on previous experience) tends to happen - belief that history will repeat itself. This negative and over defensive self image is there to protect the sensitive ego. But such beliefs are commonly out-of-date, formed on a much earlier occasion in the person's life. Hypnotherapy can do much to build a new level of confidence, assertiveness and self-esteem.
In social phobia attention is internally focused and therefore self-conscious. The person is absorbed in concerns and worries (imaginary or otherwise), adding fuel to inner fears. Self-consciousness often creates physical symptoms such as: muscular & mental tension, butterflies in the stomach, low or lack of eye contact, limited head movements, fidgeting & general inhibitions in thought, word and deed. The person might either not talk, or talk too much - depending on their personality type. Hysterical people will talk too much; shy personalities will be reserved and socially withdrawn. Shyness often begins in childhood and becomes an automatic learned response.
Anxiety can show itself physically, often as facial flushing (blushing), sweating and trembling.
According
to research carried out in the United States, social anxiety disorder
is the third most common debilitating condition after depression
and alcoholism.
Social
anxiety (also known as social phobia) is a type of anxiety disorder.
People who have social anxiety experience extreme and persistent
anxiety associated with social or performance situations.
Put
another way, social anxiety is the fear and anxiety of being judged
and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of
inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation and depression.
If
a person usually becomes anxious in social situations, but seems
fine when they are alone, then 'social anxiety' may be the problem.
Most
people feel shy or nervous in certain situations. Public speaking
or entering a room full of strangers for example, can cause anxiety
in many people. However this kind of common apprehension doesn't
indicate a social phobia. It becomes a social phobia when it:
•
Causes the person to avoid the feared situation
• Means the person endures the situation with intense distress
• Interferes significantly with work, education, family and
social life
What
are the main situations people fear with social anxiety?
The
most common situations that are feared by people who have social
anxiety include the following:
• Speaking in public
• Eating and drinking in public
• Writing in front of others
• Meeting new people
• Being the centre of attention
• Meeting or talking to members of the opposite sex
• Being watched doing something
• Meeting or talking with people in positions of authority
• Being criticised
• Using the telephone
• Going around the room (table) in a circle and having to
say something
This
is not a complete list of symptoms, other feelings are also associated
with social anxiety.
What
are the main symptoms of social anxiety?
When
the person who has social anxiety is confronted by the feared situation,
or even just thinks about the feared situation, extreme symptoms
of anxiety result. The symptoms of social anxiety may include any
or all of the following:
• High levels of anxiety when exposed to the fearful situation (palpitations,
trembling, sweating, tense muscles, dry throat, blushing, dizziness,
sinking feeling in the stomach)
• An overwhelming fear of wanting to escape
• Feeling of self consciousness and inadequacy
• Avoidance of the feared situation, which can often lead
to isolation from friends, family and society
• Reliance on drugs or alcohol to get the person through the
feared situation
| Social
anxiety is one of the most common disorders, especially in relationships
with the opposite sex. Analytical hypnotherapy or hypnoanalysis
is very successful at resolving these social problems. |
|
