According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), social phobia is the fear of being judged or embarrassed in public. This can involve fear in the work environment, school and even social situations with friends. And those with social phobia struggle in a debilitating way -- far in advance of any given situation that makes them nervous.
According to the NIMH, social anxiety can manifest in a number of ways. For example, the NIMH reports that signing a check in line at a business could trigger anxiety, or using a bathroom at a store may set off similar feelings.
People who suffer from social anxiety know that it isn’t normal, but they feel powerless over these emotions. As a result, they may isolate themselves to avoid uncomfortable symptoms associated with these fears. The fears can vary from person to person. Some people may struggle with just one fear, but others may fear anything that involves being social.
NIMH says that there are clear signs of social phobia. Isolation, fear of judgment, advanced worry about an event that involves others, the concern of being embarrassed in public, struggling to maintain relationships, sweating or blushing and trembling in the presence of others, and feeling an all-around sensation of nausea are common symptoms that those with social anxiety face.
Interestingly, social phobia is also sometimes seen in families. An inability to decipher the behaviors of those around us may fuel it, and a lack of strong social skills can add to it. Stress and environmental factors may be a reason that this issue develops.
Check out these five techniques that you can use to relieve social anxiety in general.