| Social anxiety is the fear of social | | | | experiencing so much fear that they find it |
| situations. This fear causes both mental and | | | | difficult, if not impossible to talk. This is |
| physical symptoms that are extremely | | | | one of the most feared symptoms by people |
| uncomfortable for the person experiencing | | | | with social anxiety, because they worry that |
| them. Both mental and physical symptoms can | | | | people will think that they are stupid or |
| be so intense that they eventually lead to | | | | incompetent. |
| additional health problems. | | | | |
| | | | - Muscle Tension - muscle tension is caused |
| The most common physical symptoms of social | | | | when a person experiences extreme or |
| anxiety are as follows: | | | | prolonged stress or fear. Muscle tension can |
| | | | become so bad that it causes muscles to |
| - Heart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat - | | | | become sore. |
| This is a very common symptom of social | | | | |
| anxiety disorder, but it is also a common | | | | - Dry throat or mouth - adrenaline rush |
| symptom for several other health problems. If | | | | causes a dry mouth, and fear that is |
| you have never experienced this before, you | | | | associated with social anxiety causes an |
| should see a doctor to determine whether | | | | adrenaline rush. |
| another health problem exists. | | | | |
| | | | - Muscle twitches - adrenaline can rush |
| - Tremors - tremors, or shaking, usually | | | | through the body so fast that it causes |
| cannot be controlled. The trembling can be | | | | muscles to jump. |
| very mild, or very strong and noticeable. | | | | |
| | | | - Dizziness - adrenaline can cause dizziness, |
| - Sweating - some people will sweat more than | | | | but this could also be a sign of a more |
| others. Some people only experience sweaty | | | | serious medical problem. If you become dizzy, |
| palms, or feel too warm, while others sweat | | | | you should see a doctor. |
| profusely. | | | | |
| | | | - Shortness of breath, feelings of smothering |
| - Diarrhea - social anxiety causes stress, | | | | - This is a common sign of an anxiety attack, |
| and stress causes diarrhea. Diarrhea may last | | | | but it could also signal another health |
| as long as the person is feeling the stress. | | | | problem. You should seek medical treatment. |
| | | | |
| - Confusion - when fear exists, a persons | | | | - Chest pain - This is another common sign of |
| adrenaline level rises. This major increase | | | | an anxiety attack, but it is also a common |
| in adrenaline can cause a person to appear to | | | | sign of a heart attack. If you experience |
| be confused. They may even actually be | | | | chest pain, go to the nearest emergency room |
| confused because they are focusing on the | | | | and seek medical treatment, or call an |
| fear, and not on the situation. | | | | ambulance. |
| | | | |
| - Blushing - People with social anxiety | | | | - Difficulty swallowing - fear makes you feel |
| disorder may or may not blush. Blushing is | | | | like you have a lump in your throat. That |
| generally associated with shyness, but | | | | lump, whether it is real or imagined, makes |
| shyness and social anxiety are not the same | | | | swalling difficult. |
| thing. | | | | |
| | | | - Pale skin - both stress and nausea can |
| - Nausea - fear usually causes feelings of | | | | cause a person to turn pale. |
| nausea. Depending on the level of fear that | | | | |
| the person is experiencing, the nausea | | | | These are the most common symptoms of social |
| usually goes away once the person is removed | | | | anxiety. You may experience other symptoms, |
| from the situation. It can, however, result | | | | or these symptoms in varying degrees. If the |
| in vomiting. | | | | symptoms that you experience are new or |
| | | | severe, you should visit the doctor as soon |
| - Difficulty talking - the person may be | | | | as possible. |