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