There are two types of social anxiety:

Generalized social anxiety or social phobia - usually manifest as being extremely shy, or fear being around nearly everyone and most situations and anxiety treatment is needed to function in day to day situations.  

Specific social anxiety - which is only experienced in specific situations such as stage fright.  When away from that situation, you feel little to no anxiety during other social functions.  

Most common symptoms of social anxiety are fear of anxiety being noticed, shortness of breath, rapid heart beating, chest tightness, blushing, shaking, and problems talking.  When symptoms appear people become more self conscious.  These symptoms can become worse if untreated.  

7 Common Symptoms of Social Anxiety

#1 Fear of embarrassment.  Feeling as if everyone is judging them and feel this is irrational. 

#2 Nausea or sour stomach. 

#3 Sweating palms and sweating in general.

#4 Excessive worrying, it can begin weeks in advance.  dread upcoming event.  Difficulty sleeping the night before. 

#5 Difficulty speaking.  Can't think of the right word to say, throat becomes tight, constricted. 

#6 Avoid social situations.  Avoid people, make excuses to avoid going out.  

#7 Symptoms in children - all of the above, tantrums, cling to parents, or mutism - they stop talking completely. 

​​Learn how to overcome anxiety with a mental health professional with over 20 years of experience in Seattle and Bellevue.  Get support and hands on training using CBT and other effective treatment options. 

​Learn proven techniques to experience lasting relief from anxiety.  Schedule your free consultation today.

Learn how to overcome anxiety with Matthew Hussey.   He describes the symptoms of social anxiety disorder and social phobia. 

If you have social anxiety, it means you are human.  He normalizes it and talks about how he used to avoid social situations.  He points out, people tend to over identify with social anxiety and get stuck with the label.   He describes symptoms of social anxiety as a sense of not belonging, that everyone else gets it and I don't.  He realized when he is out of his element, he starts to feel socially anxious.  

He changed his perspective of social anxiety and see himself as a human being who sometimes feels anxious. 

Here are his 3 steps to overcome anxiety:

#1 Get familiar with social environments.  Go to coffee shops, bars, night clubs several times until that place becomes familiar.  New place it can feel like a jungle, scary, threatening, overwhelming. 

#2 Start small.  When meeting people at a party or social function, start with one or two people.  Just talk with one person at a party with hundred people.  Start with a simple hello.  His intention is first to just get comfortable with the situation, not to be liked or make friends, or get a date. See that person as an individual, or just another human being, as interesting and fun. 

#3 Be generous with your energy.  You walk in thinking everyone is thinking of YOU. Instead, ask yourself how can I make them feel happy.  Rather than trying to get, give to them instead.  Make others feel good. 

Avoid the trap of over identifying with your anxiety.  As you chip away at this you will feel better!

​Learn how to overcome anxiety with a mental health professional with over 20 years of experience in Seattle and Bellevue.  Get support and hands on training using CBT and other effective treatment options. 

​Learn proven techniques to experience lasting relief from anxiety.  Schedule your free consultation today.

Looking for help to combat and overcome anxiety?  In this video, this person shares his own story of overcoming social anxiety, and some creative anxiety relief tips and techniques. 

#1 Be comfortable with yourself.  It takes time, this is not a race.  It's a life journey, it's not a quick fix.  Get comfortable being weird and being embarrassed.  Dance and sing in public. 

#2  Change your perspective.  Why is he nervous meeting one person, ten people? It has no effect on the world, out of billions of people. Not every eye is on you. 

#3 Think of the judgmental process.  People forget their judgements and they will forget your's too.  People don't think about your actions and words as long as you think they do. 

You can be comfortable in your own skin!  ​

Learn how to overcome anxiety with a mental health professional with over 20 years of experience in Seattle and Bellevue.  Get support and hands on training using CBT and other effective treatment options. 

​Learn proven techniques to experience lasting relief from anxiety.  Schedule your free consultation today.