If you or a loved one is living with social anxiety disorder (SAD), Dr. Taji Huang, in Glendale, California, can help you manage and overcome it. With years of experience treating a range of mood disorders, Dr. Taji can work with you to find the right treatment approach, so that you can feel more empowered in your career, relationships, and everyday life.
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Lots of people feel scared or nervous when giving a presentation or going to a job interview, but for people with social anxiety disorder, these feelings of fear can become so overwhelming that they can negatively impact happiness and quality of life.
With social anxiety, you might feel as if “all eyes are on you” or as if people are always judging you when you interact with them. You might speak in a very soft voice, have a very stiff posture, or be unable to make eye contact with others.
Symptoms Of Social Anxiety Disorder
The physical symptoms of SAD can become so unbearable that you tend to avoid social situations that trigger your social phobia. Social anxiety can negatively impact your career, relationships, and other important areas of your life.
The symptoms of this anxiety disorder can keep you from pursuing experiences that you would otherwise enjoy.
- Nausea
- Blushing
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Muscle Tension
- Dizziness
- A Rapid Heartbeat
- Shortness Of Breath
- Feeling Like Your Mind Went Blank
Common Social Anxiety triggers
Often, social anxiety disorder can make everyday situations feel incredibly tiring and almost impossible. These common situations may include, but are not limited to:
- Meeting New People
- Public Speaking
- Speaking With Authority Figures
- Speaking Up During A Meeting
- Asking Questions
- Entering A Crowded Room
- Making Phone Calls
- Using Public Restrooms
- Eating In Public
- Going On A Date
- Going To Work Or School
Five Tips For Coping With Social Anxiety Disorder
- Remember that your social anxiety symptoms are much less visible to other people than they feel to you. They might not even notice that you’re nervous or anxious.
- Challenge your negative thoughts with positive self-talk. If you find yourself thinking “I will start shaking and stuttering, and everyone will judge me,” you can respond to yourself with “I am calm, I don’t have to be perfect, and other people are probably worried too.”
- Gradually expose yourself to difficult situations. This can help you gain confidence, which will lessen your anxiety symptoms in the future. You can start small by making eye contact or saying hello to someone passing by on the street or at a store.
- Use your senses to ground yourself. For example, you could focus on the color or patterns on the wall or the texture of an object in your hand to help shift your attention away from a racing heart or trembling hands.
- Try deep, focused breathing to help you feel better. Focus your attention on the exhale because shallow, rapid breathing sometimes makes anxiety symptoms worse.
Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Professional Help
A psychologist, counselor, or anxiety therapist like Dr. Taji Huang can teach you additional coping strategies for dealing with social anxiety. These options may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Talk Therapy
- Exposure Therapy
- Marriage Counseling & Couples Counseling
Let’s Help You Overcome SAD
People with social anxiety disorder often find it difficult to reach out and seek professional help with an anxiety therapist. You are not alone. Millions of people in the U.S. live with social anxiety disorder, and help is out there.
Dr. Taji is ready to help you overcome your social anxiety and live your life to the fullest. Call and make an appointment in Glendale, CA, today.