For sufferers, understanding and accepting the symptoms of social anxiety is one of the first steps to overcoming this debilitating condition.
In order to be truly free of these symptoms and to be able to function effectively within social situations they need to recognize how destructive and limiting patterns of thought arise.
A starting point is to realize that in fact some people have a particular genetic predisposition to developing such patterns and symptoms, however this does not mean the condition cannot be overcome.
It is a common misconception that sufferers have experienced some sort of psychological trauma or have failed to develop good social skills.
In fact it is more to do with that genetic predisposition which can cause some people to form particular personality traits.
These traits tend to make these people hypersensitive to worrying what other people might be thinking about them.
If you think about how limiting this can be if every social transaction is analysed in minute detail and is tinged with anxiety about the other perceives them, it is no wonder social anxiety can be particular frustrating and distressing for sufferers.
The thought patterns of sufferers can be circular and destructive.
For example, worrying about whether someone will notice that you have the symptoms of social anxiety, which of course only adds to the feelings of anxiety.
They may worry about particular physical symptoms and these might appear to other people - examples include a shaking voice, hands sweating, face blushing.
Other symptoms may not be noticeable to other people, but will be acutely apparent to the sufferer, such as a racing heartbeat and a general feeling of panic (as a result of adrenalin).
Typically a sufferer may find themselves in a group situation desperately wanting to speak up and be part of the discussion, only to find that the thought of it causes crippling anxiety which prevents them from participating.
The more the sufferer tries to overcome these symptoms of social anxiety the worse that they become.
In fact, it is not possible to stop them simply by trying not to have them.
Sufferers can overcome this condition through training their minds to think differently and to break those destructive and limiting thought patterns.
Although sufferers may have a genetic predisposition to this condition, it can be overcome through a series of exercises that help people function differently in social situations and ultimately free them from social anxiety.
In order to be truly free of these symptoms and to be able to function effectively within social situations they need to recognize how destructive and limiting patterns of thought arise.
A starting point is to realize that in fact some people have a particular genetic predisposition to developing such patterns and symptoms, however this does not mean the condition cannot be overcome.
It is a common misconception that sufferers have experienced some sort of psychological trauma or have failed to develop good social skills.
In fact it is more to do with that genetic predisposition which can cause some people to form particular personality traits.
These traits tend to make these people hypersensitive to worrying what other people might be thinking about them.
If you think about how limiting this can be if every social transaction is analysed in minute detail and is tinged with anxiety about the other perceives them, it is no wonder social anxiety can be particular frustrating and distressing for sufferers.
The thought patterns of sufferers can be circular and destructive.
For example, worrying about whether someone will notice that you have the symptoms of social anxiety, which of course only adds to the feelings of anxiety.
They may worry about particular physical symptoms and these might appear to other people - examples include a shaking voice, hands sweating, face blushing.
Other symptoms may not be noticeable to other people, but will be acutely apparent to the sufferer, such as a racing heartbeat and a general feeling of panic (as a result of adrenalin).
Typically a sufferer may find themselves in a group situation desperately wanting to speak up and be part of the discussion, only to find that the thought of it causes crippling anxiety which prevents them from participating.
The more the sufferer tries to overcome these symptoms of social anxiety the worse that they become.
In fact, it is not possible to stop them simply by trying not to have them.
Sufferers can overcome this condition through training their minds to think differently and to break those destructive and limiting thought patterns.
Although sufferers may have a genetic predisposition to this condition, it can be overcome through a series of exercises that help people function differently in social situations and ultimately free them from social anxiety.
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