Performance Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder

Performance Anxiety & Social Anxiety Disorders

Everyone is capable of getting nervous when in a socially awkward situation. And many people worry about giving formal presentations. Some people, however, suffer more than the occasional jitters. People who are socially anxious are excessively fearful that others will criticize their public behavior. They worry that they will appear inarticulate or stupid, or show embarrassing signs that they are anxious or weak. It is this feared disapproval from others that causes their distress.

The socially anxious person seeks ways to avoid this risk whenever possible, feels significant anxiety long before the event, and continues experiencing anxiety and worry throughout the performance. After the event, he analyzes his every move and negatively interprets the response of others, even though the “performance” might have been the simple act of eating a sandwich at a fast food restaurant.

Almost all socially anxious people fear public speaking. The four other top ranking fears are: eating in public, signing one’s name or writing in public, using public bathrooms and being the center of attention.

When facing a feared situation, the socially anxious person experiences many of the same worried thoughts and physical symptoms as those during a panic attack. However certain bodily symptoms — rapid heart rate, trembling voice, shaking hands, sweating and blushing — are more common and can be more distressing because they might be seen by others. Some people, when they become extremely anxious, will feel as if they can’t move their body, like they are frozen in place (called atonic immobility).

In this self-help site you will learn a great deal about  your distress and how to help yourself.  The work is not easy.  In fact, it’s downright anxiety-provoking!  But you can get stronger.  Stay with it, and let your friends and family help you progress.

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Don’t Panic – Third Edition

More on Performance Anxiety & Social Anxiety Disorders

Performance Anxiety & the Judgement of Others

Most people consider the term “performance” to mean some type of formal presentation of our skills or knowledge. The socially anxious person, on the other hand, can define the simplest of social interactions as a performance.

How to Recover from Social & Performance Anxiety

To reap the comfort that you seek, you will need to persist in practicing various skills using concentrated effort over several months. Certain characteristics of social anxieties, when combined, require that you use this degree of thoroughness. Here are seven of the most important distinctions regarding recovery from social phobias.

Stopping the Noise In Your Head

In this groundbreaking and timely book, learn a step-by-step approach to overcoming anxiety and worry by moving away from comfort, confidence, and security…and willingly moving toward uncertainty, distress, and discomfort.