Mananaging Social Anxiety Disorder - 1491 Words

MANAGING SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER INTRODUCTION 1. The concept of fear dated back as far as 400 BC. During this time, Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician described the overly shy person as â€Å"someone who loves darkness as life and thinks every man observes him†. When fear is persistent and exaggerated, it results to tension and stress and consequently, anxiety. 2. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines anxiety as â€Å"a nervous disorder marked by a feeling of uneasiness†. An anxiety disorder involves an excessive or inappropriate state of arousal characterized by feelings of apprehension, uncertainty, or fear. There are seven common types of anxiety disorders. They include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,†¦show more content†¦Possible symptoms such as the mind going blank, increased heartbeat, blushing, stomach ache, nausea, and gagging may occur, thus resulting in self-defeating and inaccurate thoughts. 13. Physiological Aspects. Physiological effects, similar to those in other anxiety disorders, are present in social phobics. For example, when faced with an uncomfortable situation, children with SAD may display tantrums, weeping, clinging to parents, and shutting themselves out. In adults, it may manifest as tears, excessive sweating, nausea, shaking, and palpitations as a result of the fight-or-flight response. Additionally, blushing may be exhibited by the individuals thus, further reinforcing the anxiety in the presence of others. POSSIBLE WAYS OF MANAGING SAD 14. SAD could be managed in the following ways: a. Reducing physical symptoms of anxiety. b. Challenging Negative Thoughts. c. Gradually Facing Your Fears. 15. Reducing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety. Many changes happen in the body when a person becomes anxious. One of the first changes is that the individual experiences an increased breathing rate. Breathing rapidly throws off the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body thereby, triggering additional physical anxiety symptoms such as dizziness, a feeling of suffocation, increased heart rate, and muscle tension. Learning to slow down breathing can help bring physical symptoms of anxiety back under control. In addition to