Social Anxiety

The Negative Effects of Social Anxiety “Social anxiety is a pervasive disorder, it causes anxiety and fear in most all areas of a person’s life, it is chronic, which means it doesn't go away on its own,” (Richards “Social Anxiety Fact…”). This disorder mentally traps a person in fear of social interactions in everyday life. “Overwhelming self-consciousness in ordinary social encounters, heightened by a sense of being watched and judged by others and a fear of embarrassment,” (Health). Fear of embarrassment and judgement are two of the biggest components in social anxiety. The negative effects of social anxiety on people can impact an individual socially and mentally, as well as physically. The first factors to consider in an individual with

This explains how a person with the disorder is seen from the exterior to others. It is the anxiety aspect that makes the person keep this awkward appearance. People who suffer from social anxiety dream of making friends and being involved socially in interactions, but it is the fear produced by the disorder that prevents them from doing these tasks that may seem normal to others (Richards “Social Anxiety Fact…”). Often times people, especially teens, experience trouble with making friends or even just keeping up with friend groups. Even though they come off as distant at times, they still want to have relationships with their peers. “Social anxiety disorder symptoms can change overtime, they may flare up if they are facing a lot of stress or demands” (Clinic). Symptoms are different in everyone, but the most commonly shared symptom is stress. Common struggles through everyday life include; interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers, attending parties or other social gatherings, going to work/school, starting conversations, making eye contact, entering a room full of people, eating in front of others, etc. (Clinic). These are common examples of

Stress is the main cause of anxiety, “The feeling is thought to arise in the Amygdala gland, a brain region that governs many intense emotional responses,” (Health). The Amygdala gland controls many of our body functions when the body is in a critical state. “As neurotransmitters carry the impulse to the sympathetic nervous system, heart and breathing rates increase, muscles tense up, and blood flow is diverted from the abdominal organs to the brain,” (Health). This is how anxiety preps the body to face a crisis which can cause, “Lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea, and frequent urination,” (Health). When stress gets to be severe in anxiety, it can result in several health problems. “Anxiety has been implicated in several chronic physical illnesses, including heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions,” (Health). Stress and anxiety in a person can make them become more prone to developing theses illnesses. “Evidence suggests that people with anxiety disorders are at greater risks for developing a number of chronic medical conditions. They may also have more severe symptoms and a greater risk of death when they become ill,” (Health). One health problem that can develop from anxiety is heart disease and or coronary events. “In the Nurses Health Study, women with the highest levels of phobic anxiety were 59% more