You may or may not know someone with social anxiety. It is a common condition, but running into someone who has it might be hard, simply because it can get so bad that they never leave their homes. This is a condition that means someone has trouble interacting with others, and can have severe panic episodes when confronted with any type of social environment. They may be able to go out some, but they never know when a panic attack may happen. After a while, they become so afraid of having such an attack that they stop going out altogether.
Overcoming social anxiety can be a very hard thing to do. The very act of leaving the house can be too much for some with this condition, and that makes going to see a therapist next to impossible. When they have anxiety this bad, they may need to take baby steps to get out the door. There are some great books on the subject that can help, and may be enough to get someone into a therapists office, even when they still dont think that they can venture out anywhere else. With good therapy for overcoming social anxiety, that can all change.
For those that can leave the house, but may limit their destinations, overcoming social anxiety can be something that they can do on their own, or in conjunction with what they may be getting from a therapist. The biggest fear most of us have, at least in terms of any type of human interaction, is the fear of rejection. That is the basis for most cases of social anxiety. As someone understands this about themselves, they can then try overcoming social anxiety by finding out why this fear is debilitating in their personal lives. Facing the issue can be a huge help.
There are times when overcoming social anxiety means that medications must be involved. Some will resist, but a simple medication to help with anxiety can help someone through the process. Most of these medications should be prescribed by a psychiatrist, but if your family doctor is the only one you can make yourself go out and see, ask them what they can do to help you. It takes time and effort, and it means pushing boundaries of fear, but overcoming social anxiety can be done. It is not something anyone should have to suffer from rather than living their life to the fullest.
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