Performance Social Anxiety Disorder

Performance Social Anxiety Disorder - How to Deal with It

Performance social anxiety disorder is the extreme worry, fear and apprehension of different social situations, like performing or speaking in public. This is usually triggered by occasions which involve getting watched or scrutinized by other people. The person afflicted with performance social anxiety disorder has the tendency to become overly paranoid thinking that other people would mock them or that they will end up getting embarrassed in public. Though most of the time these thoughts are way overblown and purely irrational, they are still reason enough to make you feel extremely anxious.

Physical Symptoms

• Blushing
• Tensed muscles
• Shaking or trembling
• Clammy hands
• Pounding heart
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Shaky voice
• Hot flashes
• Feeling faint
• Dry mouth
• Twitching

Psychological Symptoms

• Getting extremely worried for days or weeks prior to a social gathering or performance.
• Fear of possible actions that will humiliate yourself in public
• Getting intensely self-conscious in daily social situations
• Fear of what other people will think of you
• Doing whatever you can to a certain degree to avoid social situations, disrupting your life and limiting your activities in the process

How to deal with Performance Social Anxiety Disorder

The symptoms that come with performance social anxiety disorder may be beyond your control, but you can do so many things to deal with it. Each person responds differently to specific treatment methods. Some people respond well to self-help approaches to get over their anxiety issues, while others still require medication and therapy to make it through.

Change in Lifestyle

Though a change in lifestyle alone isn’t sufficient enough to cure performance social anxiety disorder, it will still have a major impact in the progress of your treatment. The following tips will aid in reducing your general levels of anxiety:

• Get sufficient sleep. People who are deprived of sleep are more prone to anxiety. Getting sufficient sleep makes you feel well-rested, calm and alert in different social situations.
• Give up smoking. One of the most powerful stimulants is smoking. This usually results to higher anxiety levels.
• Limit caffeine intake. Chocolate, caffeinated sodas, energy drinks and coffee are well-known stimulants which increase the symptoms of anxiety.
• Drink moderately. It is always tempting to drink before a social gathering or a performance to calm the nerves. Some people actually do this to feel braver, to quell their embarrassment or to feel gutsy. However, alcohol is also known to increase your risk of experiencing an anxiety attack.

Medication for Social Anxiety Disorders

The 3 kinds of medication used to treat social anxiety disorder:

• Benzodiazepines. Quick to take effect anti-anxiety medicine.
• Antidepressants. Very helpful for severe cases of anxiety.
• Beta blockers. Used to relieve performance social anxiety.

Most people who suffer from anxiety resort to medications to relieve themselves. However, it is not is not the best solution. Medications only serve as temporary relief, the moment you stop taking it, you will experience the symptoms again in full force.