What Is A Social Anxiety Forum?
Social anxiety can feel debilitating, and more people deal with it than you might imagine. Those who have social anxiety aren’t always easy to spot. That’s because many people with social anxiety have found ways to suppress the feelings of worry or panic that might well up in them if they are called upon to give a speech in front of other people, or even if they must make small talk in a social setting. These are tasks that someone without social anxiety might not think twice about undertaking but are potentially panic-inducing—or often at least challenging—to a person experiencing anxiety.
What is social anxiety?
These judgments or perceived judgments can lead to strong feelings of anxiety, depression, humiliation, embarrassment, self-consciousness, and inadequacy. A bit less broadly, social anxiety disorder can also consist of feeling anxious about talking to new people or not well-known people, being in a new situation or social setting, and not being sure how to interact or what to say in these settings—it doesn’t always have to consist of a fear of being judged.
Benefits of a social anxiety forum
Put in this context, one may see why some people seek out social anxiety support groups. It is important to note that social anxiety is different from someone feeling a little nervous about meeting their fiancé’s parents or having butterflies in their stomach before a job interview. Social anxiety, especially in more pronounced cases, can be so devastating that it can lead to the person wanting to remain in their home indefinitely. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, you may benefit from the flexibility and comfort that online therapy can provide. Speaking with an online professional can help remove some of the barriers in place with in-person counseling, and can feel less stressful and more manageable. Moreover, joining social anxiety forums will provide you with a space to vent out how anxiety is affecting your life or simply have someone to talk to whenever you need someone who can relate to your experiences with social anxiety.
Symptoms of social anxiety
If you’re not sure whether you have social anxiety, then you should be mindful of the following symptoms of the condition. If you experience significant emotional distress related to interpersonal relationships or social phobia, then you might have social anxiety, whether those relationships are of a platonic or romantic nature. If you’re distressed by a situation at work where you’re being called upon to speak in front of people, that may be an indicator of social anxiety.
The physical manifestations of the condition might include trembling, a dry throat or mouth, excessive blushing or stammering, the sensation of your heart racing, upset stomach, and intense fear. It is also possible to experience panic attacks.
What can be done about it?
Counseling for social anxiety usually comes in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A study published in 2017 found that internet-based cognitive therapy was cost-effective. Online therapy has been found to be just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy in treating a variety of conditions and concerns.
This therapy is comprehensive, and if a person sticks with it, then it is likely to produce positive results—but consistency and persistence are going to be needed. It’s possible that the best solution for a person might turn out to be a combination of both medication and therapy. However, other potentially helpful resources are forums.
There is no guarantee that any medication or form of treatment is going to work for someone with social anxiety, but it can certainly be surmised that a person who is willing to work on the issue has a better chance of beating it than someone unwilling to try and confront the problem. Support groups have emerged online as a proactive way for people to address their symptoms. These communities can be effective in that they allow those who live with this to find help in a safe setting with others who understand their experience and will validate them.
Being unidentified in an anxiety support group
While you could make the argument that most people with social anxiety would do better seeing a counselor in a one-on-one setting, the reality is that that situation may not be ideal for some people. It could be the anxiety itself that it is acting as a deterrent to that scenario. In other words, the very idea of going to see someone to talk about their anxiety might be a situation that’s causing extreme fear or nervousness.
It could be that a person might want to look into joining an online social anxiety support forum at first, and then at a later date—once they feel more comfortable with therapy and the idea of talking in-person—they might feel ready to try some one-on-one therapy. It might be that an online forum is the only kind of anxiety support that they’ll ever want to try. Either situation is fine.
You might progress to a real-life meetup
In the beginning, you may use a social anxiety support forum to talk to other people in the social phobia world or just read posts from people going through similar struggles. Eventually, you may advance to feel comfortable attending face-to-face meetups with others in your area who also have it.
If you Google “anxiety support groups near me,” then you’re likely to find many options. A public health institution might be a sponsor, while others might be more informal—simply meeting places for like-minded people who happen to have the same concerns and are pursuing self-help options. You might use an online forum until you’re ready to take this step, or you may decide that you want to keep things in the realm of cyberspace. Either option is fine. Again, no two people are alike, and what’s perfect for someone else may not work for you.
Find the combination of techniques that works
The right treatment for social anxiety is different for everyone. You might create an account in an online forum, attend a local group that meets somewhere near you, or decide to look into individual therapy. Medication may also be helpful, so talk to your doctor or therapist about it.
Takeaway
Everyone should feel empowered to make choices about their own mental health issues. You may find that taking a chance causes real change in your life. Connecting with other members in social anxiety forums can help grow your confidence in social settings and improve your anxiety symptoms.
You can go to BetterHelp to speak to a licensed therapist and get started on the path toward better mental health. Our mental health professionals will have suggestions as to what you can do to reduce your social anxiety so you can start living your best life again. It’s a 100% remote form of therapy, meaning you won’t have to meet with anyone in person.
Can you survive with social anxiety?
You absolutely can survive with social anxiety. Many people who receive a diagnosis of the condition live full, happy lives, and treatment can improve symptoms significantly. Research shows that cognitive behavioral group therapy, individual CBT, ACT, and virtual reality exposure therapy can all be advantageous for those who live with social anxiety disorder. You can find a therapy program in your area or match with a therapist using a website such as BetterHelp. If you are seeking peer support, mental health forums or message boards, chat rooms, and other peer support options such as support groups may be advantageous alongside treatment. Supportive online environments can be tough to find, but they can be valuable once you do. Note that therapy groups differ from support groups.
Does social anxiety make you awkward?
Awkward behavior is typically an indicator of discomfort, but it can also indicate that other things are at play. Someone can feel awkward if they are unfamiliar with their surroundings, for instance, without necessarily feeling a large degree of discomfort. Someone might feel awkward if they are the loudest person at an event, simply because they do not understand the rules of that event. Not all awkward behavior can be tied to stress or anxiety, and not everyone with anxiety will display awkwardness as a symptom or a personality trait.
Can you self-diagnose social anxiety?
The answer to this depends on the reason for self-diagnosis. If you are seeking a self-diagnosis because you are searching for a way to explain to yourself, a loved one, or a friend why you behave the way you do, or experience relationships the way you do, you can identify your symptoms, compare them to social anxiety disorder symptoms, and offer a possible explanation. If you are looking to receive treatment in the form of medication or therapy, a self-diagnosis will not work, and a mental health professional will need to evaluate you before they can determine what diagnosis best suits your signs and symptoms and offer you sound medical advice and corresponding mental health services.
Why do I worry after socializing in a social anxiety forum?
Being scared to socialize with other members online through a forum site is normal. You may be nervous because your social anxiety causes you fear about online connections including in-person ones, or you might be nervous about being able to use the site properly or running into potential safety concerns. Below are a few steps you might expect when looking for an anxiety forum:
- Once you’ve entered the website on your browser, you might be asked to create an account or login to an account to be able to see discussion threads from those in the community.
- If you create an account, the website might ask you to verify that you’re human with a security review. You might get a message like, “verification successful, waiting for connection.”
- After a few seconds, you’ll be logged in and may be approved to respond to messages and introduce yourself to other members. You may be able to view pictures and explore different topics.
- After proceeding to look through the forum, you might try discussing topics via messages with other members or joining a chat.
The way you use a forum is up to you. You don’t have to socialize if you don’t want to, and you can stay in the background and read about other people’s experiences if it is more comfortable to you. Often, other members won’t see your face or hear your voice unless you’re connected to a video or voice chat. Forums are not typically set up like live chats. Instead, they are archival websites that provide thread discussions that can be responded to over time.
Am I just shy or do I have social anxiety?
Social anxiety is more than shyness. Social anxiety causes marked functional difficulties in life, especially in relationships. Someone who is shy might struggle to open up, talk, or make friends, but someone with social anxiety disorder may have extreme difficulty in these areas, as well as in any areas where they might be perceived, such as eating in public, talking to coworkers, making small talk, remembering how to respond when talked to, and when using public bathrooms. The anxiety may be so strong that they avoid socializing altogether. Some people with social anxiety disorder have selective mutism, where they do not talk at all or only talk in certain environments.
How do I start therapy for social anxiety?
You can start therapy at any time by reaching out to a therapist. If doing so is hard for you, you might try signing up for an online therapy platform, where you can attend sessions from home via phone, video, or live chat. You could also ask a friend or someone you trust to help you email therapists in your area who work with social anxiety disorder. You can let a therapist know when you email them that you have severe social anxiety disorder and are having difficulty reaching out for that reason. They can reassure you and help you come up with solutions for making your first appointment.
Is social anxiety disorder treatable?
Yes, social anxiety disorder is considered treatable. Symptoms may go into remission with professional support, treatment, time, and lifestyle changes. However, some people may experience more severe symptoms that require more extensive treatment. Therapy is generally recommended as the most effective option, specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). However, if someone is too anxious to attend therapy, a doctor might prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help them reduce their fear about going to therapy.
The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which medication or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. Do not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.
Can social anxiety be cured naturally?
Social anxiety may go away for some people with natural support methods, such as therapy, which generally doesn’t involve medication. However, taking medication is a personal decision, and it’s okay and normal to benefit from this approach. Some people go to therapy and take medication simultaneously and stop the medication when they’ve made progress on behavioral and cognitive challenges. However, because social anxiety disorder is a mental illness, it generally doesn’t go away on its own without some sort of support from a professional, so it may not be treated by yourself at home.
How do you talk to someone with social anxiety?
You can talk to someone with anxiety like any other person by being kind, thoughtful, empathetic, and inclusive. However, they may want some extra support in certain scenarios, so keep in mind that they have social anxiety when talking to them or inviting them to group events. If you’re their only friend at an event, don’t leave them for hours alone without any introductions or something for them to do. If you’re introducing them to another friend, consider helping start the conversation. You can also ask them if certain favors like ordering food for them or helping them think of questions during conversations would be helpful. Doing so can show that you care about them and want to include them in social activities, which may lessen their anxiety.
How do you defeat social anxiety?
Social anxiety disorder is most frequently treated with medication, therapy, or a combination approach. Other helpful support methods may include support groups, online forums, online therapy, animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and self-help work at home (alongside professional treatment). Over time, symptoms of social anxiety can reduce.
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