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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
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?
Am I just shy or do I have social anxiety?
How do I start therapy for social anxiety?
Is social anxiety disorder treatable?
Can social anxiety be cured naturally?
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