Some people have an intense fear or phobia of social situations known as social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety symptoms can range from intense worry or fear to dizziness, nausea and other physical manifestations. These symptoms can sometimes be severe enough to prevent a person from leaving his or her own home.
A normal person might mildly worry about speaking in front of a large audience. Such a situation could cause intense fear for a person with social anxiety. A single public event could trigger social anxiety symptoms such as worrying for weeks in advance of the event or shaking so badly during the occurrence that the victim can barely speak.
Sometimes a person's fear of social situations is so intense that he or she may call in sick to avoid the situation entirely. He or she may even truly become physically ill. There are many physical social anxiety symptoms that people suffer, including sweats or hot flashes, nausea or vomiting, and dizziness or fainting.
Milder physical social anxiety symptoms can be present as well. Some sufferers report having dry mouth or muscle tension, as well as clammy hands. While in front of a social group or crowd, a victim may blush or twitch. Rapid breathing can occur; as can mild shaking or trembling.
The psychological symptoms of social anxiety are what often take control of a person's life. Victims are often in a constant state of worry over being embarrassed in front of peers. They also sometimes hold the belief that others will notice when they are upset or nervous and judge them for it. This belief especially applies to strangers.
By worrying or fearing being in public so intensely, victims are often at the mercy of their disorder. They often fear being watched or seen by others, and in their extreme self-consciousness they avoid participating in everyday public activities, such as eating, attending school or shopping. By avoiding public activity more frequently throughout their lives, victims often experience completely disrupted lifestyles that result in their rarely leaving home at all.
Children may also experience social anxiety symptoms. Children with a social phobia may avoid playing with other children, as well as performing in public. They may also refrain from reading aloud in class or speaking to adults for fear of embarrassment, or even avoid attending school altogether. This may create a vicious cycle, eventually leading to more severe symptoms as adults.
