Speaking in front of an audience, performing in a theater play, singing in public, dining out with a number of friends and strangers- these are only some of the causes of social anxiety. Days or even minutes before a social engagement, the person feels his heart beats irregularly. He also sweats excessively, shakes and trembles, and even nauseated. Some people experience these symptoms during the event itself, compounded by blurring of speech, inability to maintain a train of thought, and worst they may even faint due to shortness of breath.
It is not usually the event that causes the anxiety but rather the thought of possibly committing a mistake, of possible embarrassment and humiliation.
To calm their raging nerves, people immediately turn to the aid of prescription drugs. These drugs will indeed help them in relieving the discomforts of social anxiety as such that they will temporarily feel at ease, they no longer feel nauseous, their heartbeat returns to normal and their shaking and trembling are kept under control.
But these medications are only temporary solutions. The symptoms are sure to recur once the effects of these medicines wear out.
The most important thing is for the person to deal with the underlying cause of his anxiety. What triggered the panic attack just as he was about to deliver his most important speech? How will he be able to completely remember his lines during his performance?
To help him with his problems, he has to seek out the help of a professional who can guide him through his ordeal and towards full recovery, especially if social interaction is his way of life.
Two of the most successful and highly-recommended methods are exposure therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy.
In exposure therapy, the person will be submitted to various public engagements so he realizes that his fears are unfounded. In cognitive-behavior therapy, he learns to control his reactions when submitted to situations that cause him to panic. With expert guidance, he can properly manage, if not totally eliminate, the causes of his social anxiety.
