The Paralyzing Effects of Social Anxiety Disorder
“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
For John it always started the same way. Alone and in the crowd, surrounded by strangers, he started to sweat and his heart began beating like a bass drum. Horrible thoughts raced through his mind and he was overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, and a persistent feeling of doom.
John feels so alone because that’s one of the hallmarks of this disease --a sense of isolation. But John is not alone, because literally millions of people worldwide struggle with the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder, or SAD for short, is a disorder that makes everyday tasks a constant struggle.
Simple things like ordering food, meeting a stranger, or even answering the phone become a nightmare of fear for people diagnosed with this disorder.
People with anxiety typically dread these kinds of situations due to an irrational fear of judgment and negativity directed towards them. People suffering from SAD tend to avoid situations where they have to deal with other people especially strangers. Parties, weddings, and other social gatherings can be the equivalent of a nightmare for those afflicted, because these types of gatherings pit them against an army of potential enemies that they fear will hate them without any true reason.
Usually, when someone thinks about social anxiety, they tend to think if it as not being a serious problem. This is not true, however, because the disorder can have very serious consequences for those who suffer from it. It is also surprisingly common --a little known fact is that “social anxiety is the third largest mental disorder in the world.”
A slightly comedic example of one person’s struggle with social anxiety can be seen in this video.
The video depicts a couple, (“Jaltoid,” the maker of the videos, and his girlfriend, who actually does have social anxiety, attempt to order a sandwich at Subway and almost everything goes wrong. Unfortunately, due to the paralyzing effects of her social anxiety, she is unable to intervene and help him.
On the bright side though, while many people feel this disorder may be a life sentence for them, there is treatment for social anxiety disorder. There are many medical professionals that can help with this curing process with treatments such as therapy and certain medicines that help to treat the symptoms of social anxiety. So, if you have concerns, for yourself or a loved one, you might want to have a conversation with your health care professional.