Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is:

One word: Uncomfortable

Two words: Painfully uncomfortable

Three words: Torturously, painfully uncomfortable

Four words: You get the point!

What is SAD

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) causes the most uncomfortable, humiliating, and embarrassing feelings that a person can experience in a social environment.

I’m not talking about the time when you were trying to push doors open that are really supposed to be pulled. Nor am I referring to the time when you waived back at someone from a distance when they were really waiving at the person behind you. I’m not even going to bring up the time when you said goodbye to someone and you both ended up walking away in the same direction (maybe try speed walking in that case). And although funny as hell, the time when you clogged the toilet in someone else’s house and they all silently realized it was you, isn’t too bad when compared to SAD.

Simply put, Social Anxiety Disorder is the intense feeling of fear and anxiety in social situations. SAD causes a person to feel fear or anxiety from being watched and judged, even though they may not be watched or judged by anyone at all.

A comparison of non-embarrassing events between people with SAD vs people without SAD. Another word for non-embarrassing events is simply “regular” events. These events should never trigger social anxiety symptoms. And in the general public, they don’t. With SAD sufferer’s however, regular (non embarrassing) events can be a huge trigger of social anxiety.

A comparison of embarrassing events between people with SAD vs people without SAD. Embarrassing situations would make anyone uncomfortable, but the level of discomfort is amplified in those who suffer from SAD. Non-SAD sufferer’s may experience some mild symptoms of blushing or sweating, but symptoms are way more extreme in SAD people. People who suffer from SAD will always show the symptoms of Red Face; bright red facial blushing and heavy, profuse sweating. This is much more common in SAD sufferer’s than non-SAD sufferer’s.

The Fear of SAD

These fears are so bad that they both lead to an extensive and completely disproportionate amount of anxiety, which is very difficult to control. Red Face takes over and it’s a wrap after that. The anxiety severely inhibits creating and maintaining relationships, interferes with daily routines, and becomes a real distraction at work, school, and social gatherings.

Social Anxiety Disorder changes you

Since SAD causes some serious psychological effects, like feeling crappy as hell from embarrassment, people will start to see a change in your behavior. If you were once a socially active and a people-loving type of person, SAD will try to pull you away from that. SAD will cause changes in your life that you don’t want to make, but feel like you’re forced, including:

  • Avoiding social situations, like:
    • Dating– companionship is hard to find if you don’t date.
    • Entering a room in which people are already seated-all eyes on you
    • Returning stuff you bought back to the store– That sweater you got for your birthday that doesn’t fit… yea that’s staying with you. And it’s especially worse if you don’t have a receipt.
    • Being called on to answer questions in class– nerve-racking as f.
    • Eating in front of others– “Do I have something in my teeth?” thanks Ace.
    • Going to parties or large social gatherings– just stay home and read a book. You’ll be better for it.
    • Starting a conversation with strangers or people you don’t know very well– Imagine working in sales and having trouble conversating with customers… yikes!
    • Making eye contact– this is dependent on who you’re talking to actually
  • Avoiding situations where you might be center of attention
  • Avoidance of speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
  • Developing severe anxiety out of anticipation of being embarrassed or judged (this one is a killer…anticipation of SAD symptoms causes extreme symptoms)
  • Fearing that others will notice you looking anxious (this causes me to have the worst anxiety)
  • Consistently analyzing your performance in previous social situations

What are the physical symptoms of SAD?

The physical symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder are the real monsters of this condition. The reason why is because physical symptoms cannot be hidden. Feelings and emotions can be hidden, or at least minimally noticed, but physical symptoms not so much. These symptoms are so bad that people who suffer from SAD will develop severe fear and anxiety not just from the social anxiety they might encounter, but from the anticipation of the physical symptoms that they’ll have to endure. These symptoms include:

  • Severe Blushing1
  • Profuse Sweating2
  • Trembling hands3
  • Rapid heart beat4
  • Shaky voice/difficult speaking
  • Muscle tension
  • Difficulty catching your breath
  • Feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness
  • Nausea or upset stomach

The Red Face of Social Anxiety Disorder

Red Face of Social Anxiety Disorder

Red Face is the most noticeable sign of humiliation and embarrassment. It is the severe blushing and profuse sweating which causes the face to be red and moist. And when someone makes a comment about it, it causes brighter blushing and heavier sweating making you feel even more humiliation. Red Face has been the absolute bane of my existence. The heavy blushing and sweating has created nothing but unforgiving misery and havoc all throughout my life.

Red Face is the most devastating effect of SAD because it cannot be hidden

The Jackhammer

The combination of symptoms 1 through 4, which include blushing, sweating, trembling hands, and rapid heart beat (leads to palpitations) are what I refer to as the “jackhammer.” Think of a person who is drilling a hole in the street using a jackhammer on a hot summer day. He’s been working for hours under the scorching sun and is feeling exhausted. In an attempt to cool off, his body releases a large amount of sweat (profuse sweating2) dripping off his face and skin. Additionally, his blood vessels respond to the heat by dilating, which cause his face to turn red1. The vibrations caused by the jackhammer cause his hands to shake3. And finally, he has developed palpitations caused by a raid heart rate4 from the dehydration he’s experiencing.

Social Anxiety Disorder is a train wreck to deal with, especially when at school or work. Click here to see how bad things got for me during my time in medical school.