It is not unusual to feel somewhat anxious or apprehensive about meeting new people in social settings. If you are dealing with anxiety, that minor apprehension or fear is taken to a whole new level. People with social anxiety with actually change the way they live because of their fears of going out in public and meeting new people. Check out this information about social anxiety that will give you an idea of what to look for to see if you have the disorder and what you can do about it if you do.

Social anxiety may present in a number of ways, with different symptoms affecting people in different ways. The primary irrational fear involved with social anxiety is a distress over social situations due to a fear of judgment by those around you. You might also worry about embarrassing yourself in front of others, which affects your willingness to interact with those around you. Eventually, the fear of embarrassment and judgment will evolve into an unwillingness to participate in many different types of social settings or activities that most enter into without even thinking about them.

In addition to the general, irrational fear of people and social situations, physical symptoms can also accompany social anxiety. Some of these physical signs might include heart palpitations, profuse sweating, stomach upset and trembling. Those suffering with the disorder might also find their voice shakes and they have difficulty making eye contact with those around them.

Those who deal with social anxiety often suffer with low self esteem and tend to be hypersensitive to criticism. While you know the fears and concerns you are dealing with are irrational, there appears to be little you can do to control them. A nasty circle erupts when you begin to fear the social fear itself, which becomes the source of much of your distress. It is time to make an appointment with your doctor if your social anxiety is disrupting your daily life and forcing you to live differently than you want to.

Those suffering with social anxiety will be happy to know that this disorder does have effective treatment options, including psychotherapy and medication. For medication, most doctors will begin by prescribing a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like Paxil or Prozac. Cognitive behavior therapy is usually used in tandem with medication to help the patient readjust thought patterns to avoid the fear associated with social situations. The combination of psychotherapy and medication allows many social anxiety sufferers to enjoy less anxiety and a higher quality of life.