Social Anxiety Agoraphobia

Social anxiety agoraphobia are both anxiety disorders. They are both treatable and with work and perseverance, you can certainly improve your quality of life.

Generally, if you have social anxiety, it doesn't have to lead to agoraphobia. Social anxiety is tricky to diagnose and may be confused with panic disorder.

Social Anxiety Fears Are Specific

If you'd like to overcome social phobia or agoraphobia, or indeed any phobia, click this link to learn more and find out how you can!

With social anxiety, you may experience a panic attack in specific situations whereas with a panic disorder, a panic attack can virtually surface out of nothing.

Agoraphobia is obviously more debilitating since you fear going out, restricting virtually everything. Unless accompanied by someone, total avoidance is how many deal with it.

The problem with agoraphobia is the possibility of having a panic attack. They would do anything to avoid having that dreaded panic attack. Approximately a third of panic disorder sufferers end up with agoraphobia.

People with social anxiety can go out on their own and have their independence. For them, things like eating and drinking in public, meeting someone new and trying to make small talk or being watched are big issues, as are public washrooms.

They wonder what others think of them and generally tend to put themselves down regarding what others think. They feel shy and embarrassed, even humiliated. Social situations are pure hell!

Social Anxiety & Agoraphobia: Treatments Are Effective

The good news is that both conditions are treatable. The bad news is that treatment will require the person to undergo discomfort, doing things they fear. It has to be done though, and it certainly can be done.

It will be difficult initially, as you are faced with doing the things you don't like, that make you feel uncomfortable and panicky. But it does gradually improve you, and you gain confidence from it.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for both social anxiety and agoraphobia. Depending on each person, medication may also be used. This combination has proved to be very effective.

It will help to have some kind of moral support from someone close. Sometimes, when the chips are down, it can be hard to motivate yourself. Having someone to encourage you can help you get back on track.

If you suspect that you have social anxiety agoraphobia, the best thing you can do is to get help quickly. It is so easy to put off, but please don't ever do that. You can be helped, and you can overcome this.

Go to Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder

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