What is it truly like to live with social anxiety disorder? Reddit users have lifted the lid on living with the condition.
The NHS identifies social anxiety disorder as: “A persistent and overwhelming fear of social situations.”
But there are not only emotional symptoms to social anxiety disorder, it causes raised heart rate, shortness of breath, chest tightness and nausea.
Examples of situations that can provoke such a response are inviting people into the home, eating or drinking whilst being observed, attending parties or using public toilets – although these vary from person to person.
Commenters explained exactly how these situations make them feel.
Redditers also discussed how this affected them at work and their prospects for promotion and career advancement.
In an article on the Huffington Post, Evan Mayo Wilson - lead study author of an article on antidepressants and anxiety - said: “Social anxiety is more than just shyness.”
“People with this disorder can experience severe impairment, from shunning friendships to turning down promotions at work that would require increased social interaction.”
According to research by charity Anxiety UK, as many as 1 in 6 young people in England have suffered with anxiety in the previous week.
This is a 12.8% rise in the last 14 years.
Social anxiety disorder is treatable but despite this, Anxiety UK reported that as low as 25% of people are being treated.
Once patients have visited their GP for diagnosis, the most common form of treatment is Cognitive Behavioural therapy as it has been found to be one of the most effective ways to address anxiety.
Antidepressants can also be prescribed in situations where people are suffering from extreme anxiety.
