Social Anxiety or Social Phobia is defined as a fear of being scrutinized, criticised or evaluated by others. While this fear may be recognised by the individual as excessive or unreasonable, the fear of judgment in social or performance situations persists.

If you have Social Anxiety you will be feeling extreme self consciousness in a situation where you feel attention is drawn to you.

Commonly feared situations:

Writing, eating or drinking while being observed Speaking in a group Making small talk Talking to "important" or authority figures Being introduced Using public toilets Going on a date Talking o the phone Making a complaint Social interactions in general

Common physical symptoms:

Sweating Trembling hands or voice Breathlessness when speaking Hyperventilation Pounding heart Tightness in the throat or chest Twitching Blushing Mental blanks or an inability to concentrate during conversations

While the socially anxious person fears being judged negatively, they can be their own worst critic. After interactions with others, the socially anxious person is inclined to focus on what they think they should have done better, rather than on any successes.  The pressure to 'perform' according to their often unrealistic expectations is a major generator of anxiety. 

A major generator of anxiety is low self esteem. This stems from an irrational belief they're not quite as good, deserving or acceptable as others. To compensate they think they must do things perfectly so that others will not see this about them.

What can help:

People who have Social Anxiety Disorder usually have a negative self concept. Overcoming Social Anxiety includes addressing the kinds of unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that prevent them from behaving in a spontaneous and natural manner.  Counselling offers a safe and supportive environment in which to do this work. Role play exercises allow for practice of particular behaviours, followed by gradual exposure to feared situations. This approach helps to build confidence and reduce anxiety. 

For many socially anxious people, telephone counselling can be a less confronting or anxiety provoking means of accessing therapy.