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He dare not come in
company, for here he should be misused, disgraced, overshoot himself in gesture
or speeches or be sick; he thinks everyman observes him.
Richard Burton, The
Anatomy of Melancholy
Social phobia, also referred to as social anxiety
disorder, presents as a profound and inhibiting fear of social situations that
everyone else copes with without hesitation or excessive feelings of anxiety or
self-consciousness . Sufferers of social phobia often fear embarrassment and
humiliation; thinking that all eyes are upon them often feeling awkward and
tongue-tied in any social situation; struggling for something to say, feeling
uncomfortable, anxious often blushing or anxious that they will blush or sweat
or be conspicuous in any way, wondering if others notice their anxiety or
awkwardness. Sufferers dread even the most routine and mundane social contact,
meeting a neighbour in the street, asking for help in a shop, entering a room
full of people, answering the telephone and so on. Social phobics never know
what to say to others finding eye contact difficult not knowing when to
look away or when and for how long to look people in the eye when
talking; due to uncertainty sufferers tend to look at the floor or look
away most of the time and than feeling awkward and knowing that the
other person is aware of their behaviour they become increasingly more
self-conscious. As a consequence the social phobic feels even more
awkward and inadequate.
Social phobia may also present as fears of
eating in front of others, of speaking in public or even writing in
front of others fearing judgmental criticisms. For the sufferer life is
very lonely, they make few friends and spend more and more time alone.
Working becomes difficult as contact between co workers becomes awkward
and strained. I lost a job many years ago due to my social phobia; my co
workers complained that my presence made the atmosphere uncomfortable
and I was given notice As with all phobias if it is left untreated the
condition deteriorates and as a result of on going isolation the
sufferer become progressively less able
to cope with social situations and becomes increasingly more reclusive.
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