How Bad Can Social Phobias Be?

There are some people that are always confident in any social situation. You may think you know a lot of these people, but you would be surprised to know that many of them have some issues that they cover up rather well. However, those things are usually small and are not considered to be social phobias. These are when someone has huge problems with anything that involves social settings of any type. In fact, you may not even know these people because they may never leave the house unless they absolutely have to. Even then, they have a hard time with it.

Some social phobias are less traumatic and someone can overcome them if they suddenly find the will to do so. It can take a lot of courage to walk into a setting that scares someone so badly that they may shake or even have a panic attack. Those with the smaller social phobias that they want to overcome may want to start with very small situations. This means going out to lunch with a trusted friend. They can then try bigger and more crowded situations until they are not having huge panic episodes. Once they can do it, it all gets easier from there.

Some social phobias are more common, and you may have one even if you dont know it. The most common fear that most have is public speaking. This is a phobia - or can be so bad in people that it becomes something that paralyzes them. There are those that can overcome their fear and do public speaking, even if they dont like it, but others simply can not will themselves to do it. Of all social phobias, this is the most common, but not one that you may have to face in your life. It may not limit you too much.

Those with severe social phobias know it. They are the ones that can not leave the house and they wont go anywhere, even in the company of a spouse or a group of trusted friends. They fear many things, but probably the most common is that they are going to make a fool out of themselves or that something else bad is going to happen to them. These social phobias can be so limiting that someone can become a hermit, lose all of their friends, and will have a panic attack at the thought of leaving the house.

If social phobias are ruining your life, think about where they came from. Some have depression, and when that happens, they are no longer interested in the things that they use to love to do. That can limit their time out of the house so much that it becomes commonplace for them to stay home, and in turn, they develop social phobias. There are many other reasons why these happen. If they are limiting your life, try to go see someone who can help you with medications and therapy. The hard part can be going to your first appointment, but remember that you can take a friend with you for support. It will change your life.