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All of us have at least once heard about social phobia, perhaps even jokingly called someone a sociophobe. But are you sure you understand the real meaning of this word and what is behind it? So, let's try to figure it out.
Sociophobia is a condition where there is a pronounced fear of society and social interaction. Refers to mental disorders of the neurotic circle, that is, neurotic disorders or neuroses, as they were previously called.
Sociophobes are very afraid of public speaking, eating in restaurants or other public catering establishments, visiting the theater, exhibitions, performing any other actions in which the surrounding people can pay attention to them and pay attention to them. Along with agoraphobia, the most common phobia is also social phobia. Although, given the characteristics of such patients (fear of communicating with medical personnel when seeking help), these statistics may not be complete. Most sociophobes simply do not seek help from specialists, because they do not want to leave the house one more time. The low level of medical literacy of the population leads to the fact that patients with neurotic disorders (neuroses) consider them incurable, as well as fear and refuse to go to a doctor with full or partial confidence that they will not be understood and will not be helped.
Fear of interaction with other people is manifested in constant avoidance of any contact and expressed fear of some types of social interactions. Such a person feels relieved every time he gets out of an undesirable situation, but one should not forget that later he may face a similar unpleasant situation for him. In addition, such behavior does not pass without consequences. Sooner or later, most social contacts of the sociophobe will disappear, and he will live alone for as long as possible. Often, a person with social phobia looks at his behavior soberly and realizes the groundlessness of some fears and patterns of behavior. But, despite this, she cannot cope with her fears and this problem on her own, even if she understands all the future negative consequences.
Often, sociophobes (about 65%) have other neurotic disorders (comorbidity) that accompany social phobia, most often anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Living in constant fear of interaction with other people, they sometimes try to silence it, and unfortunately, not with a visit to a specialist, but with alcoholic beverages, eventually slipping into alcoholism. Sometimes, social phobia is accompanied by obsessive and "illogical" thoughts from the point of view of common sense. Such patients have a critical attitude to their painful experiences, but to cope with obsessive thoughts and fears of the type - "Maybe they will think badly of me? And suddenly my hands will start shaking, and those around me will see?”, which are often accompanied by increased anxiety and low mood, they cannot cope on their own.
It is necessary to know that it is actually quite possible to cope with this problem! The main tool in this case is cognitive-behavioral therapy, the main focus of which is precisely aimed at working with fear, dysfunctional thoughts and actions. A psychologist, psychotherapist, and sometimes together with a psychiatrist, can help the patient cope with social phobia.
Therefore, it is better not to postpone the solution to this problem (neurotic disorder) in a long drawer, but to start living happier as soon as possible, breathing freely to the fullest.
