26 Jul Social Anxiety Symptoms and Definition
I encourage people who have severe anxiety symptoms to seek medical attention before they seek coaching. This is to rule out a medical condition that might be causing their anxiety. I wanted to give you some information on when you might want to seek a medical consultation and/or therapy.
Medical Conditions That Can Mimic or Cause Anxiety
- Heart disease and anxiety have many of the same symptoms, including chest pain and tightness, shortness of breath, nausea and fatigue, and pain.
- Anemia and anxiety share many of the same symptoms, including fatigue, irritability, shortness of breath, and headaches.
- According to a Mayo Clinic article on Hyperthyroidism, “Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body’s metabolism significantly, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability.”
- The Anxiety and Depression Association of America explains that pain can be a common symptom or indicator of an anxiety disorder.
- People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) frequently suffer from anxiety and depression, which can worsen symptoms. We know that the colon is in part controlled by the nervous system, which in turn, responds to stress. Evidence also suggests that the immune system also responds to stress, and plays a role. Those with IBS will tell you that it can also make you feel more anxious and depressed.
The Current DSM-5 Definition:
A. A persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be embarrassing and humiliating.
B. Exposure to the feared situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally pre-disposed Panic Attack.
C. The person recognizes that this fear is unreasonable or excessive.
D. The feared situations are avoided or else are endured with intense anxiety and distress.
E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
F. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 or more months.
G. The fear or avoidance is not due to direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drugs, medications) or a general medical condition not better accounted for by another mental disorder.
Copyright 2013, The American Psychiatric Association
If you feel that you have been screened by a medical professional and have these physical symptoms under control and just need coaching to learn new skills, gain more confidence and up your game then coaching might be a good option to explore.