WHAT IS SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER?

MY EXPERIENCE

                     My life was going well before that. I was waking up, eating well, sleeping well, and having a casual routine. I was also having those normal ups and downs, which we all have every day. So it wasn't bothering much, initially! Sometimes it happens, you are going through so many things but you cannot realize them till one of them hits you harder, and when it hits you harder, you suddenly can see so many problems in your life. I got a harder hit by a heartbreak. I was 18, in the first year of my graduation. I was meeting lots of new people,  getting attached, having fun! So within those fun days, a sudden heartbreak made me sad for a while. It wasn't my first time facing heartbreak, but I don't know why, this time I said to myself, "I guess it happened because you are not 'interesting' enough! "

                    That heartbreak did not play that important role in my life, but that line did! I started thinking that people are not understanding me, they don't know me enough. I knew I was 'uninteresting' somewhere, but it was not all of me. I wanted people to know me completely. I wanted people to know my good side. I wanted people to recognize my strengths, my potential. And this is I guess one of the most common issues among teens. Social life, social image or people's opinions become a very important part of teenagers' life! And this affects harder when you were living different life before and suddenly you get a change in your life.

SOCIAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

                   Before getting into college, in school, I was living a different life. I had been living with the same people for more than a decade. I had built myself by working hard. And people also had been watching my hard work, appreciating me from time to time for the right things! So I was living a respected life, which I deserved. So in college, I wasn't habituated with hustling, or getting categorized as a "replaceable" one! So the thing was hurting me. I wanted to prove to these people that I can do it too! I wanted to be the "cool chick" in the group! 

                   In the process of being a "cool chick", I realized if I want people to give me enough attention, enough recognition, I need to be one of them. So, I tried to understand the people I was surrounded by, the things they usually talk about, how could I talk more impressively, so that they will consider me one of them. I was trying to make more friends, I was trying to be more socialized, I was trying to fix in them! And most of the people around us do the same thing. We all have this kind of feeling at a young age, to get attention, to make more friends to hang out with, to play cool everywhere, and so on! 

                    The people who used to think I am messy, I started behaving organized in front of them, the people who used to think I am dumb, I tried to answer more intelligently, the people who used to think I am 'uninteresting', I tried to be more creative. I can feel having anxiety over people's opinions. But during my journey of being interesting, I tried to seek lots of attention from unnecessary people and talking so many unnecessary things which were making me more 'uninteresting' eventually! This is what we called " social anxiety"! 

WHAT IS SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER

                   It was the feeling where one doesn't go as per his opinions, or his ways. One has no opinion about himself. Whenever I used to see a studious person, I also used to try to answer more and being so competitive; whereas whenever I used to see any chill person I used to feel this is how you should be, chill! But you are such a nerd and wanted to become studious! I was just running randomly in every possible direction to show my best. I was just living in someone's else mind.  I used to feel insecure about everything. I used to think, what will happen if I would do it? Or what will happen if I wouldn't do it? Being active among people and being inactive among people, both things were scaring me hard. This is called "social anxiety disorder"!

SOCIAL ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS

                    Social anxiety causes panic attacks, which can be trouble later! Let's see, what are panic attacks? Initially it sounds normal, till one feels how do panic attacks feel like. Getting nervous while public speaking, or on unexpected moment is normal; But panic attacks become more serious in case of anxious people. Panic attacks cause high blood pressure, where one feels increase in the heart beat rate even while casual talking, or casual interactions. Panic attacks cause breathing difficulty, one feels sweating, and lack of ease while doing anything. Panic attacks also cause chest pain and shaking body! 

CONCLUSION

                        Social anxiety makes a huge impact on self-esteem. After listening to people blindly, make you lose confidence. It turns people uncomfortable about themselves, presenting their opinion, and turns you shatter all over. Social anxiety and shyness are connected. All these are effects of low self-confidence. That's the one thing every teen should learn is optimism in people's opinion. Understand what is right for you, necessary for you, then only take it or never! Be wise, be protective about your self-esteem, be protective about your self-confidence!

 

                       So take care of your mind, take care of your body, take care of yourself! Let's take a step towards self-awareness of mental health. We are taking a stand for mental health awareness among youth, mental health awareness among kids, mental health awareness among women, mental health awareness among seniors! Let's take a step towards peace, together! It's just depression, give it a way to get out of your head. Have faith, have patience, stand strong. This shall too pass!     

EXPRESS | ENCOURAGE | EMPOWER