Читать книгу Jog On - Bella Mackie - Страница 14

Social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. Just as depression is not feeling a bit sad, social anxiety does not mean being a bit shy at the office Christmas party. It’s a crippling condition which can include fears of meeting new people, speaking in public, worrying you’ve embarrassed yourself in public, and having panic attacks in situations where you’re forced to interact with people. People with social anxiety experience a lower quality of life than those unaffected, an increase in alcohol and drug abuse and a risk of suicide. In the UK, about five in every hundred people are thought to have some degree of social anxiety and it affects women more than men.[30] Perhaps unsurprisingly, it tends to develop in a person’s teenage years and is unlikely to improve without help.

Ruchira told me that she’s had fears about how others perceive her for as long as she can remember. Although it was uncomfortable, it wasn’t until university that the anxiety element reared its head properly. ‘I would excuse myself from seminars and just hyperventilate in the toilets without being able to return without the same panic happening. This was what I would call the flare-up – before this my anxiety had hindered me in smaller ways such as nervousness in crowds, fear of being looked at, attending events – things I never realised were different or I didn’t have to feel.’

Ruchira explained that she never thought of herself as someone who would face such an issue – but then, who does? ‘I’m a really outgoing confident person. I had the best time going out and meeting new people [before] so the idea I had social anxiety baffled me. I think social anxiety comes in different forms for so many people, and mine was all about how I’m weighed up in career settings or by my looks. “Being taken seriously” was a big anxiety, as I’d built an assumption that my young-looking face meant I had to make up for it or counteract people’s thoughts before they got to know me.’

Eventually, her anxiety hit such high levels that she sought help, but it took a while. ‘This came at a time of me rarely leaving the house and hitting the lowest state first. CBT made me realise [that] much of this stemmed from a fear of dying or fainting in front of everyone who I imagined would judge me. This mixture of panic and social anxiety – which had grown unchecked for years – had become something that meant I couldn’t walk in crowds, get on the Tube, order food or anything without bursting into a panic attack. CBT really helped – along with a citalopram [SSRI] prescription.’

So you see – social anxiety – not just shyness at all.