Just as there are many people who suffer with social anxiety there are many ways it can manifest in someones life. The generalised fear that everyone is watching them and everyone is thinking badly or judging them when they may logically know this is not the case is a very common experience for sufferers.

Social anxiety disorder can be thought of as fear of life itself in some respects. Fear of picking up the phone, opening a letter, a knock at the door always accompanied by an impending fear of doom are some of the problems sufferers of the condition have to contend with everyday.

The common thing that all suferers have is a generalised feeling of apprehension and fear and generally expecting the worst to happen in virtually everything they do. Because this has a social component the fear or feeling that they are being constantly judged and never in a good way is usually always present.

Public speaking or being interviewed (interrorgated) are stressful for most people but are especially traumatic for people with social anxiety.

If not treated a generalised social anxiety can become a more specific and more severe social phobia. The condition has become a psychiatric disorder at this stage characterized by an even more severe anxiety and fear in social settings and an increased level of self consciousness

And as always there is the associated chronic worry about being constantly scrutinized and evaluated by others and the fear of making a fool of themselves or embarrassing themselves in some way

Because this is a condition that is on the increase, there are many treatment options available to someone suffering with social anxiety. There are the more conventional forms of treatment such as psychotherapy and drugs and a number of very effective alternative style therapies such as hypnosis and herbal medicine. If you suffer with anxiety of any kind do not give up hope. Look for an approach that works for you, there is one, and then begin putting your social anxiety behind you.