My awful social anxiety disorder is what lead me to scour the internet in the hope of finding help and advice. I was so desperate for answers, and I didn't know what else to do!
I had already been to the doctor about it and they prescribed me Propranolol to see if that would reduce my anxiety, but it didn't help!
First of all I wanted to know if I did in fact have this crippling condition, and secondly I was looking for ways in which I could maybe find ways to reduce the stress I faced every time I had to step one foot outside the door!
Don't get me wrong, it perhaps sounds a bit dramatic, almost as if I suffer from Agoraphobia, but it's not my surroundings and the environment itself that causes me anxiety, but more the thought of who I might bump into, or the fact I might have to interact with people. It doesn't matter if it's people I know, or strangers.... it's anyone I might come into contact with.
Have a read the Social Anxiety symptoms below, but be sure to check out signs of an empath to see if you also have the typical empath traits.
I am not a doctor, and I am not here to diagnose you, but hopefully I can enlighten you a little on how I feel as an empath, compared to information I have gathered from the NHS website regarding the social phobia.
Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.
It's a common problem that usually starts during the teenage years. It can be very distressing and have a big impact on your life.
For some people it gets better as they get older. But for many people it does not go away on its own without treatment.
It's important to get help if you are having symptoms. There are treatments that can help you manage it.
Social anxiety disorder is more than shyness. It's a fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, self confidence, relationships and work or school life.
Many people occasionally worry about social situations, but someone with social anxiety feels overly worried before, during and after them.
You may have social anxiety if you:
Many people with social anxiety also have other mental health issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety disorder or panic disorder.
Now although an empath can experience some, or all of these symptoms, from my experience, one reason an empath will feel such anxiety is due to sensory overload.
The fact that we pick up on emotions from everyone in our surroundings, and take on these feelings all at once, whether we are aware of it or not, feeling so many different emotions from every angle, it just becomes overwhelming, and immediately we begin to feel drained.
The only way we can recover from such an overload, is to recharge, which we must do alone, in sanctuary, whether that be grounding yourself, meditation, or just being in a calm, peaceful environment.
I have found that all social functions and gatherings effect me. Whether it's a work meeting, a child's birthday party, or even a family gathering!
I will become extremely anxious in the days leading up to the event, and will even consider not attending, but ultimately I will force myself to go through fear of what others will say if I do not turn up, which then leads to feelings of guilt.
During the 2020 lockdown, despite the terrible events that were going on in the world around us, and the devastation that a lot of people had to endure, for the most part, it was actually a time of peace for the empath.
This is not meaning to put light on a dire and scary situation, but merely to explain that because we were forced into a life of minimal human contact, and it actually be acceptable not to attend any public gathering or social event, it meant that we could take solace in our own company, without the pressures of seeing people.
As you can imagine, one of the worst gatherings for an empath to attend is a funeral. Wow is this a difficult time to navigate!
Not only are you dealing with your own grief and sadness, but you are picking up on EVERYONE'S grief and emotions too! It's a real challenge that we unfortunately have to face, so it's important that you take the necessary precautions leading up to this, and also set aside the time to de-stress and recharge yourself afterwards.
I will help you learn how to do this in my e-book, which I hope to have finished very soon, so please check back here often.