Social Phobia: More Than Just a Little Shyness (21 July 2023)

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is focusing on raising awareness about Social Phobia, also known as Social Anxiety Disorder. As an advocate for Mental Health, SADAG aims to provide understanding, compassion, and support for individuals affected by this often misunderstood condition.

Social Phobia is a challenging Mental Health disorder characterised by an intense fear of social situations, leading individuals to experience overwhelming Anxiety, self-consciousness, and a fear of judgment or embarrassment. These feelings can impact different aspects of one's life, including relationships, work and school.

Clinical Psychologist, Dr Colinda Linde said: "It's not that you are scared of people as such, but what it is about is that you're incredibly self-conscious. It's not like being shy or an introvert. The core of this is that you are very self-conscious, you don't want anyone to be observing you."

Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of Social Phobia:

-Blushing, sweating or trembling.
-Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself.
-Feeling self-conscious or fearful that people will judge you negatively.
-Speaking with an overly soft voice.
-Avoid places where there are people.
-Feeling completely disassociated.

As part of the awareness, on the 28th of July, we will host an “Ask the Expert” talk via Facebook Live. We will be joined by Dr David Rosenstein (Psychiatrist) who is an expert in the topic and will share with us everything we need to know. Please join us at 1 pm on our Facebook Page

As we address the stigma surrounding Social Phobia, we encourage a society that offers empathy and support to those living with this condition. Through different approaches, SADAG will share educational material and information through Social Media and our own website.

For more information, please visit our website at www.sadag.org. We are also available if you need help on our FREE helpline on 0800 456 789 (24hrs), or SMS 31393 WhatsApp 087 163 2030 (8 am-5 pm).