Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Specialist Clinical Psychologist Ece Cemre Gökpınar gave information about social phobia caused by embarrassment and methods of coping with these feelings.
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Ece Cemre Gökpınar, who stated that embarrassment was considered as a negative concept, said, “It is conveyed as if it is a feeling or concept that should not be. On the contrary, it is a very normal and natural feeling. In fact, it is one of the emotions that should be experienced most of the time. Therefore, it is important that it is assumed not as a negative emotion, but as an existing and necessary emotion. Generally, we see that there is an expectation that this feeling should not exist in clients and patients.” she said.
Our emotions determine our behavior.
Emphasizing that the feeling of shame provides self-control and controls the social behavior of the person, Gökpınar said, “It is a feeling that reminds us where and why that behavior should not be done. Emotions are often what determine our behavior. In other words, if you feel shame in an environment, if you think you will, you will not do that behavior. Fear, shame, anxiety, stress are emotions that protect people and give clues about what to do and do. The important thing is to be able to capture those feelings.” made the statement.
Referring to the reactions of the person when he/she is embarrassed, Gökpınar said, “Physical symptoms such as trembling in the hands, flushing of the face, acceleration in the heartbeat, voice tremor, and inability to control one's breathing may occur. There are also psychological symptoms that trigger the thought, such as the thought that 'the other party will see me as inadequate' and feeling 'I am disgraced'. used his statements.
Embarrassment creates anxiety about disapproval
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Ece Cemre Gökpınar, who pointed out that the feeling of embarrassment has important aspects for everyone about how the person looks or how people see the person, said, “For some, success is focused on the physical. In some way, everyone needs to be liked and approved at a certain level. Along with being liked in social environments, concepts such as dislike and disapproval, which are the opposite of this, are important. We are afraid of being disapproved and ostracized out of embarrassment.” he said.
Saying that social phobia is a person's feeling of embarrassment or fear of the thought that something will go wrong, Gökpınar said, “A person experiences anxiety because 'I blush or people think I am inadequate'. After something happens, he worries about the possibility of it happening, not about experiencing his anxiety.” said.
Gökpınar, who added that there may be decreases in functionality in social activities or business life due to the anxiety experienced, expressed that such situations can be treated with psychotherapy or, if necessary, psychiatric medication intervention.
Those who are not aware of their social phobia begin to experience loss of function in all areas.
Noting that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the treatment methods applied, Specialist Clinical Psychologist Ece Cemre Gökpınar concluded her words as follows:
“In these therapies, we consider both the thought dimension, which we call consciousness, and the behavior dimension, which we call avoidance. It is a therapy method in which we gradually expose the person to the anxiety they experience, give homework, study the anxiety experienced and evaluate the psychology of anxiety. If the person is not aware of his/her social phobia and avoids treatment, he/she begins to experience loss of function in occupational, social, family and academic areas over time. He encounters difficulties such as not being able to do his job, not being able to go out and socializing.”