Slowing Down

Published by aco on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 10:07

High amounts of social anxiety can be viewed physiologically: it comes about due to an excess amount of adrenaline and cortisol.  Adrenaline speeds you up, and cortisol, the stress hormone, induces feelings of fear.  "Sped-up fear" is a good non-standard definition of social anxiety, although it's one that everyone with SA can relate to.  This combination of hormones leads to many situations that make life difficult for SA people.

You may be surprised to learn that all the repetitive statements about slowing down are done on purpose.  As you begin to slow yourself down, you are actually decreasing the excessive levels of adrenaline and cortisol in your body and brain.  This is part of the solution to overcoming social anxiety.