Fear of eating and drinking in front of others is one symptom of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a mental health professional is the ideal treatment for this fear, there are steps that you can take on your own to help overcome your phobia.

Exposure to feared situations is a critical component of the success of CBT for SAD. If you have gotten into the habit of avoiding situations in which you must eat or drink in front of others, or if you endure these situations only for a short period of time and with much anxiety, you can reduce your fear by practicing exposures in your everyday life.

One of the critical aspects of exposures is that you challenge your fears. Try not to use partial avoidance strategies such as only ordering “safe” meals or only eating in certain restaurants. If you are afraid spicy food will make you blush, try ordering a hot dish. If there is something that causes you a great deal of anxiety, you must experience the situation often enough and for long enough periods that your anxiety is reduced. If the idea of practicing exposures in real life is still too difficult or if you are unable to reduce your anxiety in these situations, try practicing imagined exposures before trying these scenarios out in vivo.

As you begin to practice eating exposure, remember that everyone has a different hierarchy of situations, so use the following list as a guide for your progress, but be sure to tailor it to reflect your fears. Begin with the situation that you would find least distressing, and work your way up to the most anxiety-provoking situation as your anxiety is diminished for each scenario. Fear HierarchyEat alone in a restaurant

If eating alone in a public place causes you anxiety, make a point of eating alone either in a food court of restaurant. Be sure to sit somewhere that you will be noticed by others while you eat. Have lunch with friends

Invite a few friends that you know well out for lunch. Be sure not to choose a restaurant based on “safety” factors such as dim lighting or a particular food that you know will be easy to eat.Host dinner in your home

Invite family and/or friends over for dinner in your home.Hold a glass of water in a business meeting

If you are usually too nervous to hold a drink while in business meetings for fear of your hand shaking, try holding one in your next meeting. Try not to hide your hands even if they shake. Have lunch with coworkers

Make plans to have lunch with coworkers, either at work or in a restaurant. If you always tend to eat your lunch alone, be sure to join your colleagues for lunch at least a couple of times a week.Have lunch with business clients

Are important business clients flying in for the day and someone needs to take them out for lunch? Instead of finding an excuse not to go, take the opportunity and practice eating in front of strangers. Although this may seem daunting, remember that you have already reduced your anxiety in a number of eating situations and that you can handle this too.Attend a formal function

Have you received an invitation to a wedding or banquet? Although it may be hard to time these type of events with your progression of exposures, if a particular celebration is still months away, it could be a great opportunity to plan for your exposures to coordinate with your attendance.

Remember that your fear hierarchy is a method for you to practice. If you continue to avoid the situations that cause you anxiety, your fear will never go away. In contrast, by entering the feared situations as often as possible, and staying until your anxiety decreases, eventually you will become habituated to the situation. If for some reason a particular situtation ends before your anxiety is reduced, be sure to practice the same situation again as soon as possible.

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Anxiety disorders affect many thousands of man and women year after year, and average of them experienced difference degree of emotional and physical symptoms in combination depending on the seriousness of their condition.

Anxiety disorders can branch out from generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias and social anxiety disorder, but almost all have the same spectrum of emotional symptoms that have significant effects on the person’s well-being and emotional health.

The initial and primary symptoms associated with all anxiety disorders is excessive, even irrational fear or worry about a particular situation, place, person or things.

However, the following emotional symptoms can also be present, and can occur frequently, or become a part of the person’s personality:

1.Anticipating the worst. Most people suffering from an anxiety disorder are always preparing for the worst, and expect negative things to happen. This can perpetuate a cycle of negative thinking, and may lead to depression, more anxiety and other problems.

2. Agitation or restlessness. Anxiety disorders often leave the person feeling uneasy or uncomfortable in certain situations. In some cases, the sufferer may experience constant restlessness even when trying to relax at home. This is because they have gotten into the habit of maintaining a heightened sense of awareness, and may have become particularly sensitive to even the slightest changes in their environment.

3. Feeling jumpy or tense on a regular basis. Most people who have even the mildest forms of anxiety disorder will feel as though they are always on the edge, or have to “walk on eggshells.” According to the United States National Mental Health Information Center, anxiety disorders can cause people to become “trapped in a pattern of repeated thoughts and behaviors such as counting or hand washing” just so they can reduce their feelings of tension and anxiety.

4. Watching for signs of danger. People who are always on the edge are usually looking for signs of danger, and may become preoccupied with risky situations or events. Most people who have anxiety disorders will always be on the lookout for danger, and be very careful about where they go or what they do.

5. Difficulty concentrating. When most of the day is spent being preoccupied with worry, anxiety and fear, people with anxiety disorders can find it very difficult to stay focused and concentrate. They may have difficulty sitting in one place for long periods of time to perform tasks at a job, complete schoolwork, or finish a project. Symptoms may be recognized as ADD or ADHD, but in many cases, the root cause is an anxiety disorder.

6. Irritability. Many people suffering from anxiety disorders do not get enough rest or sleep, and this can make them especially irritable or aggravated throughout the day. They may become irritated by slight changes in their schedule or routine, and can become overly sensitive to everyday situations. This can be improved with adequate rest and stress relief methods, but these habits will take time to develop.

There are several emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders that can adversely affect the sufferer’s life, and the lives of their friends and family. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step to addressing an anxiety disorder and finding the best course of treatment.

Contributing articles from www.panicaway.com – the  most powerful methods for eliminating panic & anxiety attacks. Hundreds of proven success stories and testimonials. Click here for more information.

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