The Connection Between Diet and Social Anxiety: How Nutrition Can Help Alleviate Symptoms

2023-12-18 07:53:41

  • 24vita
  • Psyche
  • PrintShare

    Anyone who suffers from social anxiety should pay attention to their diet. Because certain foods help relieve suffering.

    Social phobia is an anxiety disorder also known as “pathological shyness”. Those affected have a pronounced fear of being perceived as embarrassing or strange by others, especially in social and performance situations. Social anxiety is noticeable, for example, through sweating, panic, blushing, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. Patients with this condition are often treated with psychotropic medications or psychotherapy. Diet can support these therapies.

    Nutrition for the psyche: Two foods can help with social phobia

    Social anxiety is usually treated with medication and psychotherapy. Proper nutrition can also help. © FotoBuehl/IMAGO

    • Social anxiety can significantly impact the lives of sufferers as they tend to withdraw from social activities.
    • Social phobia is characterized by the fear of critical evaluation by others, even when this evaluation does not take place, and involves irrationally exaggerated fears.
    • Those affected fear perceived mistakes, shameful behavior, negative attention and insults.
    • The mental illness is manifested by uncertainty in everyday life or in specific situations in which services have to be provided.
    • Physical symptoms of social phobia include shaking hands, blushing, sweating, avoiding eye contact, racing heart, difficulty swallowing, increased urination, and diarrhea.
    • Sufferers can be cured of social anxiety through psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both approaches, and possibly through proper nutrition.
    • Research has shown that fermented foods such as yogurt or sauerkraut can help reduce social anxiety because they have positive effects on intestinal flora.
    • The connection between the gut and the psyche is emphasized, as gut hormones can influence anxiety and certain foods can have a positive impact on mental health.
    • A study of 700 college students showed that participants who consumed more fermented foods had fewer symptoms of social phobia, particularly those with a genetic predisposition.
    • These results give those affected hope because they show that, in addition to conventional therapies, nutrition can also have a positive influence on coping with social anxiety.

    You can find even more exciting health topics in the free 24vita newsletter, which you can subscribe to right here.

    View photo series

    This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions regarding medical conditions.

    The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.

    1702886221
    #foods #social #anxiety

    Leave a Replay