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Triggers Social Anxiety

An anti-social at the making

How the pandemic

By Monliati K

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References

Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in Malaysia; A single Tread of Hope

Hemavathi Shanmugam, Johan Ariff Johari, Pritiss Nair, Chow Soon Ken, Ng Chong Guan

Department of Phychological Medicine, UM

May 2020

Depression and anxiety in Malaysian population during third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Roy Rillera Marzo,^a,b Vineet Vinay,^c Rafidah Bahari,^d Shekhar Chauhan,^e,∗ Deborah Anak Fo Ming,^b Stephanie Fernandez A/P. Nelson Fernandez,^b Colin Cornelius Pereira Johnson,^b Agkesh Qumar A/L Thivakaran,^b Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman,^f and Sonu Goel^g

September 2021

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Social Anxiety

01

Pandemic

02

Movement Control Order

03

Impacts

04

Anti-social

05

Ways to Overcome

06

Table of contents

Definition of a social anxiety

Pandemic around the world

How it affects socialising

How the pandemic impact human’s socialising.

Creation of more anti-social

How to overcome social anxiety during pandemic.

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Social Anxiety

01.

What is social anxiety?

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“Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.”

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Symptoms of social anxiety?

worry about everyday activities
avoid or worry a lot about social activities
always worry about doing something you think is embarrassing
often have symptoms like feeling sick, sweating, trembling and palpitation
have panic attacks, where you have an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety

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Negative Experience

Isolation

Introverts

Family History

How social anxiety happens?

Lack of socialising experience

Used to being isolated by the public

Prefer having a time alone then socialising

Having families that have the disorder

How the social anxiety happens?....Possible causes include:

Negative experience is… when an individuals have… no experience in socializing… lack social experience and have never interacted with someone new.

In addition… other negative events in life,… such as family conflict… trauma or abuse… may be associated with this disorder

Isolation is …when an individual is… so used to being isolated and… live alone without anyone to interact with.

For some, isolation may be…comfortable for them and…they may be reluctant to get out of the comport zone.

Introverts are someone that prefers being alone. .. Most of the time, … introverts are those with social anxiety and refuse to interact with someone else.

Introverts tend to be quite happy doing things on their own and enjoy ‘me’ time.

Introverts may not have a big group of friends and may not be inclined to start conversations or invite others to chat on social media.

4. Family history or inherited traits….Anxiety disorders tent to run in families… You are more likely to develop.. social anxiety disorder if your…

biological parents or siblings have the condition…However, it isn’t entirely clear how much of this…

may due to genetic and….. how much due to learned behavior.

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The Pandemic Wave

02.

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The Virus Breakthrough Worldwide

On 25th January 2020, the first coronavirus case was reported in Malaysia. As we had all known , the covid infected case in Malaysia had reached over 2.9 Millions.

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Movement Control Order

03.

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Duration of Movement Control Order in Malaysia

The Movement Control Order in Malaysia had taken place from 18 March 2020 – 31 December 2021 which equalise to 1 year, 10 months, and 6 days in total. The MCO was extended and relaxed to different phases in 2020 and 2021, including the Conditional Movement Control Order and Recovery Movement Control Order. Now, our country is moving towards the National Recovery Plan, where the schools, work, restaurant, malls and public areas are now open again with the condition of the citizens being fully vaccinated before getting back to their norms before the pandemic.

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Full Country Lockdown

No District Crossing

Stay at Home

No Physical Interactions

Everyone is not allowed to travel across the country

No going out of home without valid important reasons.

Not allowed to shake hands or speak closely with another.

So how about country lockdown during the MCO?

FULL COUNTRY LOCKDOWN.

1.No district crossing...No physical interactions...and must stay at home...

No district crossing meaning...no movement around the country.

Our country went through a country lockdown ...where borders among districts and states are closed,

police around the country restricting any cross-country movement.

No one is allowed to travel or visit any of their relatives during this duration.

2. No physical interaction by standing 1 meter away from another...

We are also forbidden from having any sort of physical interactions.

I am or we are not allowed to shake hands with anyone, not allowed to speak to another person closer than 1 meter.

No physical interacts. AT. ALL.

3. Back then we had this # going on viral all over the internet, the television and even the radio.

#StayAtHome was viral all over the country where we do our part in stay home

and not going out unless there are valid important reasons that we need to tend to.

While working from homes is a welcome relief for most people during the pandemic,,, however,

it has been found that during this period , there had been increase in domestic violence cases.

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Impact of Pandemic to Social Life

04.

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Pandemic and Socialising

Pandemic

Unfamiliarity

Introverts

Social Distancing

Overthinking

Awkward feelings of meeting new people at work and school

Everyone starts overthinking about the possibility of being infected by someone else

Used to being alone at home for almost two years

Everyone starts avoiding talks and interactions

So.. How do we relate the pandemic and socialising…how it impacts on your social skills…

The pandemic makes you over think. Why??? ... Becoz..Everyone starts over thinking about the possibility of being infected by someone else.

(2) the pandemic also leads to personal social distancing…

avoidance of crowded spaces on their own to prevent the virus’s spread which may provide short-term relief.

Social distancing forces an individual to stay at home for extensive period.

The women’s Aid organisation and Talian Kasih reported an increment domestic abuse

of 44% to 57% respectively in contacts after the government-issued MCO.... Being in close contact for prolonged period....

allowed for many opportunities for violence. Many people also... Lost their jobs or had significantly reduced income....

This stress added fuel to the fire and resulted in more domestic violence cases.

(3) pandemic leads to individuals being introverts becoz they are used to living alone for the past 2 years.

(4) the pandemic can leads to unfamiliarity , awkward feelings of meeting anew people at work and school..

You are no longer feel connected to others and feel that your conversation lack depth.

The rise in depression/social anxiety has occurred at the same time that stay-at-home orders..

Campus closures, and social distancing measures have caused

major disruptions to everyone life, altering the way people live, work, study and interact.

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Anti-social

05.

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Anti-Social in the making

Extroverts

30%

Some people becomes ‘social animal’ after pandemic

Introverts

70%

But most find it more difficult to start a conversation

Being in the house too long, takes away social skills. . People are now used to texting that it is more difficult for them to show their emotions and share their thoughts upfront now.

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Ways to overcome

06.

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Ways to overcome social anxiety

Understanding

Relaxing

Focusing

writing down what goes through your mind. It will help more to keep a diary

try some relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises for stress

Focus on listening to the points and not assuming and overthinking the worst

There are 3 ways to overcome the social anxiety…

(1) Understanding your fear and anxiety- understanding.. it will help you to find ways to overcome it..

Write it down on a paper…What makes you anxious and why it makes you anxious…

keeping a diary would also be a good idea…. Daily diary can help people focus and identify…

what’s causing you stress and… what seems to help you feel better.

(2) So… when you have your anxiety attacks…. try some relaxation applications / methods..

Do some breathing exercise to help you calm down.

Getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, and… exercising daily….. can help people cope with anxiety.

Alcohol and drug use and even the caffeine use can cause anxiety.

(3) most anxiety happens becoz we mostly over think… try focusing on the points…… that are trying to be said instead of… over thinking the worst thing…

Distract yourself from over thinking by focusing.. You can reduce anxiety by carefully manage your time and energy…

Make sure that you spend time doing things you enjoy

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Be aware!!

Check on your family and friends for any sign of social anxiety. Social anxiety can lead to various other mental health issues such as depression. Care for others.

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Thanks

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