Kegelisahan sosial dan Fobia: membuang Sampah

Menemukan suatu Fobia gawat Kairo

Orang yang menderita karena kegelisahan sosial dan fobia biasanya membuat pikiran membalap ketakutan dan kecemasan ini dipicu oleh imajinasi atau pengalaman yang lalu mereka dan kadang-kadang oleh aspek sosial hidup di Kairo. Kegelisahan sosial dianggap sebagai salah satu masalah psikologis yang paling besar di dunia hari ini tetapi di Mesir baru saja siapa saja saya berbicara untuk menganggap kegelisahan mereka sebagai masalah yang pantas menerima perhatian sekalipun jiwa mereka trauma olehnya.

Jika you’re menderita karena kegelisahan sosial dan fobia paling mungkin anda baik akan menghindari situasi pemicu itu kegelisahan anda semua bersama atau anda akan melemparkan sendiri ke dalam mereka sedangkan di ketakutan dan menunggu untuk apa yang anda pikirkan membahayakan akibat. Barangkali anda mungkin menjadi salah satu yang itu di penyangkalan dan menahan situasi anda ketakutan di kebungkaman? Satu pertanyaan sebaiknya tanya anda sendiri ialah jika sama sekali di pikiran anda?

Kegelisahan berdasarkan imajinasi yang kami timbulkan tentang lingkungan sosial kami setiap tamsilan kami melihat di jiwa sehari-hari kami atau di jalan, atau di media. Beberapa cerita saya mendengar ialah horrific dan meninggalkan beberapa bekas luka dalam. Laila’s cerita adalah satu di antara mereka. She’s seorang gadis ramah tamah dinya terlambat twenties. Sewaktu dia berjalan ke dalam gedungnya kapan-kapan di 2 o’clock pagi hari, dia melihat seorang laki-laki menunggu lift dan pikiran selama sedetik tentang masuk dengannya tetapi lalu mengambil keputusan mengapa tidak “As lift naik dia meminta saya melepaskan pakaian saya. Saya couldn’t berpikir lurus saya begitu takut karena dia mengancam saya dengan sehelai silet. Dia mengatakan dia akan sakit saya. Saya memohonnya untuk menghentikan lift dan untuk membiarkan saya keluar. Lift berhenti di lantai saya dan saya mengancam menjerit. Secara ajaib dia takut memberi tahu saya dia sakit di pikiran dan melepaskan saya. Saya couldn’t percaya kepada sendiri. ” Since Then Laila meninggalkan apartemen dan sampahnya untuk memasuki lift yang mana pun dengan orang asing lagi. Setiap kali dia memasuki gedung gelap yang mana pun malam hari dia membayangkan bahaya.

Sedangkan ketakutan Laila’s berdasarkan pengalaman yang lalunya, Nadia seorang tamatan AUC saya bertemu di pengalaman Cilantro kegelisahan sosial untuk sebab lain. Dia menonjol di pengumpulan sosial yang mana pun karena pengertian unik dan beraninya mode yang adalah tentu tak ada norma kami melihat di Kairo. Dia mempunyai rambut biru dan memakai kuku hitam yang palsu, selalu memakai dandanan berat dan gelap dengan mata penuh asap. Dia berpakaian membuka pikiran pakaian, secara sosial tak menyetujui di negara kami. Di jalan dia sering dianggap nama suka “witch” atau “crazy” dan diganggu terus. “You’re bermaksud berpikir saya ialah orang gila tetapi saya takut diperkenalkan kepada orang baru karena saya sakit komentar mendapat mengenai bagaimana saya melihat dan rasa saya tak seorang pun akan suka pada saya cara saya ialah. ” I tidak akan pernah berpikir bahwa seseorang yang mempunyai keberanian untuk memakai apa yang dipakainya akan kekurangan keberanian untuk menghadap ke orang baru tetapi Nadia lebih suka tinggal di gelembungnya sendiri. Dia hampir tidak mempunyai teman karena dia can’t berhubungan dengan siapa saja dan tak seorang pun kelihatannya menjadi dapat menceritakannya. Saya secara pribadi berpikir dia mungkin terlalu mengagumkan untuk siapa saja di Mesir.

Nadia’s fears are about meeting new people and being accepted by society, on the other hand Magda a 30 year old working woman who is actively engaged in Cairo’s party scene, has no problems meeting new people. She actually enjoys it but often finds herself going home late in the evening “When I am alone, my heart beats so fast and I rush into my building or even run to my apartment. I always think someone is out there to hurt me.” Her fears are based on hearing endless stories like Laila’s or others she read or watched on TV.

People who suffer from social anxiety can’t help but think the situation is unavoidable and out of their control even when their fears are triggered and nothing happens. They’re still cautious and weary of the next time the devil comes around. Iman a Cairo University student told me how she felt very lucky every time she escapes danger. “When I imagine something bad will happen and it doesn’t I thank god but I still think the danger is there. I was just lucky this time but you never know what happens next time. If I can I would avoid any dangerous situation. It is just easier this way”.

Men I spoke to generally seemed less open than women about their anxieties. They would not admit suffering any type of phobia as this may lower their prestige or degrade their pride because in Egypt “real men” do not have psychological problems.

Omar a 32 smart looking man, working in a top multinational company was reserved at first in talking about his fears but once the ice was broken it felt as if he was waiting for someone to hear him. “Of course I don’t have social anxiety or phobia. I am not sick. The worst thing I go through is when I get so nervous and I start to stutter and sweat when having to do a presentation at work. I usually try to avoid this, it makes me so uncomfortable but I don’t need a shrink. I don’t suggest ideas at work my boss won’t like them, so why bother?” He believes he could get fired for suggesting ideas that others might not like. He has missed on promotions and most of his reviews mention he lacks initiative although he spends most of his time at work, with tireless dedication yet he is convinced he doesn’t have a serious problem.

What many families in Egypt consider protection for their children and guidance in every aspect of their lives can often be the very reason for their social anxieties. Omar gave us a possible explanation “Ever since my father died when I was 15, my uncles took care of me. They‘re so controlling and authoritarian and my mom could never stand up to them. They decided which university I should go to, what I should study, even who I should marry. I could never discuss anything with them and whenever I suggested anything I knew the storm of arguments would begin. I know they love me and want to make sure I make the right decisions but it is suffocating. Why would it be different at work? I would rather shut up and keep my opinions to myself than have problems or get fired.”

Karim is the only man I met who had no issues to openly talk about his fears. He has a great history of drug addition, got past this stage in his life but it doesn’t look like being sober is that easy. He is charming and has an amazing sense of humor although he’s missed on quite a few opportunities in life. The nicest thing about him is that he only has a few regrets. “You think am charming? WOW” He smiled and continued “Well you can say I’ve been away from life for a couple of years and coming back now is not so easy. I always think when meeting people that they know about my past so I avoid dealing with new people. I’d rather sit and read my book than go out there to expose my self to nasty people who only think of me as a junky.”
The dynamics of living in Egypt don’t seem to make it any easier for many suffering social anxiety. The appearance oriented society we live in only nurtures social anxiety as there is often this pressuring need to fit in and be accepted. Ironically, as diverse as the country gets, as restrictive to differences it gets. Until this fakeness and prejudice is out of the way, progress is going to be slow when it is most needed in dealing with psychological problems like social anxiety.
Yasmine a 24 year old AUC graduate is confident and original in her approach to life. She is convinced that society has a big role in the development of social phobias “The differences and contrasts in Egypt make so many people fake because they try so hard to fit in. Along the way they loose who they really are for this simple reason “wanting to fit in”. People should stick to who they are and not change for society or the newest Louis Vuitton bag and Prada boots.”
The lives of people suffering from social anxiety have shrunk to the extent that they‘re missing out on the good moments in their lives. Isn’t it about time to throw out the trash of social phobia? Maybe it’s also time to visit the shrink before we disappear.