Social impact of excessive sweating
The physical and psychological impact of excessive sweating cannot be underestimated but do not forget about the social impact as well. Excessive sweating causes a great deal of embarrassment for the sufferer especially in social situations which require close contact with others. Parties are a good example of this as are workplace meetings. What happens is that the sufferer avoids these types of situations which have a negative effect on their confidence and self esteem. They avoid getting too close to other people and become worried and anxious about their appearance. Their main concern is that of appearing sweaty and dishevelled especially in a situation which requires them to present a professional appearance. This can have a detrimental effect on their career as well as their social life.
Does this sound familiar? It is understandable that you will avoid social situations or be reluctant to interact with other people at work for fear of giving offence. But the sad fact is that it can be counter productive to both your work and social life. People who have never experienced excessive sweating find it difficult imagine the sense of awkwardness and embarrassment this causes. After all, we all sweat and it is normal to experience sweaty palms or have a few sweat patches on your clothes.
The perceived impact of hyperhidrosis is strongly associated with the impact the condition has on a person’s social functioning. Many people with hyperhidrosis feel embarrassed by their condition in social situations. Those with palmar hyperhidrosis may be embarrassed to shake hands, particularly when meeting someone for the first time, because their palms are cold, wet and slippery. Wet palms may be taken by others as a sign of anxiety, and for individuals with palmar hyperhidrosis this can be an additional source of anxiety which worsens the condition. The vast majority of people with affected palms avoid shaking hands as a result of their condition. They may face stigma and discrimination when they need to shake hands.
Individuals with affected armpits may feel embarrassed by sweat-damp clothing, or needing to change clothes frequently. They may avoid public places or social gatherings as a result of their condition or be limited in the choice of clothing they can wear as a result of hyperhidrosis.
Someone living with Hyperhidrosis, my feel like there is no hope but there are many options out there to help live a normal life.