What Is Social Anxiety?
Have you ever been consumed with fear at the thought of meeting strangers, or do you constantly feel as if those around you are forming negative opinions of you? When you've needed to speak publicly for a final, were you trembling without knowing why? You might want to read more here. Social anxiety disorder is "the fear of interaction with other people that brings on self-consciousness, feelings of being negatively judged and evaluated, and, as a result, leads to avoidance."
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Social anxiety disorder affects 7% of the population and it is currently the third largest psychological issue that affects people today.
Getting to Know Social Anxiety Disorder
Different degrees of social interaction can affect each person with social anxiety disorder differently. The most important place to start when researching how social anxiety disorder affects people is to see if you have relevant symptoms. When doing so, it's important to utilize sound resources to determine what the best approach to treatment may be for you.
The following feelings experienced in social situations are symptoms of social anxiety disorder that may be referenced during diagnosis:
- Inadequacy
- Inferiority
- Embarrassment
- Humiliation
- Depression
These feelings are common in those that experience social anxiety disorder, whether specific social anxiety or generalized social anxiety, and are typically brought felt in situations such as:
- Being introduced to new people
- Interpersonal relationships (platonic/romantic/both)
- Having "all eyes on you"
- Being evaluated while completing a task
- Most, if not all, social encounters (school, weddings, family reunions, work functions)
- Having someone evaluate or criticize you
- Being the center of attention
What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?
The exact cause of social anxiety is not fully understood. Research developed over time has supported the theory that social anxiety and social anxiety symptoms are caused by a multitude of environmental factors and genetics. External social situations that are negatively impactful on someone's life can also be a contributing factor to social anxiety disorder. These interactions include:
- Being bullied
- Family dysfunction and conflict
- Sexual abuse
Chemical imbalances in the brain are also a possible contributing factor to social anxiety disorder. Serotonin (a chemical in the brain) aides in regulating mood and an imbalance could be a possible trigger for social anxiety disorder. An overactive amygdala (the fear-response structure in the brain) could also be a contributing factor.
Additionally, there are two different types of social anxiety disorder. It's important to note that either type can be severe.
Specific Social Anxiety
Specific social anxiety is the stage of social anxiety disorder where a subject feels anxious or irrationally distressed in specific, consistent situations. For example, if a person feels severe social anxiety when answering questions in front of classmates at school yet is perfectly happy meeting strangers at social gatherings, that individual is specifically showing symptoms related to specific social anxiety.
Generalized Social Anxiety
Generalized social anxiety is a form of social anxiety disorder where a person experiences the same symptoms as experiences from specific social anxiety. However, most, if not all, social environments produce these symptoms. Generalized social anxiety can affect a person in almost any situation involving people they're not comfortable or familiar with.
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Generalized social anxiety tends to be more severe of the two types of social anxiety disorder, affecting someone in almost any aspect involving social interaction between people other than their immediate family. Generalized social anxiety tends to affect the day-to-day functions of a person. To expand, if you feel irrationally anxious in numerous types of social situations where different amounts of people are present, you want to research generalized social anxiety disorder further to better address your needs.
Understanding what you could be experiencing can significantly increase your chance of recovery. Having social anxiety disorder can inhibit many different facets of your life, whether generalized social anxiety or specific social anxiety, your personal, family and work life can be negatively affected if left untreated.
Emotional Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder has proven to consistently deliver a set of symptoms (whether specific or generalized) that enable social anxiety disorder to be diagnosed by specialists. Since different social situations can trigger the symptoms below in people differently, it's important to keep track of how social anxiety disorder affects you so you can communicate it when seeking treatment.
- Intense fear
- Almost debilitating and constant anxiety
- Crippling fear of negative judgment from strangers
- Excessive sweating
- Blushing/flushing/ turning red
- Racing heart
- Difficulty swallowing
- Stuttering/trembling
- Muscle twitches primarily in the neck and face
These symptoms can affect you negatively in high-pressure moments in your life. Whether you're on a date with a new person you like or participating in your annual performance review with your immediate superior, the symptoms of social anxiety disorder are extremely distracting. Most importantly, you're almost always alert and aware of the irrational thoughts and feelings of anxiety you're having but knowing what is irrational is very different than a feeling or believing it's irrational.
The best way to combat social anxiety disorder is treatment from a specialist or professional that understands your unique disorder and is willing to work with you in improving the social anxiety that you experience.
Treating Social Anxiety Disorder
The most effective way to combat social anxiety disorder despite the severity is different forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been remarkably effective when treating social anxiety disorder, and with the right therapist and the right program of CBT, recovery is possible for any individual experiencing social anxiety disorder. CBT is the most effective form of social anxiety treatment.
For most people experiencing social anxiety disorder, "dealing with it" and "moving on" aren't options. Those experiencing social anxiety disorder have essentially been "dealing with it" since they were born. What those who feel severe anxiety when in social situations need is a therapist that understands what social anxiety disorder is and the appropriate way to treat it for a specific patient.
CBT, and What It Means
By definition, cognitive behavioral therapy is "a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do." To further expand, "Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things such as people, situations, and events." By implementing a CBT program by a therapist specializing in social anxiety disorder, recovery is possible for those experiencing the disorder in varying severities.
CBT is rapid, collaborative and surprisingly philosophical. When seeking a professional to begin your journey towards recovery, goal-achievement and practicing are two essential components of CBT. Repetition and, essentially re-teaching your brain to behave as you wish in situations is what CBT basically does for patients, giving control over the mind and body back to you.
Choosing a Therapist that Treats You, not Just Your Disorder
It's crucial to complete thorough research when looking for a professional to help treat your social anxiety disorder. Working with a therapist that understands what social anxiety disorder is and what it takes to treat it will help you with a successful recovery. Studies have shown the remarkable success anxiety-specific CBT sessions have given clients, and with the right therapist that has your thoughts and needs in mind, recovery is possible.
Group Therapy: Terrifyingly Ironic?
It might sound scarily ironic that group therapy would be an avenue to take when treating social anxiety disorder but have shown that interacting and developing with others that share your fears and anxieties can be immensely helpful for those currently in treatment. "Face your fears" is a philosophy behind social anxiety group therapy and being in a comfortable and peaceful environment like a support or therapy group enables patients to do just this.
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Social anxiety support can come in the form of others that share the same or similar social anxiety symptoms that you do, and these connections can be a key to discovering how to overcome social anxiety.
Know Your Disorder and Take Control of Your Treatment
Being informed isn't just important for your safety, it's imperative to your recovery. You need to feel comfortable with your therapist enough that you can ask questions, even if they may seem silly. Understanding your disorder and your treatment will make the road to recovery that much smoother. Know your symptoms, practice your CBT exercises, and listen to what your therapist advises you to do. Communicate with loved ones and your therapist when setting goals, raising expectations and managing progress.
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Recovery, and Beyond
Recovery from a social anxiety disorder is possible regardless of severity of social anxiety disorder. According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years without seeking professional help. It isn't necessary to wait to get help for social anxiety.
CBT has an amazing success rate among those that implement and integrate treatment into their lives. By re-training your brain, you can transform how you react to social situations that would typically only offer you fear. Meeting your boss for lunch to discuss a potential promotion or meeting someone special out for a first date will become normal and something that doesn't drive you into a physical frenzy of crippling nervousness. Removing the debilitating feelings of inadequacy from your mind and hushing that screaming voice in your head telling you how unimportant or foolish you are can drastically improve your life whether in a professional or personal situation.
Overcoming a psychological fear isn't an easy task, however, the curability of most mental disorders is sporadic. Social anxiety disorder is a diamond in the rough and can be treated successfully without the mandatory use of medication in treatment. Recovering from social anxiety disorder, with the correct therapist can be achieved through hard work, consistency, and persistence.
Social Anxiety Disorder Doesn't Have to be Forever
Seeking professional help is the best way to begin your steps to overcoming your social anxiety disorder. Resources like BetterHelp.com offer services providing clients with the help that suits them.
When researching your personal plan to recovery from social anxiety disorder keep in mind the necessity to have an educated therapist helping you design the correct program to help you. Every person that experiences social anxiety disorder is different, and their treatment is unique to them. Working with a trained professional is imperative if you want to succeed and overcome social anxiety disorder, no matter the severity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What triggers social anxiety?
While the specific causes behind the development of social anxiety are not fully understood, it’s relatively safe to conclude that it usually is the result of either genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of the two.
Social anxiety is a serious mental health issue that, if left untreated, can significantly impact someone’s quality of life. People with social anxiety may struggle with tasks that are largely unavoidable (making eye contact, giving a speech, etc.) and, as a result, take extensive efforts to avoid them. The fear of being judged or receiving criticism from others can be so strong that it prevents an individual from maintaining healthy relationships or meeting new people. This could potentially lead to isolation, which is quite dangerous for people of any age.
Social anxiety disorder can also cause physical symptoms that are both unpleasant and intrusive. Physical symptoms might include shortness of breath, a racing heart, feelings of dread or constant fear, and more.
As with any mental health issue, it’s important that individuals with social anxiety disorder get the awareness and the treatment that they need. By being more understanding and making an effort to learn what it’s like to live with social anxiety, we can better support others in our lives.
How do you know you have social anxiety?
Mental health issues can often overlap and share similar symptoms, so it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what you may be experiencing. Social anxiety can sometimes look like a number of other mental illnesses, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety and depression. mental health disorder symptoms
Still, even if you strongly suspect that you have a social anxiety disorder, self-diagnosis is not sufficient.
Mental health disorder symptoms can come on suddenly and be alarming, and it’s natural to want to understand what’s going on in your mind if you’re experiencing them. Nonetheless, it’s always crucial to speak with a mental health professional if you believe you may be dealing with a mental illness.
With that said, there is still a lot of value in being familiar with some of the mental and physical symptoms of social anxiety. A lot of people with social anxiety report an intense fear of being judged, confronted, or criticized by others.
If you find that social situations - meeting a new person, going to a job interview, attending a party, etc. - cause you a great deal of distress, especially on a regular basis, you may be experiencing symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Be sure to read more about some of the specific things to look out for in terms of symptoms in our guide above.
What does social anxiety mean?
Social anxiety disorder, also called social anxiety, is a mental health condition in which an individual feels a great deal of fear and anxiety before, during, or after social situations. They may feel fear and anxiety over being in situations that are unfamiliar to them, have a hard time being in crowded spaces, or experience an intense fear of being judged.
Describing social anxiety disorder simply as a fear of social situations doesn’t quite accurately represent what it can be like to have this disorder. Social anxiety can impact existing relationships with people you know well - the main root of the issue, for many, is worrying about judgement, humiliation, or shame as the result of social interaction.
Mental health disorder symptoms can often be misunderstood or misconstrued as something else, even another mental illness. In fact, clinical trials suggest that many of the early signs of social anxiety disorder in children are dismissed as shyness or selective mutism.
It’s important to be aware of the fact that social anxiety goes beyond what can be considered normal or healthy. Social anxiety can be debilitating and completely influence the way one lives their life.
How do I overcome social anxiety?
Overcoming social anxiety is no easy task for anyone, but the longer you’ve dealt with it, the bigger the change might feel. If you feel like you’ve been dealing with the signs and symptoms of social anxiety, or have been diagnosed with the disorder, there are plenty of ways to help combat them.
Mental health care should be a definite priority if you suspect you may be dealing with social anxiety. Speaking with a doctor or other professional is a key first step; you may need to be referred to a mental health specialist.
A great tool for overcoming anxiety beyond the typical therapy approach is to attend support groups. A major obstacle for those with anxiety, especially social anxiety, is finding others who can genuinely relate to their struggles. A support group is a great way to begin breaking down the barriers social anxiety creates in a safe, controlled manner.
What is the best cure for social anxiety?
Many mental health issues don’t necessarily have a true cure, and social anxiety is one of them. It’s unfortunate that there is no guaranteed, definite way to rid oneself of a mental health issue, but it is possible to treat them.
In fact, adequate treatment can make you feel in control of not just your mental illness, but your emotions and path in life in general.
If you’re experiencing the signs and symptoms of social anxiety, the step you take should always be to speak with a healthcare professional. With the advice diagnosis or treatment of a professional, you’re able to receive the resources and care that you need.
The best way to treat social anxiety is sometimes through a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatment options. Other efforts, like visiting support groups, practicing mindfulness, etc., can help speed up the process and strengthen your support system.
Can you self diagnose social anxiety?
When it comes to mental health issues, self-diagnosis is never a good option. It isn’t harmful to take notice of and work to understand symptoms that you might be experiencing, but ultimately a diagnosis should only come from a licensed professional.
Part of the reason it’s not a great idea to self-diagnose is the simple fact that mental disorder symptoms tend to overlap. What an individual may perceive as social anxiety might in reality be something completely different.
For instance, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder may share symptoms, but the way that a therapist approaches treatment may differ based on an official diagnosis.
The medical advice and expertise of a professional can’t be replaced by self-diagnosis.
It’s also important to remember that fear and anxiety are natural parts of life that everyone experiences to some degree. When fear and anxiety are present frequently and begin to interfere with one’s daily life, then it’s more likely that an anxiety disorder that requires treatment may be to blame.
What happens if social anxiety is left untreated?
If mental health issues, including social anxiety disorder, are left untreated, it’s likely that symptoms will continue to worsen. It’s also possible that other mental health or personal issues, like substance abuse, generalized anxiety and depression, may develop.
It’s important to take mental disorder symptoms seriously. There is, unfortunately, still some stigma surrounding mental health issues, and it can be hard to admit that you’re struggling if you have a hard time being open with others. Still, it’s absolutely necessary to take action to fight the signs of social anxiety if you’re experiencing them.
Research show that people with social anxiety make up a little over 7% of adults in the U.S., so it’s more common than you may have anticipated. If you’re dealing with social anxiety, no matter how it may seem, you truly are not alone. Help and support are out there for those who need it.
How do you talk to someone with social anxiety?
If someone in your life is dealing with social anxiety disorder also called social anxiety, it can be difficult to know how to genuinely and helpfully offer your sympathy and support. People with social anxiety might have a harder time having opening conversational exchanges, especially about emotions or their anxiety, so it’s always a good idea to be patient and resist pressuring someone into discussing the topic.
An important part of being a good ally to people with social anxiety is to understand it. Mental health issues are uncontrollable, and they may not seem reasonable or logical to the outside mind. Still, the symptoms of social anxiety feel very real and drastic to those who experience them.
Talking to someone with social anxiety, especially if new people are involved, should always be non-confrontational and free of judgement. It can be hard to understand the amount of worry an individual feels over what may seem like basic interaction or conversation, but the more you learn, the better you will be able to respond.
If you’re looking for good resources to help you better understand social anxiety and be a good anti anxiety ally, the National Institute of Mental Health has great tools. With the information provided by the National Institute of Mental Health or other informational material under your belt, you’ll be far more prepared to handle symptoms of anxiety and support others in the moments when they need it most.
Can you treat anxiety without medication?
It is possible to treat mental health issues without the assistance of medication, and this may be the preferred option for those already taking other medications or those who, for one reason or another, are unable to take medication.
Both anxiety and depression are very common mental illnesses, and there are lots of resources available to those who are managing them.
Does social anxiety go away with age?
Social anxiety may lessen as time goes on and an individual becomes more familiar with and comfortable in social situations or meeting new people, but that doesn’t mean it’s truly gone away.
Most chronic mental health issues don’t simply disappear on their own. They often become so embedded into our line of thought and routines that it can feel quite literally life-changing to try and tackle them.
Research suggests that social phobias aren’t all that uncommon, but it’s likely that there are individuals living their lives without realizing they have a social anxiety disorder. Many of the telltale signs of this disorder can be brushed off as introversion or quietness, but they can still make it hard to progress and do the things you’d like to do in life.
Thats why, even if the symptoms of a social phobia start to get better, you deserve to receive treatment for your social anxiety disorder. Don’t leave your quality of life up for debate.
Who do you go to for social anxiety?
When it comes to receiving medical advice and health care for mental health issues, a therapist or a licensed medical professional is the way to go.
Whether you have generalized anxiety social anxiety or any other mental illness, these two factors combined are usually the recommended treatment option. Receiving a diagnosis or treatment from a professional is an extremely important part of recovering from and battling any mental illness.
How do you tell your parents you have social anxiety?
It can be hard to talk to family about the signs and symptoms of a mental health issue, especially if you have a hard time understanding it yourself.
If you’re experiencing what seems to be a social phobia or social anxiety, it may be helpful to provide your parents with some information (see link to the National Institute of Mental Health above) to help them better understand what you’re going through.
It’s also a good idea to facilitate an honest, open and thoughtful discussion about what you’re been experiencing. Mental health issues can cause symptoms that can be confusing or frustrating to others, but helping them understand your actions are the result of things out of your control may be helpful.
Another great tool from the National Institute of Mental Health is their list of brochures made specifically to share some of the most important information about a variety of mental illnesses. These tools are great to share with your parents, loved ones, or friends as you deal with the symptoms of social anxiety.
