Social Anxiety
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety describes feeling anxious or nervous in social situations. In particular, it involves concerns about how we are perceived by others and being judged negatively in social situations. Most of us experience some degree of social anxiety occasionally, and it is completely normal and okay to feel that way. However, social anxiety can feel very distressing and debilitating for some people.
When is Social Anxiety Unhelpful?
Social anxiety can become a problem when it causes significant distress and impacts a person’s ability to function or results in avoidance behaviour regarding social situations. Fear of social situations can prevent someone from engaging in social events, thus affecting their ability to connect with others, fulfill work or school requirements, and develop meaningful relationships. Persistent problematic social anxiety may be a sign of Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia).
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as Social Phobia, is a mental health condition in which someone experiences persistent and intense social anxiety to the extent of causing significant distress and dysfunction. People with social anxiety disorder are afraid of being judged by others and embarrassing themselves in social situations. Their fears are so severe that it can interfere with many aspects of their life, such as daily activities, work, school, and relationships.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder include:
Fear of social situations or interactions, such as meeting new people, speaking in public or giving a presentation/speech, going to parties or social gatherings, eating or drinking in public, or being observed by others while performing tasks
Fear of behaving in an embarrassing manner that will lead to humiliation, rejection, judgment, or scrutiny from others
Social situations almost always result in anxiety
Often avoids social situations or endures them with extreme anxiety and distress
Anxiety is out of proportion to actual social threat
Fear, anxiety, and avoidance is persistent, usually lasting for 6 months or more
Social anxiety can also be accompanied by various distressing physical symptoms, including sweating, trembling, blushing, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty speaking.
How Do We Treat Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder can cause significant impairment and result in low self-esteem, as well as feelings of isolation and loneliness. If you feel like social anxiety is getting in the way of your life, it can be treated with psychotherapy like Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT can help us learn to identify and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns that exacerbate worries about negative judgments from others, in addition to addressing unhelpful avoidance of social situations that perpetuates social anxiety in the long-term. Gradual exposure to feared social situations can show us that they’re not as scary as we think they will be.
