Millions of people worldwide suffer from social anxiety, also known as social phobia, a widespread mental health illness. It can cause feelings of loneliness and self-doubt and make everyday social encounters burdensome. There is more to social anxiety than shyness or sporadic uneasiness. It is an acute and ongoing anxiety of being scrutinized, evaluated, or humiliated in social or performance settings. Socially anxious people frequently experience a crippling fear of situations that others might take for granted. The degree of this illness can range from minor discomfort in particular circumstances to crippling worry that interferes with day-to-day functioning.
The main symptoms of social anxiety are:
- Fear of Judgment: An elevated anxiety about how other people see you, frequently conjuring up images of mockery or criticism.
- Self-Consciousness: A keen awareness of one’s behavior, physical attributes, or speech in social situations.
- Avoidance behaviors: Purposefully avoiding circumstances that could make one feel vulnerable or exposed.
Public speaking, making new friends, going to social events, and even snacking or scribbling in front of other people are common triggers. Understanding these factors is essential to successfully managing the illness.
Social anxiety disorder: what causes it?
Like many mental disorders, social anxiety disorder is caused by an interaction of psychological, environmental, and hereditary variables. Gaining insight into these factors can demystify the illness and direct successful treatment. Some of the primary contributors are listed below:
- Genetic research indicates a hereditary component to social anxiety, suggesting that it can run in families. You can have a larger chance of getting the illness yourself if a close family has it. (Stein et al., 2020)
- The disorder may also be caused by abnormalities in brain chemicals like serotonin, which controls mood.
- Social anxiety can arise as a result of adverse or traumatic childhood experiences, such as abuse, bullying, or mockery.
- Children who have domineering or judgmental parents may unintentionally develop a fear of being judged or failing. (Beidel et al., 2014).
- Avoidance behaviors and pessimistic mental patterns can be reinforced by witnessing individuals with social anxiety or by being confronted by social failures regularly.
- Societal standards that prioritize achievement or perfection can exacerbate fears of failure and criticism, especially in high-pressure settings like the workplace or school.
Methods for Recognizing Social Anxiety
The first step to conquering social anxiety is acknowledging it. The following are the main signs that someone may be suffering from social anxiety:
Physical Signs and Symptoms:
- Fast Heartbeat: Experiencing a fast heartbeat even in social situations that don’t seem to put any pressure on you.
- Sweating excessively: Sweating excessively, especially on the face, palms, or underarms.
- Trembling or Shaking: a shakiness that intensifies before or during social situations.
- Breathlessness: The sensation that you are unable to catch your breath in social situations.
Emotional Symptoms::
- Extreme Fear: A constant concern about being disapproved of, humiliated, or rejected.
- Catastrophic thinking: The tendency to anticipate the worst in every social situation, such as receiving severe criticism or laughter. (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022).
- Persistent Worry: Anxiety that lasts for days or weeks before a social gathering.
Behavioral Symptoms:
- Avoidance: Avoid social engagement by skipping meetings, events, or classes.
- Rehearsing conversations: Mentally practicing what to say beforehand, which frequently results in overthinking.
- Relying on “Safety Behaviors”: Using coping strategies to get through social situations, such as avoiding eye contact, remaining silent, or remaining near a trustworthy person.
How Social Anxiety Differs from Everyday Anxiety
Frequently confused with introversion or ordinary anxiousness, social anxiety differs in its severity and influence on day-to-day functioning. People with social anxiety deliberately fear and avoid social situations, even if they want to, whereas introverts prefer to be alone. Distinguishing social anxiety from ordinary worry or uneasiness is crucial. It’s normal for people to feel nervous before a significant event, a presentation, or a meeting with new people. But social anxiety differs in several important ways:
- Intensity: Social anxiety is frequently out of proportion to the situation and lasts for a long time after the event has happened, whereas everyday anxiety is transient and proportionate to the situation. For instance, someone who suffers from everyday anxiety may experience dread before giving a speech in front of an audience but feel relieved afterward. For days or weeks, a person with social anxiety may keep thinking about the incident and reliving perceived errors. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023)
- Frequency: While social anxiety is a chronic illness that regularly impacts many aspects of life, everyday anxiousness occurs occasionally.
- Avoidance: Even if doing so has a detrimental effect on their lives, people with social anxiety purposefully avoid situations they are afraid of. On the other hand, avoidance actions are not usually the result of everyday worry.
- Physical and Emotional Impact: In addition to typical worry, social anxiety can result in crippling physical symptoms like sweating and shivering as well as emotional suffering like feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.
- Functionality: Although daily anxiety may make tasks more difficult, it typically doesn’t stop someone from taking part. Conversely, social anxiety can seriously hinder relationships, employment, and education.
P.S. It can be quite difficult to live with social anxiety, but it’s crucial to keep in mind that you’re not alone. Your difficulties are shared by millions of others, and things can get better. Little actions like getting professional assistance,or developing coping mechanisms can have a big impact on your life. You can regain happiness and self-assurance in your everyday interactions by tackling this condition with patience and perseverance. You possess the strength to conquer it. Keep in mind that courage is the choice to go despite fear, not the absence of fear. Your courage in facing social anxiety is evidence of your fortitude and growth potential.
Bibliography
Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Morris, T. L. (2014). Social Anxiety Disorder: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment. Springer.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2022). Understanding Anxiety Disorders. Harvard Medical School.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Social Anxiety Disorder. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Stein, M. B., & Stein, D. J. (2020). Social Anxiety Disorder. The Lancet, 371(9618), 1115-1125.