How do you feel about attending parties? Or entering a room of crowded people you don’t know? Do you obsess about upcoming social engagements or events, wondering how you can get out of going? Have you been labeled as “shy” or “withdrawn”? Do you think your concerns about social situations might be out of proportion to the situation itself? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, you might have social anxiety.
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is a common anxiety disorder characterized by an excessive fear of social situations. 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety or symptoms of the disorder. It can affect people at any age, and is often diagnosed in children.
For those who deal with this condition, just anticipating an upcoming social situation is enough to cause intense worry and obsessive thoughts. If you suffer from this condition, it probably impacts your day-to-day life, and certainly your ability to socialize with new people, speak in public, or feel confident in everyday interactions.
You may not realize you have social anxiety, even after years of suffering from symptoms. You might just think you’re shy or overly nervous about being social. But if you find yourself dealing with physical or psychological symptoms that make everyday life difficult, you may want to seek support.
Social Anxiety Symptoms
Many of us deal with social situations that make us nervous, like a job interview or a first date. However, symptoms of social anxiety are usually intense and uncontrollable. They can be both physical and psychological:
Physical symptoms include:
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- A pounding heartbeat
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Intense blushing
- Chest pain
Psychological symptoms include:
- Worry of embarrassment or humiliation
- Intense fear of interacting with strangers
- Fear of offending people
- Fear of dealing with physical symptoms in front of others
- Avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention
If left untreated, social anxiety can increase over time. It can lead to other conditions like additional types of anxiety and phobias or depression and feelings of isolation.
Do you think you might have social anxiety?
Here are five signs it might be an issue:
Sign 1: Avoiding Social Situations
If social situations make you worry about being judged or found wanting by others, you’re probably avoiding them. If receiving an invitation to a party or public gathering immediately sets you on a path of negative thoughts about how you’ll interact with people there or saying the wrong things, it’s a sign your fear is out of proportion to the situation.
Sign 2: Rethinking Past Interactions
We all might make a faux pas at a social event and then brush it off as an honest mistake. But when you obsess over what you might have done or said wrong, or how you feel others may have negatively judged you, it’s a sign of something more serious. Constantly replaying conversations in your head will make you upset long after an event is over.
Sign 3: Difficulty Making Eye Contact
Even everyday situations in public places might be challenging for you if you have intense social anxiety. It can cause a fear of making eye contact, which might force you to look at your hands or avert your eyes in another direction. This can create a sense of awkwardness that might make your anxiety even worse.
Sign 4: Fear of Offending People
If you suffer from social anxiety, your need to avoid being judged yourself might extend into a fear of offending or upsetting anyone else. You might intensely focus on every word you use in an attempt to avoid potentially offending someone and embarrassing yourself. This constant self-restraint and hyper-awareness can be exhausting.
Sign 5: Low Self Esteem
All the worrying about judgment and criticism can take a toll on your self-confidence. Social anxiety can make you doubt your abilities and drain away your belief in yourself. Those feelings can lead to more anxiety and depression.
Dealing with Social Anxiety
Although there are effective ways to treat social anxiety, fewer than 5% of those suffering seek treatment. Both therapy and medication management can help.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help teach you different ways to behave and react to situations, as well as help you practice social skills.
- Exposure therapy is a CBT method that can help you feel more confident and comfortable by progressively exposing you to controlled social situations instead of avoiding them.
- A variety of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can be helpful in controlling the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety, which can make you feel more comfortable to facing social situations.
When to Seek Support
Whether you need support for a loved one or your own mental health, MindGlow Health offers talk therapy and psychiatric care through online appointments with licensed providers who are experienced and passionate about what they do. The company was built on the foundation of a well-established behavioral health organization, where thousands of people nationwide have sought care for their mental health concerns.
Learn more about the services we provide or get started today with one of our experienced, passionate online providers to take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.