More than likely, all of us, especially introverts, have felt anxious in some situations. Maybe you were nervous on a first date or giving a class presentation. This in itself is not necessarily a display of social anxiety disorder as comfort levels in social situations can differ between people and personality types. However, social anxiety disorder, also referred to as social phobia, is something quite different. Social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition identified by an intense, persistent fear when anticipating or participating in social situations. People with social anxiety disorder also fear that others are watching and judging them, leaving everyday interactions to cause anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment. These reactions lead to avoidant behaviors that can disrupt one’s life and relationships.
Examples of some situations that may cause distress to someone with social anxiety disorder include social interactions, being observed, and performing in front of others. More specifically, having a conversation, meeting new people, attending social gatherings, going to work, making eye contact, dating, using a public restroom, eating or drinking in public, performing in front of a crowd, etc. Social anxiety disorder is characterized by the fear of these situations that makes an individual exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Someone with social phobia is afraid that they will act in an embarrassing way or show anxiety symptoms, resulting in others rejecting them. In children, this anxiety may also be expressed through crying, freezing, clinging, or failing to speak. Regardless of its specific presentation, this anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the situation and leads the person to avoid social situations and impacts their functioning.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder can include constant feelings of:
Intense fear of interacting with strangers
Worrying about humiliating yourself
Fear of situations where you might be judged negatively
Fear of other people realizing you are anxious
Fear of other people noticing physical symptoms that may lead to your embarrassment, including:
Blushing
Sweating
Trembling
Dizziness
Other physical symptoms that may occur are upset stomach, nausea, trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, muscle tension
Avoiding speaking to people because you fear you will embarrass yourself
Intense anxiety about an upcoming social situation
Intense anxiety during social situations
Avoiding situations that might be focused on you
Debating and analyzing your performance in past or future social situations
Expecting the worst possible outcome in social situations
Fear of speaking or performing in public (if this is the only scenario causing intense anxiety, it is known as performance-type social anxiety disorder)
Treatment for Social Anxiety
Because social anxiety disorder is likely to continue in the long term, particularly when avoiding social situations, it is recommended that people seek treatment for the disorder. This phobia often leads to a limited ability to thrive at work, school, and in interpersonal relationships as well, resulting in a possible decrease in quality of life, further emphasizing the importance of treatment.
The most common treatment for social anxiety disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This modality focuses on reframing thought patterns and teaching clients new ways of thinking about, behaving in, and reacting to social situations. Ideally, this process will reduce the client’s fears and anxieties. Medication is also a common treatment method for managing social anxiety, either alone or in addition to CBT. Reach out to a licensed mental health provider to learn more about social anxiety and treatment.