Social Anxiety/Phobia

Social anxiety is also known as social phobia. Social phobia, in a nutshell, is the fear of being in social situations. Social anxiety can be described as the fear of interacting with someone who isn’t a family member or close friend.

Most of us have experienced feeling nervous in a social situation – think about your first interview with a job you really wanted or your first date with your partner. You probably remember feeling anxious, excited, or apprehensive.

However, the difference is, people without social phobia still follow through with these social events. They can experience the rewards of the outcome, like getting their dream job or meeting their future spouse. People with a social phobia will be unable successfully complete these important experiences.

Social anxiety is the third most prominent mental health issue across the globe. It affects almost 7% of the population. Nearly 13% of people will experience social anxiety at some point in their life.

What Causes Social Anxiety?

You can’t necessarily narrow social anxiety down to one simple cause. Most times, people who develop social anxiety do so over time, and multiple factors and experiences can contribute to the eventual outcome of developing a social phobia. However, there are some possible causes to examine:

  • Genetics – People with a family history of anxiety may be more likely to develop social anxiety or other kinds of anxiety.

  • Brain activity – Some studies have shown some parts of the brain are more active in people with social anxiety, such as the amygdala.

  • Life experience – Certain social situations can cause someone to feel judged, different, or unwelcome. If a person experiences these negative feelings often in social situations, they may develop social anxiety.

Situations that May Trigger Social Anxiety

Social anxiety has many triggers that center around a person having to interact with others with whom they are not completely comfortable. Situations that can be difficult with social anxiety include:

  • Job interviews

  • First dates

  • Parties

  • Public speaking

  • Business meetings

  • Presentations

Most people will feel nervousness or even fear in these situations. What distinguishes normal nervousness from social anxiety is intensity and persistence. Though most people might feel nervous before a big job interview, they can put their nerves aside and complete the interview as normal. Someone with social anxiety may be physically unable to complete the interview due to overwhelming anxiety.

Types of Social Anxiety

Essentially, there are two types of social anxiety:

  • Generalized social anxiety – The person with generalized social anxiety will feel fear around most social situations, regardless of importance. This type of anxiety can make even “fun” social situations, like a birthday party, unbearable.

  • Non-generalized social anxiety – The person with non-generalized social anxiety will have a specific trigger(s) that cause their social anxiety. For example, for some people, this could be going on a date or interview. They may be fine at a birthday party or in a lower-stakes situation.

Signs and Symptoms

Social anxiety is a fear of interacting with others, most often with an underlying fear of being judged or embarrassed. Someone experiencing anxiety in a social situation may present with:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Sweating

  • Shaking

  • Increase heart rate

  • Feeling faint

With social anxiety, anxious thoughts are common. Someone may think that everyone is judging them, or that no one truly likes them, even if they have no proof of that. This can cause a person with social anxiety to act in the following ways:

  • Apologize often

  • Spend a higher-than-normal time preparing for a social situation or event

  • Seek frequent reassurance from others

  • Leave social situations hurriedly

  • Avoid entering social situations

People with social anxiety entering a social situation may make great efforts to avoid their triggers. This includes things like using alcohol to cope and “loosen up,” frequently excusing themselves to the bathroom or outdoors, and refraining from contributing to a conversation.

Getting Help

If your social anxiety affects your day to day life, or gets in the way of opportunities for you, it’s wise to seek help. Therapy can help greatly to reduce social anxiety and give the sufferer many coping mechanisms to face social situations again. Social anxiety will rarely be resolved on its own, so it’s important to seek professional help to start the journey of healing social anxiety. If left unchecked, social anxiety can cause someone to become depressed. By getting therapy, someone with social anxiety can begin to live a normal life again.

Andrea Zorbas