Social Anxiety. Shyness or Disorder?

Social anxiety is defined as a “marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations” and includes such symptoms as sweating, palpitations, shaking, and respiratory distress. Social anxiety is fairly common, occurring in as much as 13% of the population, and can be extremely disabling. Many people get nervous or self-conscious on occasion, like when giving a speech or interviewing for a job, but social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is more than just shyness or nervous feeling. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of social situations especially unfamiliar ones making you feel extremely aware of your self-image. These situations may be so frightening that you get anxious just thinking about them or go to great lengths to avoid them, disrupting your daily routine in the process.

What is the actual cause of this disorder? Well it depends. Some may have traumas from their childhood and family environment that can make them feel judged by everyone around you for no reason. Others have little self-confidence or a low view of themselves which leads to the fear of other people opinions or feeling the need to look perfect in front of others. A few might have had a terrible social situation that triggered this horrifying fear and many more.

While it may seem like there's nothing you can do about the symptoms of social anxiety disorder or social phobia, in reality, there are many things that can help. The first step is challenging your mentality, your negative thoughts. Think about your pleasant social experiences and that people like your closest friends will appreciate you for who you are and the only one who’s actually judging you it’s you. Replace those thoughts with realistic reasons for other people’s behavior. You can also try focusing more on the people around you because focusing on yourself will only make you find negative things about everything you do or say.

No matter what, you should try escaping this barrier and letting you be your true self around other people. This is a disorder you can get rid of and feeling comfortable and confident in front of others can only guarantee more social connections and a strong mental health.