Learning More About Social Anxiety

Whether it is a public speaking engagement before a large crowd of business professionals or meeting up with some friends after work, everyone experiences some level of shyness at one time or another. In a given year, about 3.7% or about 5.3 million adults suffer from social anxiety.

In order to begin to understand social anxiety, it is important to note the difference between social anxiety and shyness. While most people can attest to being nervous or shy in certain social situations (i.e., walking into a party, giving a presentation, meeting someone for the first time, or going on a job interview), those who suffer from social anxiety are often unable to function normally when presented with similar settings.

The common experience of being nervous in a few social situations is called situational shyness and is not considered to be a behavioral problem. Feeling shy in almost all situations is called chronic shyness, or dispositional shyness because it is considered to be a personality trait characterized by the maladaptive strategies deisgned to minimize the sense of being overexposed in social situations.

Some of the signs frequently associated with social anxiety and chronic shyness include:

Avoidance of being the center of attention
Awkward or stumbling speech
Maintaining physical or emotional distance from others
Introversion
A small circle of friends
Very few selfish or egocentric statements

Individuals with chronic shyness display avoidance of potentially stressful situations, as well as anticipatory anxiety, out of fear of being embarrassed or humiliated. If left unmanaged, social anxiety may also cause panic attacks and other symptoms of general anxiety.

Since social anxiety disorder usually begins early in life (average onset is age 14), it can affect school performance, interacting with peers, making friends and dating, and even graduating from college. At work, social anxiety may cause us to refuse a raise if it involves job responsibilities that require giving speeches, running meetings or attending social functions. Social anxiety disorder can decrease opportunities for meeting a future spouse. It can also add stress to a marriage and is associated with an increased rate of divorce.

Researchers believe that social anxiety may be caused by multiple factors that include chemical, hereditary and environmental. Maladapted thinking patterns and behavioral responses to social situations are also believed to greatly contribute to the onset of social anxiety.

Learning about the underlying causes of our thoughts, feelings and behaviors can help us to develop positive thinking patterns and behavioral response when posed with a potentially stressful social situation.

Visit The Health Center Home Page to learn more about:

ADHD
Anxiety
Depression
Mood Swings
Panic Attacks
Social Anxiety Disorder
Stress
Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Introduction to symptoms, causes & explanations and coping techniques for Common Psychological Symptoms associated with anxiety and depression related emotional disturbances:

Alienation
Anger
Worry
Drug Abuse
Helplessness
Interpersonal Difficulties
Irrational Fears and Phobias
Meaninglessness
Mood Fluctuations
Physical Complaints
Procrastination
Shyness
Sleep Difficulties
Workaholism

View a list of helpful articles that can help you to understand your thoughts, feelings and behavioral responses.

Understanding Chemical Imbalance
An Overview of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Talking To Your Doctor
Alternative Medicine That Helps
What is Talk Therapy?
more...

This information has been adapted with permission from the National Center for Health and Wellness.