What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

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Recognizing Social Anxiety Disorder

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Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders. People with social anxiety disorder tend to feel quite nervous or uncomfortable in social situations. They are very concerned that they will do something embarrassing or humiliating, or that others will think badly of them. These individuals are very self-conscious and constantly feel "on stage."

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What is a Social Situation?

A social situation includes any situation in which you and at least 1 other person are present. Social situations tend to fall into 2 main categories: performance situations and interpersonal interactions.

Performance Situations

Interpersonal Interactions

These are situations where people feel they are being observed by others. Examples include:

 

• Public speaking (e.g. presenting at a meeting

• Participating in meetings or classes(e.g. asking or answering questions)

• Eating in front of others

• Using public washrooms

• Writing in front of others (e.g. signing a cheque of filling out a form)

• Performing in public (e.g. singing or acting on stage, or playing a sport)

• Entering a room where everyone is already seated

 

These are situations where people are interacting with others and developing closer relationships. Examples include:

 

• Meeting new people

• Talking to co-workers or friends

• Inviting others to do things

• Going to social events (e.g. parties or dinners)

• Dating

• Being assertive

• Expressing opinions

• Talking on the phone

• Working in a group (e.g. working on a project with other co-workers)

• Ordering food at a restaurant

• Returning something at a store

• Having a job interview

 

Note:It is not uncommon for people to fear some social situations and feel quite comfortable in others. For example, some people are comfortable spending time with friends and family, and interacting socially with co-workers but are very fearful of performance situations, such as participating in business meetings or giving formal speeches. Also, some people fear only a single situation (such as public speaking), while others fear and avoid a wide range of social situations.

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What Does Social Anxiety Look Like?

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When faced with a feared social situation, people with social anxiety experience some of the following:

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Negative thoughts (what you think)

• People with social anxiety tend to have negative thoughts about themselves (e.g. "I'll have nothing to say"), as well as how others will react to them (e.g. "Others will think I'm weird")

• People with social anxiety also tend to focus their attention on themselves during social situations. They focus on their performance and how anxious they feel and look

• Examples: "I'm going to say something stupid" ;  "I'll get anxious and others will notice" ;  "They won't like me" ;  "Others will think I'm stupid" ; "I'll offend someone" ; or "No one will talk to me"

 

Physical symptoms (what you feel)

• People with social anxiety are often very concerned about visible signs of anxiety, such as blushing or trembling.

• Examples: racing heart, upset stomach, shaking, choking sensations, sweating, blushing, trembling, dry mouth, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, urge to urinate, etc.

 

Avoidance and safety behaviors (what you do)

• People with social anxiety will often try to avoid or escape social situations. If they do go into social situations, they tend to do things to feel less anxious or to protect themselves from embarrassment or negative evaluation (e.g. if I'm worried about saying something stupid, then I'll try to avoid talking).

• Examples: Avoiding (e.g. not going to the party), escaping a scary social situation (e.g. leaving the party early) or engaging in protective behaviours to try and stay safe (e.g. drinking alcohol, staying quiet and avoiding eye contact).

 

When Does Social Anxiety Become a Problem?

It's normal to feel anxious in social situations from time to time. For example, many people feel anxious in job interviews or when having to give a formal speech. Social anxiety can be a problem when it becomes too intense or happens too often. When it does, social anxiety can cause significant distress and affect many aspects of a person's life including:

 

Work and school

• Examples: difficulty with job interviews; problems interacting with bosses or co-workers; trouble asking and answering questions in meetings or classes; refusing job promotions; avoiding certain types of jobs or career paths; poor performance at work or school; decreased enjoyment of work or school.

 

Relationships

• Examples: difficulty developing and keeping friendships and romantic relationships; trouble opening up to others; difficulty sharing opinions

 

Recreational activities/hobbies

• Examples: avoid trying new things; avoid taking classes or lessons; avoid activities that involve interacting with others, such as going skiing or to the gym

 

Day-to-day activities

• Examples: difficulty completing daily activities, such as going grocery shopping, going out to eat, taking the bus, asking for directions, etc.