The Signs & Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is a very common challenge under the anxiety umbrella that impacts individuals in social settings. This anxiety can manifest in a number of ways and trigger a variety of symptoms. 

The avoidance of social situations to compensate for anxiety symptoms can interfere with daily life and relationships. Over time, it can impact one’s well-being. Understanding the signs and symptoms is a good starting point for overcoming challenges.

What Causes Social Anxiety

There is no one cause that can be attributed to social anxiety. Multiple factors likely contribute to its onset.

As with anxiety, there is a good chance that family genetics play some role. Any hormone imbalance involving serotonin, dopamine, or glutamate can also lead to this type of anxiety due to their role in mood regulation. 

Environmental factors like your trauma history, the family environment you grew up in, and your attachment style can also lend themselves to onset. Individuals who grew up in an environment where they felt lonely, insecure, or unsafe may find themselves struggling with social relationships. Finally, any history of negative peer interactions such as teasing, bullying, or harassment can also lead to social anxiety. 

Physical Symptoms

When you struggle with social anxiety, certain social settings or interactions can cause sweating, blushing, and shakiness. You may also experience nausea or lightheadedness. During a flare-up, you may have an elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, trouble getting your words out, or feel rigid tension throughout your body.

In some instances, you may feel foggy or have a hard time concentrating. These symptoms may be evident to others and can interfere with school, work, or social engagements.

Psychological Symptoms

In addition to the physical symptoms, there’s a mental toll that social anxiety can take on you. Before social engagements, you may feel flooded with feelings, including intense worry or concern. Not wanting others to notice how anxious you are can make you feel self-conscious and fearful. If you struggle with social anxiety, you may regularly find yourself judging how you look or how you speak often believing that others are judging you and finding you lacking or less than.

In an effort to avoid embarrassment, you might avoid social situations altogether. Constantly canceling or saying no to social invitations can negatively impact your relationships and work life if it becomes too extreme a habit.

When avoidance isn’t possible, you might do everything you can to fade into the background and become invisible. Unfortunately, being “invisible” comes with it’s own emotional pain and stress.

If the toll becomes too much, the anxiety can drive you to self-medicate through substances or alcohol, which can snowball into its own issues. 

Triggers for Social Anxiety

Triggers for social anxiety will differ for each person. 

Public speaking is a big trigger for many people, regardless of how social they appear. Other examples include parties, gatherings, job interviews, public shopping centers, and speaking up in class or a work meeting. For some, basic things like using a public restroom, interacting with a clerk at a grocery store, or talking on the phone can prompt symptoms 

Signs of Social Anxiety

If you fear social situations, especially the possibility of being judged or rejected by others, this could be a sign of social anxiety. Do you worry about what others may say about you? Are you panicked about saying the wrong thing? Do you constantly replay interactions of any kind after they happen? Does your mind ever go blank or do you regularly freeze up or get tongue-tied when it’s your turn to speak?

Shyness is not the same thing as having social anxiety, but when you have social anxiety, “shy”, “quiet”, and sometimes “aloof” are all terms that get used. Social anxiety causes avoidance and can make you feel isolated and alone.

When in specific social situations, you consistently feel distressed. You may be able to talk with your group of friends or family that you feel safe with, but giving any type of presentation or interacting with people you don’t know very well leads you down a rabbit hole of discomfort every time. Your fear causes any combination of the symptoms above, which are not normal for typical social engagements. Do you find yourself feeling nervous in a crowd? Does presenting make you sweat and tremble? Do you get clammy or stuck on your words during a Zoom call?

These are all common signs of social anxiety.

Social anxiety can be a difficult thing to navigate but, fortunately, help is available. Reach out to us to learn more about anxiety therapy.