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    Social Psychology

    Symptoms of Social Anxiety

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    Symptoms of Social Anxiety

    Individuals with social anxiety may experience symptoms related to the fear of social situations. Coping strategies can be implemented to decrease these symptoms.

    Those with social anxiety may feel like they are constantly performing in front of others and worry that they will make mistakes or embarrass themselves, which can make it challenging to engage in conversations and build relationships.

    This type of thinking is frequently present in people with social anxiety, which was previously referred to as social phobia.

    If you suffer from social anxiety, you may feel lonely, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone in this struggle. According to estimates, around 12.1% of adults in the US experience social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

    National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), reports that social anxiety disorder can be debilitating, but becoming aware of your symptoms and identifying triggers can make it more manageable.

    Social anxiety vs. shyness

    Some people mistakenly think that shyness and social anxiety disorder are the same thing. However, shyness is considered a personality trait, while social anxiety disorder is a diagnosable condition that can significantly impact a person’s daily life.

    While shy individuals may occasionally avoid social situations, those with social anxiety disorder may frequently do so and experience more disruption in their personal and professional lives.

    It’s also possible for someone with social anxiety disorder to feel comfortable around people most of the time but experience anxiety in specific situations, like giving a speech or interacting with strangers.

    Psychological and physical social anxiety symptoms

    Although a fear may not be logically sound, it can still cause anxiety.

    Recognizing the symptoms of social anxiety disorder is an important step in learning to manage it. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 7.1% of adults in the United States experience social anxiety disorder each year, with women being slightly more affected than men.

    Social anxiety disorder presents differently for each person, and below are some physical and psychological symptoms you may notice if you have social anxiety.

     

    Physical social anxiety symptoms

    Anxiety can have physical manifestations that take a toll on the body. For instance, some individuals report feeling anxiety in specific physical areas, such as their shoulders, forehead, or stomach.

    Some physical manifestations of social anxiety disorder include:

    • dizziness or fainting
    • muscle tension
    • blushing
    • heart palpitations
    • hyperventilating, or shortness of breath
    • nausea or vomiting
    • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
    • excessive sweating
    • shaking or trembling

    Although this list can provide some guidance in identifying whether you might have social anxiety disorder, it should not replace a proper diagnosis from a mental health professional.

    Additionally, in certain situations, experiencing these symptoms can actually exacerbate social anxiety disorder, such as blushing which may increase feelings of embarrassment and unwanted attention.

    Psychological social anxiety symptoms

    If you suffer from social anxiety disorder, you may also encounter mental and emotional signs and symptoms that impact your thoughts and feelings.

    These could appear as:

    • feelings of dread before work, school, or social events
    • fear, stress, or panic in social settings
    • “brain fog” during conversations
    • intrusive thoughts about social situations
    • feelings of loneliness or social isolation
    • fatigue after socializing
    • hesitance to speak up, for fear of offending others
    • difficulty making eye contact
    • low self-esteem

    Social anxiety disorder can be a lonely experience, but it is important to remember that you are not the only one going through it.

    There are people who have found effective ways to manage their social anxiety symptoms, and you can too. It is important to keep in mind that everyone’s mental health journey is unique, and it may be helpful to approach your symptoms with patience and understanding.

     

    Types of social anxiety disorder

    Social anxiety disorder can vary in appearance depending on the individual. Mild, moderate, or severe symptoms may be present in those with social anxiety disorder, and these symptoms may cause mild, moderate, or severe impairment in daily life. According to NIMH, a survey conducted by Harvard University from 2001 to 2003 estimated that a portion of adults in the United States experienced social anxiety disorder.

    • 31.3% had mild impairment
    • 38.8% had moderate impairment
    • 29.9% had serious impairment

    Also, you may experience only fear or anxiety in one specific type of social situation or numerous social situations. And sometimes, social anxiety disorder involves specific fears. These can include the fear of:

    • public speaking
    • talking with strangers
    • using a public restroom
    • eating in front of others
    • talking on the phone when others are present
    • being watched while working

    While the following list provides some common fears that individuals with social anxiety disorder may experience, it is not an exhaustive one. It is possible that different social situations, not listed here, can trigger social anxiety for some individuals.

    Social anxiety disorder and related conditions

    Around 90% of individuals with social anxiety disorder have comorbid conditions, which means that they have two or more conditions at the same time.

    Comorbidity with depression or substance use disorders is not unusual in people with social anxiety disorder.

    Moreover, it can be difficult to differentiate between social anxiety disorder and other conditions that have similar symptoms.

    Some of these conditions are:

    • Panic disorder
    • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Avoidant personality disorder
    • Major depressive disorder (MDD)
    • Substance use disorders (SUD)

    A therapist may want to assess whether you have any of the aforementioned conditions that share symptoms with social anxiety disorder in order to provide you with the most effective treatment.

    Do I have social anxiety disorder?

    If you suspect that you have social anxiety disorder, understanding the diagnostic process can be beneficial.

    Mental health professionals use criteria, which is essentially a checklist of symptoms, from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to evaluate and determine whether a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder is appropriate for you.

    When seeking a diagnosis for social anxiety disorder, a therapist might use the criteria outlined in the DSM-5. To assess if you’re experiencing symptoms of social anxiety disorder, the therapist might ask questions such as:

    • Do you often worry about humiliating or embarrassing yourself?
    • Do you feel anxious whenever you’re in certain social situations?
    • Do you avoid social situations because of anxiety?
    • When you feel anxious, is it mainly around people or when you think about interacting with people?
    • Do your fears include social situations involving strangers or the possibility of being judged?
    • Do you have panic attacks related to social situations?
    • Do you feel like you can’t stop worrying, even though you know your fear doesn’t make sense?
    • Does your anxiety negatively impact your day-to-day life, including school, work, relationships, or hobbies?
    • Has your anxiety lasted for 6 months or longer?
    • Do you have any other medical or mental health conditions?
    • Do you use any medications or substances?

    Social anxiety symptoms in children

    The DSM-5 states that social anxiety disorder typically develops in people between the ages of 8 and 15 in the United States.

    However, there are differences in how social anxiety disorder presents in children compared to adults.

    To diagnose social anxiety disorder in children, it’s important to consider whether they are able to form age-appropriate relationships, as specified by the DSM-5.

    Here are two questions to ask if you’re wondering whether a child has social anxiety disorder:

    • Are they anxious when spending time with friends their own age, or just with adults? A child with social anxiety will have anxiety around their peers.
    • Do they cry, throw tantrums, freeze, or hide from social situations or around strangers? While these symptoms may not be a sign of social anxiety in adults, they may be key manifestations of social anxiety disorder among children.

    To add to that, another crucial contrast between social anxiety disorder in children and adults is that children may not have the understanding that their fear associated with social anxiety is excessive, whereas adults usually have this knowledge. Children may struggle to distinguish when their fear is appropriate for a situation and when it is not proportionate.

    What’s next?

    If you feel that social anxiety is affecting your ability to function in daily life, seeking help may be necessary.

    This could be the case if you feel that social anxiety is hindering your career progress or preventing you from forming close relationships.

    Seeking assistance from a therapist or other mental health professional can provide valuable support in managing social anxiety disorder. Together, you can create a personalized plan that targets specific symptoms and difficulties related to social anxiety.

    There are numerous strategies for managing social anxiety symptoms.

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