Social Anxiety

Almost everybody tends to feel a little anxious or embarrassed in front of others now and again, though some of us are more shy than others. Unfortunately, this anxiety can become so intense that it stops us from doing the things we enjoy.

What exactly is this social anxiety then?

Social anxiety is used to describe feelings of anxiety and fear that occur in response to social situations. For instance, do you experience an intense feeling of anxiety or distress in any of the following social settings?

  • Presentations or talking in front of people

  • Being the centre of attention

  • Meeting new people

  • Parties and social gatherings

  • Being watched whilst doing something (i.e., eating, drinking, signing your name)

If you answered yes to any of the above then it is possible that you might have social anxiety. Regardless of the social situation, you may experience the following:

  • Thoughts

    • What are other people thinking of me? (i.e., how I look, how I sound)

    • I am going to mess this up

    • I am different / weird

    • I am odd one out

  • Bodily Sensations

    • Heart palpitations

    • Sweating

    • Nausea

    • Butterfly stomach

    • Blushing

    • Dry throat

    • Dizziness

    • Trembling / shaking

  • Behaviour

    • Avoidance: due to the intense anxiety and distress experienced in social situations, you avoid attending and try to escape as many as you possibly can.

“Avoidance doesn’t solve anything; it merely serves as a temporary salve.”

- Tony Dungy