CogniFit
  • Brain Health
  • Wellness
  • Mindfulness
  • For Educators
  • For Families
  • Research & Discoveries
  • News & Press
    • CogniFit News
    • CogniFit Timeline
  • Start Training
    • Google Play
    • iTunes
    • Cognifit.com
  • English
Wellness

Social Anxiety – It’s Not Shyness, It’s Suffering

by Robyn Hemington July 27, 2022
written by Robyn Hemington July 27, 2022
social anxiety

When people first think of social anxiety, they might imagine someone at a party, awkwardly standing in a corner, too shy to talk to anyone. But in most cases, that’s really not what’s going on.

Today we’re going to take a closer look at a condition that affects more people than you think as well as various symptoms and other useful information.

What Is Social Anxiety?

The full term is “social anxiety disorder”, but another term is “social phobia.” 

It’s an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. And when we say “persistent” it doesn’t mean for a few hours. Generally, doctors use a diagnosis standard of 6 months. However, using patient history coupled with what they’re going through at that moment, can significantly change this benchmark.

With this fear comes …

  • Worry or inability to do simple, daily tasks like talk on the phone, go shopping, work, etc.
  • Deep fear of being criticized, judged in any way or even noticed
  • Staying away from some or all social activities (even with good friends)
  • Going over past situations, thinking of “everything you did wrong”
  • Constant worry that you’ll do something embarrassing
  • Difficulty doing something when others are watching
  • Having low self-esteem and everything that goes with it
  • Difficulty making eye contact
  • Physical reactions like nausea, racing heart, sweating, trembling, or panic attacks
  • (In children) crying, tantrums, or clinging/hiding behind parents

Note: If someone is scared of doing something in front of others (e.g. public speaking), and the fear goes away after, this is usually called “performance anxiety.” It’s sometimes included under this umbrella under the label “specific anxiety disorder”.

For people who suffer from this disorder, common things like entering a room where there are other people or returning an item to a store might feel impossible. Even little things like going outside to walk a dog can feel monumental.

More Common Than You Think

It’s easy to dismiss something like this. But did you know that social phobia is now the THIRD largest mental health problem in the world? The only two things that outnumber it are alcoholism and depression.

Millions of people around the globe suffer from this disorder in one way or another. The other interesting thing is that numbers have only skyrocketed since COVID. After lockdown, people everywhere expressed problems getting back out into society.

The issue is there is still a lot of stigma around mental health. People are often uncomfortable talking about even little things. So, imagine trying to tell someone you care about that you’re having a panic attack in the middle of the supermarket because you’re terrified people are watching and judging everything you do.

Sometimes, people might not even know they are suffering from a social anxiety disorder.

Also, people going through this condition are well aware that their thoughts are unfounded. They know that no one is judging them for wearing sweatpants to the market and using the self-checkout instead of the cashier line.  But this is on a logical level. Emotionally, they are breaking down inside and ready to collapse on the floor from hyperventilation.

Social Anxiety Treatments

The good news is that there are many avenues to help someone with this disorder. However, no two people are the same. This means that it might take some maneuvering and experimentation to find what really works for that person.

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy – This is basically identifying negative thought patterns and changing them into neutral or positive ones. It can be done alone, with a therapist, or anyone that provides healthy support.
  • Support Groups – They might do group CBT or other forms of help. However, please remember that these places should never force anyone to do anything they’re not comfortable with or ready for. Meaning if the person wants to sit, just listen, and never say a word, then that’s okay.
  • Medication – There are far too many out there to list, and they should only be prescribed by a medical professional. But some people have found this route works well too. In general, you’ll find these meds fall under a beta blocker, anti-depressant, or anti-anxiety category.
  • Positive Environment – This can be a sub-topic of CBT or support groups, but it’s worth mentioning that creating a calm, positive environment can work wonders. This can include things like getting rid of toxic friends or taking away key stressors. For example, you can order food online instead of having to go outside. This lets you create an environment that helps you make easier baby steps.

Social Anxiety – End Thoughts

The key takeaway to this entire article?  Social anxiety disorders might last a few months or even a lifetime, but it’s quite manageable. It’s just a matter of finding the right combination of aids that works for that person. You’re not alone and there is help out there.

anxietydisorderemotionsstress
Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
IQbe Game – Push Your Brain With Patterns
next post
10 Types of Dementia – From Picks to Lewy

You may also like

Alzheimer’s Caregiving – 5 Tips to Care for...

August 15, 2022

Toxic Positivity – What Is It & How...

August 8, 2022

15 Benefits of Yoga – Improving Your Body...

August 2, 2022

Poor Hygiene and Mental Health – 10 Tips...

July 18, 2022

Perimenopause – What Most Women Aren’t Told

May 26, 2022

Assessment cognifit

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • About CogniFit
  • Cognitive Skills
  • Scientific Validation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Help Center

@2022 - All Right Reserved. CogniFit

CogniFit
  • Brain Health
  • Wellness
  • Mindfulness
  • For Educators
  • For Families
  • Research & Discoveries
  • News & Press
    • CogniFit News
    • CogniFit Timeline
  • Start Training
    • Google Play
    • iTunes
    • Cognifit.com
  • English
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT