What is Social Anxiety?

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So what is social anxiety? Well, social anxiety usually develops as a result of worry and negative expectations about social interaction. Negative outcomes are possible for just about any interaction, and social anxiety sufferers tend to dwell on all those negative possibilities that could happen - perhaps embarrassment, judgment, failure, rejection, and so on. Eventually the subconscious begins to interpret these feared mental images as real danger -- you're imagining all those uncomfortable scenarios with horror, and sooner or later your mind reacts to them as reality and says "Hey, whatever it is that you're doing or about to do, avoid it". The way it sends you this message is by giving you the sensation of fear -- putting you into a self-preservation mode with the classic "fight or flight" response of adrenaline.

You may not be aware of this dynamic when it occurs because you don't have any actual visual danger that you'd normally associate with adrenaline, but try comparing the sensation of fear and adrenaline to the sensation of social anxiety and you'll recognize the similarity. Symptoms of social anxiety may start with elevated heart rate and a general sense of nervousness, but over time can evolve into a wide variety of things: sweaty palms, fatigue, indigestion, lightheadedness, panic sensations, and so on. You may want to consult with a medical professional to rule out other physical causes, but know that all of these symptoms are common results of social anxiety.

We could literally spend dozens of pages discussing the ways in which people experience social anxiety as various symptoms, sensations and behaviors. But from personal experience, I can say that it's usually not necessary to understand all the mind-body connections before overcoming social anxiety. The truth is, while it's comforting to confirm that your reactions are being caused by anxiety, you'll probably discover that as you start overcoming social anxiety, whatever the sensation is that's bothering will probably just disappear.

To have some anxiety and stress in life is actually not a bad thing. To be a little worried about an upcoming exam motivates us to prepare for it; Some nervousness while giving a speech can be transformed into alertness and enthusiasm. Even complete fear and terror is useful in truly dangerous situations, when we need to take action to protect ourselves. But in daily life, excessive social anxiety is counterproductive - the ever present feeling of nervousness and paranoia can make you feel constantly awkward, and prevent you from engaging in potentially rewarding interactions or forming meaningful relationships. If we attempt to avoid or eliminate all the social situations that cause anxiety for us, we'll eventually find our lives limited to a very small social circle. Furthermore, excess anxiety can even be physically dangerous, as it has been associated with suppressed immune function, increased blood pressure, and a wide variety of diseases. Of course, it doesn't make sense to start worrying about that, but physical health is one more reason to start taking measures to reduce your anxiety levels.

NEXT PAGE: My Social Anxiety Treatment