Where Does Social Anxiety Come From?
It's human nature to crave connection with other people. It's one of the most basic needs that we all have. However, even though it's natural to crave social connection, socializing doesn't come naturally for everyone.
It seems as if people want to spend time with us at every turn. Our social battery can quickly fill up with spouses, children, parents, family members, and friends. While some people thrive on this lifestyle, it can be overwhelming for others.
Experiencing social anxiety is more common than many people think. It's not that somebody is necessarily shy or doesn't want to socialize. Social anxiety is a little more complex than that.
What Is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety occurs when somebody experiences intense fear or anxiety in social settings. Often, this manifests when someone is in a crowd, in group gatherings, presenting in front of others, or meeting new people. It can also occur when someone is in a small group.
Signs of Social Anxiety
No two people will experience anxiety in the same exact way. However, some of the most common signs of social anxiety are:
Blushing
Difficulty speaking
Avoiding social situations
Avoiding crowds or even going to the store
Increased heart rate
Feeling clammy/sweaty
Not making eye contact
Feeling self-conscious
Muscle tension
Feeling nauseous
Intense fears about being social
Fear of being judged.
What Causes Social Anxiety?
There is no singular cause that makes social anxiety happen. There are a variety of factors that can influence it, though. Biological, genetic, environmental, and life experiences can cause social anxiety. It can also impact anybody at any age.
What causes social anxiety will vary in each individual person. Here are some of the most common reasons why social anxiety occurs in individuals.
Fear of Being Judged
We all want to make a good first impression, but for some people, this desire overshadows everything. Many people with social anxiety fear being judged by others. They may fear being judged for their hair, appearance, clothes, how they talk, or what they say. This fear, in turn, can cause someone to clam up and fear any social situation.
Past Negative Experiences
It's a fair assumption that we all have had social interactions turn out poorly at some point. Maybe someone made a mistake in a presentation or slipped up and said something embarrassing. Whatever the experience may have been, it can carry into future interactions.
Someone who has social anxiety will often think back to every mistake or social situation that did not go as planned. As a result, it causes them to have an intense fear of what could possibly go wrong in each conversation.
Other Causes
Of course, those aren't the only reasons why someone can develop social anxiety. Some other common causes of social anxiety are:
Physical, sexual, or mental abuse in the past
History of anxiety disorders in the family
Presence of other types of anxiety disorders
Presence of other mental health conditions such as depression or PTSD.
Personality disorder
Chronic health issues
How To Get Help With Social Anxiety
Unfortunately, social interactions with others will happen regardless of your feelings about them. For many people, social anxiety goes beyond being shy or timid. It's a real condition that can impact every area of a person's life. It can be a very frustrating experience when you crave social connection but fear it at the same time.
There are many different options to treat social anxiety and other anxiety-related disorders. For example, having a good self-care routine, practicing deep breathing, and educating yourself about anxiety can be tremendously beneficial to begin overcoming social anxiety.
Remember, it won't be an overnight process, but you will find that with anxiety therapy, you can overcome it. Reach out to us to learn more.
