Social Anxiety - Are You Experiencing It?

Anxiety, or worry, can be experienced in a wide range of situations. Moreover, a situation that causes worry for one person may not lead to anxiety for another person. Social anxiety is the most common form of anxiety; social anxiety can be defined as the fear and worry that you will be negatively judged by other people in a social setting. About 26% of women and 19% of men experience social anxiety.

Is Social Anxiety the same as Shyness?

Social anxiety is often confused with shyness, but both are very different from each other. While people with social anxiety might also be shy, everyone who feels shy will not necessarily experience social anxiety. Shyness is a characteristic that makes you feel uncomfortable and apprehensive in social situations. In the case of shyness, it fades as you get more familiar or comfortable with different people and situations. On the other hand, social anxiety is not something that you can easily shake off - the worry or discomfort is not limited to a specific type of social situation and stays with you for a long while.

Are You Experiencing Social Anxiety?

If you think you might be experiencing social anxiety, and are unsure, it might be helpful for you to answer the following questions:

• Do you constantly feel worried about being judged?

• Do you worry about embarrassing yourself in a social situation?

• Do you see yourself as an incompetent person?

• Do you feel lonely on most days, and are unsure of how to socialise?

• Do you experience any physical symptoms (such as trembling, sweating, dizziness, difficulty breathing and/or increased heart rate) when you think of or actually are around other individuals?

• Do others around you often think of you as someone who is indifferent, aloof, nervous and unfriendly, even though you want to be sociable?

• Do you stay away from hobbies or social events fearing that you might be made fun of or be judged by others?

• At work, do you wish to avoid tasks that require you to work in a team/group?

• Do you feel left out at your workplace because your anxiety makes it difficult for you to socialise with your colleagues?

If your answer to three or more of the questions above was yes, you might be experiencing social anxiety. It is also likely that social anxiety has prevented you from achieving some of your personal and professional goals. This is understandable, as such anxiety can significantly impair multiple areas of your life, such as your performance at work, the quality of your personal relationships, as well as your physical health and immunity.

If you are experiencing social anxiety, you are perhaps already feeling weighed down by it. The inability to overcome it despite trying many things can create a sense of being drained and defeated. However, counselling or psychotherapy with a therapist can help you overcome social anxiety. It would provide you with a safe space to explore your concerns, find effective ways to manage worry, and build skills to cope well in social situations.