Did you know that about 12.1% of Americans experience social anxiety disorders at some point in their lives? So clearly, having social anxiety isn’t rare, but that doesn’t make your situation any easier.
When left unchecked, social anxiety can lead to other mental health problems including depression and substance abuse. In other words, it can seriously affect your quality of life as you get older.
So, if you think you might have social anxiety, it’s important to look out for these common social anxiety symptoms and get the help you need.
You Don’t Look Forward to Social Interactions
When you have social anxiety, you naturally become fearful of social interactions. So, if you find yourself always dreading social settings, you’re probably dealing with a social anxiety disorder.
This fear and anxiety come from the idea that everyone is judging you, and you assume that their evaluation of you is going to be negative. Moreover, you fear your own potential missteps during social interactions, which just aggravates the anxiety you’re already feeling.
The anxiety can make you feel and act very awkward in situations where you’re required to mingle with small or large groups of people. It can even be impossible to make eye contact at times. Over time, you just learn to fear social interactions in general.
People Often Tell You That You’re Shy, An Introvert, or Withdrawn
Very often, people with social anxiety disorders are forced to be part of social settings and situations for several reasons. However, when you have social anxiety, it almost always shows.
Do people often tell you that you’re too shy, withdrawn, introverted or quiet? These are all the characteristics that would also be seen in someone with social anxiety. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t want to talk or form social connections, but your anxiety does get in the way and makes you appear withdrawn.
You Feel Physical Discomfort and Display Physical Symptoms
Many experience social anxiety disorders, and those who may be higher up on the spectrum also display physical symptoms.
These symptoms may be very obvious, or they may be very subtle, i.e., only felt by you and not noticed by others. These range from blushing to trembling, sweating, experiencing a faster heartbeat, nausea, an upset stomach, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscle tension, and mental numbness.
These physical symptoms can be uncomfortable, and if you find them getting worse with each social interaction, it’s a good idea to reach out for help. You can contact us at Blossom Hypnosis, where we offer treatments for social phobia disorders. We also have experience treating anxiety and depression, so if you notice any social anxiety symptoms, get in touch.
You can reach out to us to learn more. Not ready to schedule an appointment? Learn how self-hypnosis can start your recovery from PTSD and depression.
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