How To Tell If You Have Symptoms Of Social Anxiety

Everyone has experienced anxiety at some point, such as feeling nervous around a first date, taking a high stakes test, or walking into a meeting late.  It is normal to feel nervous or worry around these things.  Worry and anxiety become problematic when it starts impeding your functioning or interfering with your activities.  For example, if you do not enter a meeting because you are late and you’re afraid, when you walk in everyone will stare at you or judge you.  Another example might be, not going on a first date because you are feeling so uncomfortable and tense at the thought of meeting this person and possibly being scrutinized as well as feeling fearful about having to talk with this person alone. 

You may find yourself avoiding events, activities or social gatherings to soothe the anxiety/nervousness/fear you are experiencing.  Avoidance behavior can lead to isolation as well as withdrawing socially.  Some people may utilize alcohol and recreational drugs to ease their fears and feelings of anxiety while socializing.       

Here are 5 signs you may have Social Anxiety as per the DSM-5:

1. Anxiety or fear specifically associated with social interactions and settings.  Fears may include social rejection and showing your anxiety in public, as well as being observed negatively by others. 
2. The idea of social interaction or actual social interaction will produce feelings of distress.  You may feel a strong desire not to attend the social activity, whether it is with friends, family or colleagues due to overwhelming feelings of anguish.  You may have an intense desire to avoid this event to calm the overpowering feelings of fear and rejection. 
3. The anxiety causes impairment in functioning such as difficulty with school, relationships or work.  An example would be not going to work because you do not want to go to an after work event or because you have to participate briefly at a meeting and you are so overwhelmed with fear that you cannot bring yourself to go to work.   
4. You experience a disproportionate amount of fear and anxiety related to the social activity or event.  This overwhelming fear and anxiety can also include physical symptoms such as sweating, a racing heart, upset stomach and your hands shaking.   
5. The fear and anxiety cannot be attributed to a medical disorder or another mental illness and these intense feelings last 6 months or longer. 

Social Anxiety Disorder affects approximately 7% of the population in the United States as per the American Psychiatric Association.  If you are experiencing some of these symptoms and would like to feel some relief, know that you are not alone!  As overwhelming as the thought may be, reaching out to a trusted loved one, family member or friend for support can be a great help.  Here are some tips to reduce anxiety:  http://www.droshea.com/blog/top-5-ways-to-reduce-anxiety-symptoms.  If you feel as though you have tried to reach out to your support system as well as trying other strategies and nothing is helping, it may be time to contact a mental health professional.   
 
Disclaimer:  This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment or therapy.  

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