Millions of Americans suffer from some form of anxiety. One of the most common is social anxiety. This is a pattern of anxiety symptoms – psychological and sometimes physical – that make it difficult or unpleasant to navigate social interactions.
Social anxiety should not be confused with simple introversion, a personality trait where people feel energized by alone time and need to “recharge” after being social. Nor is it the same as a specific fear of certain social interactions, like dating or public speaking.
Instead, social anxiety impacts most or all social interactions to at least some extent. It may be reduced around people you know very well, but constant when dealing with strangers in public.
To see if you may be a sufferer, take this simple anxiety test:
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Have you canceled social plans two or more times in the last year due to anxiety?
When you’re conditioned to expect an experience to be negative, a pattern of avoidance often develops. Avoidance becomes more likely when the date of a difficult event approaches, which may cause sufferers to change plans at the last moment.
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Do you often procrastinate rather than enter situations requiring social interaction?
Rather than a symptom of laziness, procrastination is often caused by anxiety. Sufferers often feel that if only they had a little more time, their performance in the situation could be far better. Later, they won’t feel more confident – so the pattern repeats.
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Do you dread routine social interactions like phone calls or ordering food?
“Transactional” social interactions, like calling to make an appointment or ordering food at a restaurant, are among the most simple. Still, many social anxiety sufferers feel overwhelmed by what they perceive as subtle social cues they don’t feel they can interpret.
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Do you avoid social interactions by using online shopping or other services?
There’s nothing wrong with using an app or website for convenience. However, some social anxiety sufferers end up doing this without noticing or realizing why. Avoiding all incidental social contact can suggest deep discomfort with social interaction.
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Do you “clam up” or experience sweating, rapid heartbeat or hyperventilation?
Not all people who experience social anxiety get panic attacks. However, many will. These can come on suddenly or arise after thinking about a planned future interaction for a long time. Physical symptoms point to a deep-rooted issue.
If you answered yes to three or more questions above, you may have social anxiety disorder.
Synergy Research Centers
With treatment, many social anxiety sufferers find lasting relief from their worries. Effective treatment facilitates new coping skills to re-engineer how you think about social situations. You can access cutting-edge care by joining a study at Synergy Research Centers. Please contact us for further information.