What Is Social Anxiety And Can It Be Treated?
Social anxiety, (which is also known as social phobia), is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear, discomfort, or avoidance of social situations, activities, or events due to a fear of being judged, rejected, or embarrassed.
If you have social anxiety you may experience physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, or experiencing a fast heartbeat when in certain social situations.
You may feel self-conscious, experience negative self-talk, or feel as though you are being watched or scrutinized by others.
If you are struggling with social anxiety or excessive shyness you know that it can be very frustrating and can have serious impacts on your relationships, functioning at work, self-esteem, and overall mood.
However, the good news is that social anxiety responds very well to therapy and help is available here in Halifax.
If you would like assistance for overcoming shyness and feeling more comfortable in social situations, we welcome you to book an appointment with our Halifax psychologists, or complete the form at the bottom of this page.
We offer both in-person and virtual therapy.
We offer supportive, evidence-based, scientifically validated therapy and custom match every client with a therapist who best suited for your needs and goals in counselling.
If you have social anxiety you may experience physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, or experiencing a fast heartbeat when in certain social situations.
You may feel self-conscious, experience negative self-talk, or feel as though you are being watched or scrutinized by others.
If you are struggling with social anxiety or excessive shyness you know that it can be very frustrating and can have serious impacts on your relationships, functioning at work, self-esteem, and overall mood.
However, the good news is that social anxiety responds very well to therapy and help is available here in Halifax.
If you would like assistance for overcoming shyness and feeling more comfortable in social situations, we welcome you to book an appointment with our Halifax psychologists, or complete the form at the bottom of this page.
We offer both in-person and virtual therapy.
We offer supportive, evidence-based, scientifically validated therapy and custom match every client with a therapist who best suited for your needs and goals in counselling.
What Are The Diagnostic Criteria For Social Anxiety?
|
According to The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), you may meet the diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia if you:
|
|
- Almost always experience this fear or anxiety when you are exposed to the feared social situation
- Recognize that these fears are excessive or unreasonable, but still cannot control the fear or anxiety
- Often avoid the fear social situation(s) or endure them with intense fear or anxiety if they cannot be avoided
- Experience significant impairment in other areas of your client (e.g., social or occupational) as a result of the fear, anxiety, or avoidance
- Have experienced the excessive fear or anxiety for at least six months
What Causes Social Anxiety?
Just like most other areas of our mental health, social anxiety is likely a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
Some possible factors that may contribute to social anxiety include:
Genetics
If you have a family member with social anxiety you may be more likely to develop it yourself. Research suggests that social anxiety may have a higher heritability rate than other forms of anxiety, with studies finding a 27-56% heritability rate.
Environment
Experiences such as teasing, bullying, or rejection in childhood or adolescence can contribute to social anxiety.
Psychological
Low self-esteem, perfectionism, and negative self-talk can all contribute to feelings of anxiety in social situations.
Cognitive
Certain patterns of thinking or beliefs may contribute to social anxiety, such as worrying excessively about what others think, fearing rejection or failure, or expecting the worst-case scenario in social situations.
Developmental
Certain personality traits or temperament, such as being more introverted or sensitive, may increase the risk of social anxiety. Experiences in adolescence, such as a lack of social skills or limited social experiences, can also contribute to the development of social anxiety.
Some possible factors that may contribute to social anxiety include:
Genetics
If you have a family member with social anxiety you may be more likely to develop it yourself. Research suggests that social anxiety may have a higher heritability rate than other forms of anxiety, with studies finding a 27-56% heritability rate.
Environment
Experiences such as teasing, bullying, or rejection in childhood or adolescence can contribute to social anxiety.
Psychological
Low self-esteem, perfectionism, and negative self-talk can all contribute to feelings of anxiety in social situations.
Cognitive
Certain patterns of thinking or beliefs may contribute to social anxiety, such as worrying excessively about what others think, fearing rejection or failure, or expecting the worst-case scenario in social situations.
Developmental
Certain personality traits or temperament, such as being more introverted or sensitive, may increase the risk of social anxiety. Experiences in adolescence, such as a lack of social skills or limited social experiences, can also contribute to the development of social anxiety.
Is Social Anxiety The Same As Shyness?
|
While social anxiety and shyness share some similarities, they are not identical.
Shyness is a common and generally temporary feeling of self-consciousness, discomfort, or awkwardness that may occur in certain social situations but does not necessarily interfere with your ability to function or interact with others. Social Anxiety Disorder, on the other hand, is a more severe form of clinical-level anxiety that causes significant distress and interferes with your ability to participate in daily activities and/or maintain relationships. |
|
How Does Social Anxiety Change Over Time?
Social anxiety can affect people of any age. However, it most commonly begins in adolescence and young adults, and tends to peak in the twenties.
Symptoms of social anxiety can change and evolve over time. For some people, symptoms may subside or reduce with age, especially with counselling. Others may experience worsening symptoms or new challenges with social interactions.
The way social anxiety presents itself can also change over time. For example, a person who experiences social anxiety in childhood may have more generalized fears about social interactions, while an adult with social anxiety may have more specific fears about public speaking or job performance.
Symptoms of social anxiety can change and evolve over time. For some people, symptoms may subside or reduce with age, especially with counselling. Others may experience worsening symptoms or new challenges with social interactions.
The way social anxiety presents itself can also change over time. For example, a person who experiences social anxiety in childhood may have more generalized fears about social interactions, while an adult with social anxiety may have more specific fears about public speaking or job performance.
What Are The Negative Impacts Of Social Anxiety?
Possible ways social anxiety can affect the quality of one's life include:
- Social isolation and avoidance of social interactions
- Low self-esteem and negative self-concept
- Depression and other mental health problems
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or stomach aches
How Can We Help With Shyness & Social Anxiety?
Therapy, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), is very effective in treating social anxiety.
Counselling with one of our psychologists can you identify and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to social anxiety, can teach coping skills and strategies to manage anxiety, and can offer a controlled, safe and supportive environment for you to gradually face your feared social situations.
In therapy, you can develop more realistic and balanced perspectives, reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, and build confidence and self-esteem in social interactions.
Counselling with one of our psychologists can you identify and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to social anxiety, can teach coping skills and strategies to manage anxiety, and can offer a controlled, safe and supportive environment for you to gradually face your feared social situations.
In therapy, you can develop more realistic and balanced perspectives, reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, and build confidence and self-esteem in social interactions.
Let's Get Started.
We are conveniently located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and have many clients from the areas of Bedford, Sackville, Clayton Park, and Dartmouth.
We provide in-person and online therapy to all of Nova Scotia and also offer virtual counselling to clients in New Brunswick.
Please complete our short request form below and we will be in touch asap with appointment options.
Confidential Contact - Counselling / Therapy
Green Leaf Psychological - Halifax, Nova Scotia
IMPORTANT
After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is often filtered into junk mail folders by mistake.
To prevent this from happening, please add [email protected] to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours.
Thanks!
After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is often filtered into junk mail folders by mistake.
To prevent this from happening, please add [email protected] to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours.
Thanks!
Green Leaf Psychological Services, Inc.