Many people feel very nervous in certain social situations. For example, you may feel stressed out during an interview for a new job or when you need to deliver a speech in front of a big audience. Some people are shy and tend to avoid social interactions.
However, there are also people for whom such experiences can be more than stressful and inconvenient.
For people with social anxiety, social situations can be too difficult to handle. Social anxiety is a mental health disorder associated with an intense fear of social situations, especially if these situations are unfamiliar or if a person receives a lot of attention from others. People with social anxiety are afraid of being embarrassed and judged by others.
Even though such a fear might be irrational, it’s nevertheless difficult to overcome. People who suffer from social anxiety may avoid social interactions at all costs.
As a result, this disorder can negatively affect one’s relationships and overall quality of life, which is a reason why people who suffer from it often need therapy.
What Social Anxiety Is, and What Causes It?
According to research, about 12% of the world population suffers from social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, many people experience the symptoms of SAD without being diagnosed with it.
It’s also important to keep in mind that not all people who feel self-conscious and shy have this disorder. For instance, there is a difference between social anxiety and introversion.
Social Anxiety vs. Introversion
Unlike SAD, introversion isn’t a mental health disorder but a personality trait. Introverted people tend to spend a lot of time alone, and they may also avoid social interactions. Introverts are good listeners, and they are often careful in making decisions.
At the first glance, introversion and SAD may look similar, and the main difference between these things is that introversion doesn’t necessarily impact one’s quality of life. If you’re an introverted person, you don’t need to change it.
You may simply put some effort into developing your social skills so that it will be easier for you to communicate with others, but introversion itself cannot cause the symptoms of SAD.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
There’s nothing wrong with feeling stressed out before delivering a speech or being interviewed for a new job. SAD, however, can make a person feel so bad that they will experience problems with their everyday activities.</…….
