Social anxiety

The Summary of the Article

  • Social anxiety is common: Many people experience nervousness in social situations. Around one-fifth of adults feel social anxiety at some point, and for about 5%, it significantly disrupts their daily life. One-third of university students struggle with anxiety in situations like performing or socializing.

  • Nervousness is personal: Everyone experiences nervousness in their own way, whether it’s meeting strangers, giving presentations, or group work. Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing pulse or trembling voice, are common and can vary in intensity.

  • Attitude toward anxiety matters: How we interpret our nervousness influences whether it worsens or eases. Approaching nervousness with compassion rather than fear can help reduce its impact.

  • Causes of social anxiety: Social anxiety can be influenced by genetics (about a third) and environmental factors, including upbringing, past trauma, or learned behaviors.

You can read the full article below.

Feeling nervous is a natural part of life. Almost everyone gets nervous sometimes. Especially in situations where we are faced with an unexpected challenge, nervousness is a very common reaction. Interaction situations also cause nervousness for many people. Social anxiety refers to nervousness and anxiety that occurs in interactions, causing significant functional impairment and individual suffering.

For some, anxiety and fear are mostly related to specific situations, such as performing or eating. For others, anxiety is more widespread and occurs in social situations with strangers and also with people they know.

Around one-fifth of the adult population experiences social anxiety at some point in their lives. On the other hand, fear of social situations causes a significant disruption to daily life for five per cent of the population. Around one-third of university students finds social situations, such as performing, problematic because of anxiety.

Everyone gets nervous in their own way

Social anxiety is usually associated with fear of being criticised by others, of embarrassment, and of being rejected. These experiences are difficult and contribute to obstacles to studies, relationships, and mental wellbeing.

Nervousness is also individual. Different people find different social situations uncomfortable. For example, one person is nervous about meeting strangers, another about giving a presentation, and a third about working in a group.

Nervousness is felt both in the body and the mind: flushing, pulse racing, voice trembling, and thoughts racing. Our attitude towards these sensations has an essential influence on whether the excitement increases or decreases.

If we interpret these feelings as threatening and shameful, it is likely that the nervousness we experience will increase. Instead, a gentle and compassionate approach towards these feelings will reduce our experience of nervousness.

Reasons behind social anxiety

Fear of social situations is influenced by both individual and environmental factors. It is estimated that about one-third of social anxiety is genetically determined, i.e. dependent on a person’s innate temperament.

Environmental factors also contribute to one’s fear of social situations. Harsh, controlling parenting styles, learned behaviours, or traumatic experiences such as bullying may contribute to the development of social anxiety.

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