Written by Seoyoon Eunie Choi
You stumble over a phrase, and you pause. Your palms start to get clammy and your mind is in a frenzy, trying to search for the right words. You stammer your way through the rest of your sentence, and wait with bated breath for the other person’s response. They give you a warm smile and continue on with the conversation, as if nothing happened. But even hours after that interaction has ended, you find yourself replaying the same dialogue in your head over and over, narrating it with your own post-conversation thoughts. “I probably looked like such an idiot.” “I bet they think I’m stupid and incompetent.” “They’ll never want to talk to me again.” You might have social anxiety disorder—but you still beat yourself up over each infinitesimally imperfect interaction you have. In a tremendously rapid-paced and unforgiving society such as our own, you may often find it difficult to stay afloat, just barely scraping by as each day brings with it new trials and tribulations. This is not only in accordance with school or work performance, which many consider their largest impingers, but also with social relationships and interpersonal occurrences. And while social interaction comes naturally to some, for others, it is the single greatest affliction they face daily. Talking to, meeting, and creating relationships with people can cause extreme fear and anxiety for them. This is what we refer to as “social anxiety disorder”, or “social phobia” (“Social Phobia”, 2020). Social anxiety disorder is much more than just a shy personality or being a homebody. It’s a gripping fear that affects people’s daily lives, work or school relationships, and self-confidence. People with social anxiety disorder find themselves ceaselessly worrying over seemingly innocuous everyday activities such as talking on the phone, shopping, or ordering food, being concerned about physical expressions of anxiety such as blushing or sweating, or feeling constantly judged and criticized by others (“More Than Just Shyness”, n.d.). They often have accompanying mental health issues such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression, or panic disorder (“Social Phobia”, 2020). Thus, it is clear that social anxiety disorder can have a significant impact on mental health, not only because of its effects on the mind but also because of the unwelcome footprints it leaves on people’s personal lives. Humans are, by nature, social creatures, and we love acceptance and fear rejection or ostracism. But when it comes to the point that daily functioning is made difficult and social interaction just seems like a constant uphill battle, a significant strain on mental health can be left behind. Thankfully, there are resources and treatments for social anxiety disorder. Prominent advancements have been made in contemporary treatment protocols for social anxiety disorder such as “cognitive therapy (CT), behavior therapy, social skills training, and . . . interpersonal psychotherapy,” as well as various medications (Hofmann, 2020). These treatments can help ameliorate the debilitating effects of social anxiety disorder, and aid in decreasing the onus of social interaction for those who struggle significantly with it. One crucial thing to remember when examining conversations on mental health disorders, or disorders in general, is not to self-diagnose. So if you’re reading this and thinking, “Hey, I think I might have social anxiety disorder,” do not stop there and treat your self-identification as equal to that of a professional. Seek out help from someone who truly understands the implications of this disorder, and move from there. With the right people and resources, your social life and mental health may be improved by tenfold. However, just because you do not get diagnosed with social anxiety disorder does not mean your potential feelings of nervousness in social settings and hesitance to meet new people are not valid. Some people just find social interaction to come less naturally to them than others—we are all unique with our own idiosyncrasies, and that is what makes us human. Your mental health is ever-changing and extremely particular, and anxiety in certain social settings, regardless of whether or not you are diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, may have an impact on it. It is up to you to decide if you act upon your inner hunch about your social anxiety, but just remember to always respect the different ways people interact, and to cut yourself some slack when you make mistakes in interaction. We are, after all, all the same kind of humans. Works Cited Hofmann, Stefan G. (2020, May). Advances in the Research of Social Anxiety and Its Disorder. Anxiety Stress Coping, 23(3), 239-242. doi:10.1080/10615801003612014. Social Anxiety (Social Phobia). (2020, March 13). The National Health Service. www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/social-anxiety/. Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness.
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