Shyness vs Social Anxiety Disorder?

If you struggle with being nervous and uncomfortable in social situations, you are not alone. Approximately 40% of Americans report feeling shy. 

Shyness is feeling anxious and self-consciousness in the presence of other people due to concerns about being judged. Children who are particularly shy are at risk of developing Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) later in life. 

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) (formerly Social Phobia) is characterized by persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be embarrassing and humiliating. 

Both conditions involve feeling uncomfortable in social situations. Shyness tends to resolve after a person gets used to new people and new situations. But SAD is a more intense version of shyness that is associated with greater impairment, more chronic symptoms, and higher levels of avoidance.

SAD is experienced by roughly 7-9% of American adolescents and adults each year. It tends to be more prevalent among women. 

When you have to interact or perform with others, do you experience the following: 

• Blushing, sweating, trembling, feeling a rapid heart rate, or feeling your “mind going blank”?

• Feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach?

• Avoiding eye contact or speaking with an overly soft voice?

• Finding it scary and difficult to be with other people, especially those you don’t already know?

• Having a hard time talking to people even though you wish you could? 

• Feeling very self-conscious in front of other people?

• Fearing that other people will judge you? 

• Avoiding places involving people?

If you are experiencing symptoms of SAD, there are effective treatments that can reduce your anxiety and enable you to engage in social interactions with more ease. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD that can provide you with tools for reducing your anxiety and avoidance. 

CBT for SAD targets the affective, cognitive, and behavioral reactions associated with social anxiety. Affective responses include physical feelings of anxiety such as muscle tension, increased heart rate, sweating, and upset stomach.

Cognitive responses tend to reflect excessive self-consciousness, negative self-appraisals and irrational beliefs such as, “Everyone is staring at me.”

Behavioral responses typically include shutting down, trying to hide, not speaking to others, avoiding eye contact, and avoidance behaviors. 

To learn more about CBT for social anxiety, contact Dr. Combs-Lane. 

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