Social Anxiety

  • Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But anxiety involves more than temporary worry or fear. For people with anxiety, the anxiety does not go away and can worsen over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.

    There are several types of anxiety, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and various phobia-related.

    All information provided on this page is from The National Institute of Mental Health at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

  • Generalized anxiety (GAD) usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread, which can interfere with daily life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events. People living with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years.

    Symptoms of GAD include:

    • Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge

    • Being easily fatigued

    • Having difficulty concentrating

    • Being irritable

    • Having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains

    • Difficulty controlling feelings of worry

    • Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • People with panic disorder have frequent and unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger or trigger. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder.

    During a panic attack, a person may experience:

    • Pounding or racing heart

    • Sweating

    • Trembling or tingling

    • Chest pain

    • Feelings of impending doom

    • Feelings of being out of control

    People with panic disorder often worry about when the next attack will happen and actively try to prevent future attacks by avoiding places, situations, or behaviors they associate with panic attacks. Panic attacks can occur as frequently as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year.

  • Social anxiety is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. For people with social anxiety, the fear of social situations may feel so intense that it seems beyond their control. For some people, this fear may get in the way of going to work, attending school, or doing everyday things.

    People with social anxiety may experience:

    • Blushing, sweating, or trembling

    • Pounding or racing heart

    • Stomachaches

    • Rigid body posture or speaking with an overly soft voice

    • Difficulty making eye contact or being around people they don’t know

    • Feelings of self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively

    Social anxiety (previously called social phobia): People with social anxiety have a general intense fear of, or anxiety toward, social or performance situations. They worry that actions or behaviors associated with their anxiety will be negatively evaluated by others, leading them to feel embarrassed. This worry often causes people with social anxiety to avoid social situations. Social anxiety can manifest in a range of situations, such as within the workplace or the school environment.

    Agoraphobia: People with agoraphobia have an intense fear of two or more of the following situations:

    • Using public transportation

    • Being in open spaces

    • Being in enclosed spaces

    • Standing in line or being in a crowd

    • Being outside of the home alone

    People with agoraphobia often avoid these situations, in part, because they think being able to leave might be difficult or impossible in the event they have panic-like reactions or other embarrassing symptoms. In the most severe form of agoraphobia, an individual can become housebound.

  • The risk factors for each type of anxiety vary. However, some general risk factors include:

    • Shyness or feeling distressed or nervous in new situations in childhood

    • Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events

    • A history of anxiety or other mental disorders in biological relatives

    If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, getting a physical examination from a health care provider may help them diagnose your symptoms and find the right treatment.

  • Stress management techniques, such as exercise, mindfulness, and meditation, also can reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance the effects of psychotherapy. You can learn more about how these techniques benefit your treatment by talking with a health care provider.

    All information provided on this page is from The National Institute of Mental Health at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders