00:00Hey Psych2Goers and welcome back to another video.
00:09Before we start, we would like to give you a big thanks for all the support that you've
00:12given us.
00:13Psych2Go's mission is to make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone.
00:17Now, let's begin.
00:19Are you extremely afraid of being judged by others?
00:23Are you very self-conscious in everyday social situations?
00:26Do you avoid meeting new people?
00:29These are all trademark signs of social anxiety, which affects approximately 15 million people
00:35in the United States alone.
00:37Social anxiety disorder is classified as a significant amount of fear, embarrassment,
00:42or humiliation in social or performance-based situations.
00:46It goes far deeper than mere shyness.
00:48Where shyness is more of a personality trait, social anxiety disorder can cause significant
00:53disruption of your daily life.
00:55Before we begin, we would like to mention that this video is created for educational
00:59purposes only and is not intended to substitute a professional diagnosis.
01:03If you suspect you may have social anxiety disorder or any mental health condition, we
01:07highly advise you to seek help from a qualified mental health professional.
01:11With that said, here are 9 things that social anxiety makes us do.
01:161.
01:17Repeatedly double-checking the location and time.
01:19Do you find yourself repeatedly checking your phone to make sure you're in the right place?
01:24It can be terrifying for those with social anxiety to arrive late or walk into the wrong
01:28room, so double or even triple-checking information is a must.
01:32Even if you know you've got the details right, it can bring you peace of mind just to make
01:36sure.
01:37It may be the difference between walking in with confidence or hesitation.
01:422.
01:43Rehearsing conversations in your head ahead of time.
01:46While this may be a subconscious practice at first, many people who face social anxiety
01:50rehearse things they're going to say before they have the actual conversation.
01:54This often begins as imagining future conversations or running through a list of important points
01:59to discuss.
02:01Some people find it more helpful to physically practice having a conversation as well.
02:05That being said, not everyone who rehearses their conversations beforehand necessarily
02:09has social anxiety.
02:11Memorization and practice are both common tools to aid you in feeling nervous, whether
02:15you're anxious about public speaking, talking to a specific person, or being social in general.
02:223.
02:23Avoiding phone calls.
02:24Even though it's become a bit of a joke among millennials and Gen Zers who prefer to text,
02:29avoiding phone calls is actually a fairly common behavior for people with social anxiety.
02:33Psychologist Lindsay Sharfstein told Headspace,
02:36Anxiety is typical for all of us.
02:39It's a universal emotion that we can all relate to.
02:41For the most part, we know that individuals are not afraid of phones.
02:45They have phones in their office, backpack, purse.
02:48What they're typically afraid of is the evaluation or judgment that may happen when they're on
02:53a phone.
02:54This may be why some people prefer to text instead of talk on the phone.
02:58The more distance one can put between themselves and the other person, the more comfortable
03:02they generally feel interacting.
03:044.
03:05Faking phone calls.
03:06Have you ever pretended to be in the middle of a call just to avoid talking to someone?
03:11Or worn headphones to discourage others from approaching you?
03:14Although it's safe to assume that phone calls are not something that people with social
03:18anxiety look forward to, faking a call can come in handy.
03:22It can be a lot easier to act busy rather than face the awkwardness of an unwanted conversation.
03:27So this can become a habit of avoidance if you have social anxiety.
03:315.
03:32Constantly worrying about how everyone sees you.
03:36According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, those with a social anxiety disorder
03:41are increasingly concerned about how they are perceived by others.
03:45The last thing they want is to come off as awkward, fumbling, or boring.
03:50You've likely felt this way at some point throughout your life, whether it's the desire
03:54to fit in with friends or making a good impression on a potential employer.
03:58With social anxiety, however, this pressure to perform feels constantly heavy and can
04:03lead to full-blown panic attacks when in social or performance-based situations.
04:086.
04:09Feeling lonely, even when you're surrounded by people.
04:13People with social anxiety can share this feeling with those who battle depression and
04:17other mental illnesses as well.
04:19So, unfortunately, a lot of people can relate to this isolating feeling.
04:23When social anxiety keeps you from being your true self, it can be difficult to feel included
04:28at all.
04:29It's frustrating to be close to others, but not be able to connect with them in a comfortable
04:33way.
04:34If you're struggling to properly communicate and are extremely hesitant to even start a
04:38conversation, that adds to your feelings of loneliness, even when you're surrounded by
04:42others.
04:447.
04:45Clenching your teeth and other physical discomforts.
04:48Do you feel shaky or light-headed when faced with a social situation?
04:52Does your heart rate speed up?
04:54Or do your hands tremble?
04:56The stress that comes with social anxiety can manifest through physical symptoms.
05:01Many of the symptoms are signs of nervousness, such as sweating, flushing, and feeling shaky.
05:06According to Myoclinic, you might also be dealing with muscle tension, feeling that
05:10your mind has gone blank, or have trouble catching your breath.
05:158.
05:16Obsessing over how you look.
05:18When you're constantly worried about how others perceive you, you're likely to be concerned
05:22with how you look as well.
05:24You might have a distorted body image and think that you're less physically attractive.
05:28Your thoughts can flit from your hair to your clothes or flaws in your skin, to thinking
05:33that it's just all wrong.
05:35In an attempt to feel comfortable in your own skin, you might spend an inappropriate
05:39amount of time and money on fixing your appearance, such as shopping for better clothes, getting
05:44high-end beauty products, or going on diets if you think you're overweight.
05:499.
05:50You feel more like yourself around the people you're comfortable with.
05:54You think you're picky about who you spend time with?
05:57In Triumph Over Shyness, Conquering Social Anxiety Disorder, Dr. Murray B. Stein and
06:02John R. Walker discuss behavior in children called selective mutism.
06:07This is when a child speaks and acts normally around select individuals, but is completely
06:11silent around everyone else or when placed in certain situations.
06:15This is a more extreme example, but it shows how those with social anxiety are more likely
06:19to relax and open up around people they already know and trust.
06:24Do you or anyone you know resonate with any of these points mentioned in this video?
06:28If you're concerned about social anxiety disorder, we encourage you to speak with a mental health
06:32professional.
06:33They can help you overcome any fears or debilitating problems you might have.
06:38If you enjoyed watching this video, give us a thumbs up and share it with someone who
06:41might find it helpful as well.
06:42The studies and references used in this video are listed in the description below.
06:46Don't forget to hit the subscribe button for more Psych2Go videos and as always, thanks
06:50for watching and we'll see you next time.
