7 Things Only People With Social Anxiety Will Understand
(light music) – [Narrator] Hey,
Psych2go-ers, before we begin, we would like to thank you all so much for your love and support for our channel. Psycho2go’s mission is to make
psychology and mental health knowledge more accessible to everyone, and we hope we’ve helped
you along the way. Now, let’s begin. As a child, I loved to be
the center of attention. I wasn’t afraid to introduce
myself or speak up, but now there are days
when I find it difficult just to look someone in the eye.
It was frustrating to watch
my peers build relationships with ease while I struggled just to make a connection at all. For years, I blamed shyness
and lack of self-esteem for these changes. But it wasn’t until college that I truly learned about social anxiety. Just as with any mental illness, social anxiety affects
everyone differently. For me, it even changes
from moment to moment. Sometimes my nervousness
reveals itself in stuttering or repetitive speech. Other times I freeze. I’ve learned a myriad
of coping mechanisms, some more helpful than others, and techniques to understand
the root of my anxiety, but none have been more
beneficial than therapy.
Finding communities such as Psych2go, where I have a voice as
well as a support system to reach out and relate to, also helps me practice using my voice with confidence. Even when I feel so fragile
that I could shatter. It’s okay if you don’t feel
ready to join a community or speak up about your experiences, but the team at Psych2go wants you to know that we are here. Here are seven things people with social
anxiety will understand. Number one, being social can be draining. While not everyone with social
anxiety is an introvert, many people can feel exhausted
after a social event. Worrying can be tiring and trying hard to keep your anxiety under control while interacting with others can be enough for you to
require time to recharge for the rest of the day.
It’s okay to push yourself to be social, but be sure to know your
limits and respect them. Pushing yourself too far
may end in more anxiety and exhaustion than you began with. And it’s important to
take care of yourself and your needs first. Two, you prefer texting over calling. Do you relate to the dread that comes when you receive a phone call? For some, they fear that calling someone will bother the other person. For others, they may
not know who is calling or know what to say when
they pick up the phone.
Calls can be sudden,
disruptive, and unpredictable, so you may worry about
what the other person is going to tell you. Number three, you feel anxious
without direct interaction. Sometimes you might feel
anxious without directly talking or interacting with someone. Just being aware that
someone is watching you can be difficult. For some, that occurs when they’re eating or doing other simple tasks. The fear can stem from judgment for doing something wrong or differently, but, more often than not,
people don’t pay attention as closely as they think.
Number four, when it comes to friends, quality is greater than quantity. Not everyone’s idea of
fun includes hanging out with a huge group of
people or going to a party. It can be intimidating to be around a lot of people you don’t know. And you’d much rather prefer to spend time with a few close friends. The beauty of life is that no
two experiences are the same. So there’s a friend
out there for everyone. Even if you may be socially anxious. Five, it’s not all in your head. Social anxiety can manifest
as physical sensations for a lot of people. These symptoms are similar
to feeling embarrassed: sweaty hands, blushing, and hyperventilating, but can feel more
intense, and last longer. Facing social
situations can potentially lead to panic attacks for some people, while others feel physically ill or faint. These physical symptoms may be scary, but they rarely are threatening
to one’s immediate health.
Number six, you feel like
everyone is judging you. When you’re socially anxious, it can feel like you’re
under a magnifying glass all the time. You feel overly conscious about yourself and project those
worries onto other people about their perceptions of you, but just because you’re
monitoring every detail about yourself, doesn’t
mean everyone else is too.
In reality, people aren’t as
focused on you as you think, and they likely have
their worries too. And number seven, you
are your harshest judge. When you’re socially anxious, you might find yourself
comparing how you think, act, or look to others. This self-criticism can
seriously hurt your mental and emotional health, and it’s important to treat yourself more kindly. While it might feel like
others make connections more easily or have it so well, it’s important to remember that everyone is going through their things, and they have worries and
concerns just like you do. When it comes to social anxiety, it can be hard to interact with people or make friends when
you’re overly worried.
The truth is though, there is no normal when it comes to being social. Everyone has their own way
of socializing with others. And you’ll find someone
who you connect with on the same level. There’s nothing
wrong with leaving early or spending another night
at home with your dog. We hope you enjoyed this
and found some comfort. What have your experiences
been with social anxiety? Leave a comment down below
to share your thoughts. If you enjoyed our video, please give it a like and
subscribe to our channel for more content like this. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in the next one.
My 6-step formula for GCSE exam success. Achieve a top grade in all your GCSE exams whilst spending half of your time doing the things you enjoy. I explain why note-taking is NOT the way ➯➱ ➫ ➪➬ The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private schools in Scotland may choose to use GCSEs from England.
