Social anxiety can take on many forms, but most generally it involves a pervading fear of interacting with others. While an official diagnosis requires evaluation by a licensed professional, there are a few signs that may indicate a problem. Here are five common signs that you might have social anxiety disorder.
Your personal life is suffering.
Many people dealing with social anxiety find that their personal life begins to suffer. This includes withdrawing from friends and family members you normally enjoy spending time with and stopping hobbies or other fun activities due to fear or ridicule or judgment.
Your career is suffering.
Social anxiety is not only crippling personally; it can endanger your job security as well. If you find yourself mortified at the prospect of having to speak with your boss or even merely eat lunch with your co-workers, these should be an indicator that something is wrong. While most people experience at least some degree of self-consciousness in the workplace, if it’s making it difficult to do your job, there’s a good chance you could be experiencing full-blown social anxiety.
You’re unreasonably worried all the time.
It’s quite normal to develop some anxiety before big events, such as a presentation at work or getting engaged. However, if you find yourself preoccupied with worry for weeks or even months before the big day arrives, this may be a sign of social anxiety.
You have low self-esteem.
One of the primary symptoms of social anxiety is an overwhelming fear of judgment or ridicule. If you’re constantly worried that others are thinking poorly of you, this could be a good indicator of the condition. As with the other signs, it’s normal to experience this vulnerability to a certain degree, but if you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of self-judgment, it may be time to seek help.
You’re constantly sick.
While most of the symptoms associated with social anxiety are psychological, it is possible for physical symptoms to manifest as well. These include things like nausea, muscle tension, and headaches. Individually, these symptoms may not be an indicator of social anxiety, but if you’re experiencing them in conjunction with some of these other signs mentioned earlier, there’s a good chance they’re related to the condition.
