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Social anxiety, often also referred to as social phobia, can be hard to live with. If you are affected, you are probably all too familiar with the excessive fear of disapproval and negative judgment that go along with it. Recent research suggests that an imbalance in key neurotransmitters, including dopamine, might be one of the […]

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a frequent mental health condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Affected individuals commonly fear being disapproved of, rejected, or negatively evaluated by others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Recent research has shown a strong link between an imbalance of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the brain, and […]

Going to school and getting a basic education is a human right that not all children get to experience. For good reason, it is hoped that those who have the privilege of attending primary and high school will be grateful and take advantage of this possibility. That is why skipping classes is considered a trait […]

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is incredibly common, accounting for one of the most common mental health conditions in the world (Kessler et al., 2005). Even people who do not qualify for a diagnosis often struggle with social anxiety (Porter, Chambless, & Keefe, 2017), which can affect a range of different life domains. One of the […]

Contrary to popular thought, social anxiety disorder (SAD, also called social phobia) is not the same as shyness or introversion. While the latter describe quite common personality traits, the former is a mental health condition that requires professional treatment. SAD is marked by intense fear of being judged, negatively evaluated or rejected in social situations […]

This article includes recommendations for two books & an online therapy service that help with social anxiety. Some of our links may grant you a significant discount and we may earn a commission, which supports the maintenance of our website. You have just been called up in class. “Please read this passage out loud for […]

For most people, socializing with others is a natural process that happens almost automatically. Although they may experience some initial insecurity when meeting new people, they warm up quite quickly and can immerse themselves in conversation without any major problems. For others, meeting and interacting with strangers, or even with well-known people, represents an important […]

Relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, biofeedback and mindfulness meditation can successfully reduce anxiety for most individuals. However, this is not the case for everyone. For a certain subgroup of people, these same practices can have adverse effects, leading to increases in anxiety when engaging in them (Heide & Borkovec, 1983). Such […]

To some extent, social anxiety plays an important role for all of us. The psychosomatic arousal – alertness, shaking, sweating, etc. – is a signal from our bodies that it is important that we behave in a certain way, make good impressions, and help others to feel comfortable in our presence. These are the mechanics […]

There are many doubts that can make people feel anxious and insecure when going on a first date. “Do I look attractive enough?” “What are we going to talk about?” “Will I appear nervous?” “What if I say something stupid?” “What if we just sit their in awkward silence? Although these types of anxious thoughts […]

Living with social anxiety disorder is a daily struggle that goes beyond mere discomfort or occasional nervousness. It engenders a constant cycle of fear, shame, and sadness, significantly impairing one’s ability to function effectively in multiple areas of life. This debilitating condition is particularly challenging in the workplace, where social interactions and performance expectations can […]