My heart is racing and a million thoughts in my mind tell me what to say next. Anything. But all I can muster is a tiny nod. So many reactions and responses run through my brain but they won’t come out. So many things I can do but each one is muffled under the huge gaping thing in my mind telling me that saying anything would lead them to judge me.

That is one of the crushing consequences of struggling with social anxiety. Although this isn’t a rare disorder According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder say that they had experienced symptoms for around a decade before they reached out for help. This is largely because many individuals brush over the fact that this is an actual problem and isn’t just an individual who needs to come out of their shell or is just ‘shy’.

Social Anxiety Disorder may look like it’s just shyness, especially since it starts in most individuals’ adolescent years, but it is so much more than that. Being shy usually means that you’re nervous or uncomfortable in that particular social situation whereas social anxiety is much more severe and leans toward more of an avoidance of social interactions because you’re scared.

Getting more technical, according to the Merriam-Webster definition social anxiety is a form of anxiety that is brought about by social situations (such as meeting strangers, dating, or public speaking) in which embarrassment or a negative judgment by others may occur. Which makes sense and is completely valid but why is this a reaction only felt by some people? According to the Mayo Clinic, negative experiences are the main cause of social anxiety. Individuals who may have experienced bullying or humiliation are more prone to developing this disorder. But genetic factors sometimes also play a role; according to Healthline problems with neurotransmitters may lead to hormonal imbalance which further affects how an individual deals with their emotions.

Now that we’ve learned about the causes of social anxiety and what it is, let’s dive into how we can take steps toward getting over this fear.

First of all, build up your confidence. Be confident in yourself and what you’re doing because once you are, who’s stopping you from doing what you want? While struggling with social anxiety you have been telling yourself that people will judge you, they’ll make fun of you for what you say and it’ll be embarrassing and so you stop yourself from doing the things you may have been wanting to. But once you’re sure of yourself and are confident in what you do, there’s nothing to fear. I know this is easier said than done but you have to start somewhere. Try taking baby steps, test the waters, and start by picking out an outfit that you were too scared to wear because you weren’t 100% confident in but loved. Maybe even set a goal for yourself that you would talk to someone new, whether it’s at work or school. Slowly try new things, speak up about things you want to talk about, and do what you love.

Authored By: Poorvi Deshpande, Mental H2O Youth Resource Writer