Overthinking & Social Anxiety
One of the things that comes up most often when you have social anxiety is overthinking. This is the root of all those fearful emotions and negative feelings when you are going to be around other people. While they can be linked, overthinking is not the same thing as social anxiety. Here are some things to consider so you understand the difference.
Shyness and Social Anxiety
The first thing you should understand is that being shy is not the same thing as having social anxiety. While it is possible to suffer from shyness and social anxiety, they can also happen separately. With shyness it is more about feeling a little vulnerable around new people, but you eventually open up to them in the right circumstances. You can also have phases where you feel fine being around other people, even if you don’t talk to them. With social anxiety, any social situation makes it hard to deal with, even something like walking down the street or being in a restaurant. It’s not just talking to people but being around them in general that becomes debilitating.
Identifying Overthinking
Many people with social anxiety will also overthink, which is what leads to their fear, but these are also not the same thing. Some people simply overthink things but can calm themselves down enough to handle social situations. With social anxiety, it is much more difficult to handle, even if you are not overthinking too much. With overthinking, your thoughts get the better of you. You often get wrapped up in what could or couldn’t happen, and then that can lead to feelings of anxiety, worry, and fear. When you can identify how this starts, you will hopefully find a way to reduce your anxiety as well.
How They Can Be Related
Overthinking can lead to worsened social anxiety symptoms. Perhaps you have this generalized fear of being around large groups of people but can usually get through it okay if you have the right mindset. On the other hand, if you tend to overthink, you are worried about what they will say, do, or think, that they will judge you, and then all those worries and fears come up to the surface and make your anxiety a lot worse. This is often where the panic attacks come from.
Signs of Social Anxiety
Social anxiety comes with worry and fearful thoughts when you are going to be in a social situation. This can be anything from going to a restaurant to your first day at a new job. If you have odd feelings when in a social situation, you might not realize this is what you have. Here are some common signs of social anxiety in adults.
Physical Symptoms
Social anxiety presents many of the same symptoms as when you have other forms of anxiety. However, it usually only happens when you are in a social situation or when there is an event coming up you are afraid to participate in. These physical symptoms include having a rapid heart rate, blushing, sweating, getting tunnel vision, trembling and shaking, or having muscle twitches. It can range from having butterflies in your stomach to feeling like you are going to have a heart attack. These are signs of panic attacks, which frequently accompany social situations when you have social anxiety.
Emotional Symptoms
There are also a lot of emotional and psychological symptoms of social anxiety, often more prevalent than the physical symptoms. You should look at how you are feeling and what you are thinking about when you get into social situations. Do you suddenly have an intense worry when walking into a crowded coffee shop, or do you become easily embarrassed when anyone calls out your name in front of a group of people? These are signs of having social anxiety. Here are some other emotional signs of this type of anxiety:
You are constantly afraid of being judges
You think you will humiliate yourself
You avoid talking to people from this fear
You are afraid of being obvious, like blushing or trembling
Other Symptoms
You may also have social anxiety when you practice avoidance. This is when you find yourself constantly avoiding people or situations, like never going to happy hour or out with co-workers even though you like their company, or canceling plans with family or friends. It isn’t the people inviting you, but the thought that others will be there and getting into a situation that makes you fearful of what might happen. If you are too afraid to get into a relationship because you fear all the embarrassing things you might do or say, that can also be social anxiety. Pay attention to all signs, whether obvious or subtle.
Learn More about Therapy for Anxiety, Overthinking, and Rumination by Clicking Here
Most importantly remember you do not have to live this way, you deserve to live the life you want! Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Overthinking are all treatable. If you’re finding yourself stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious please call or email me for a free, no obligation, consultation. heather@setsailtherapy.com 317-648-9295.
