Social Anxiety In Women
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a persistent fear of one or more social situations (such as talking to peers, interacting with new people, or attending a party) or performance activities (such as public speaking) where a person encounters unfamiliar people or situations and may fear facing possible scrutiny, embarrassment, or other negative evaluations from others. It is among one of the most common mental disorders, affecting about 5.3 million people according to WebMD.
Gender Differences in Social Anxiety Disorder
Studies have found differences in how social anxiety disorder affects men and women.
Higher prevalence among women:
According to Asher and colleagues, women have higher rates of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) compared to men on a consistent basis. This difference may also be greater among adolescents. In fact, findings on gender differences in prevalence rates have remained consistent across studies around the world, even using different designs (like epidemiological studies and longitudinal studies), indicating that the gender difference is significant.
Greater severity in women:
Women reported greater clinical severity compared to men on a number of symptom measures according to Asher and colleagues (2017). Women consistently had greater levels of fear and avoidance compared to men. In addition, women experienced higher anxiety levels in comparison to men both in terms of the anticipation of and brief exposure to a social anxiety provoking event. Women not only had higher levels of social fears, but had a greater number of social fears. Lastly, women with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) also reported higher levels of suicide ideation and had a much higher likelihood of having a comorbid diagnosis of a major depressive disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder?
Feelings
Self-conscious in social settings
Intense fear of judgement
Fear of embarrassment
Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
Fear that others will notice your anxiety symptoms
Anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event
Physical symptoms
Increased heart rate
Dizziness or light-headedness
Sweating
Racing thoughts
Trembling or shaking
Difficulty speaking
Avoiding eye contact
Upset stomach and nausea
Muscle tension
What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?
It is common to wonder what factors and life experiences have contributed to the development of social anxiety disorder. There are both genetic and environmental factors.
Genetics:
Some individuals have a higher predisposition to develop anxiety disorders because of an existing family history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. According to WebMD, if you have a family member with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), you’re more at risk for developing it.
Another genetic factor listed was that people with social anxiety may have an overactive amygdala, which is the brain part that controls fear and anxiety responses. If overactive, this means feelings of fear and anxiety are not properly regulated, and we often spend more time in fear and anxiety.
Environment:
The environmental factors relating to the development of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) includes experiences with abuse (whether physical, emotional, sexual) or bullying/teasing by peers.
In addition, experiences like family conflict, domestic violence, divorce, or death/abandonment by a parent can contribute to the development of social anxiety disorder. All the environmental factors listed can cause social interactions to become anxiety provoking for an individual, and later develop into Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).
Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder
The good news is that social anxiety disorder is highly treatable. A variety of treatment modalities are available.
Counselling:
Optimal treatment for most anxiety disorders includes counselling or talk therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy where people learn how to identify and modify distorted thought patterns that have an unintended influence on behaviors and emotions. CBT can aid in reducing the anxiety provoking thoughts and reduce the anxiety associated with social situations.
Exposure Therapy:
Oftentimes, exposure therapy intervention is used to decrease social anxiety by slowly exposing the individual to social situations that may be uncomfortable.
Medications:
The medications work by reducing the uncomfortable physical symptoms and negative thought patterns, in some cases even eliminating them.
Beta-blockers:
Although traditionally used in the treatment of heart issues, beta blockers have been found to be effective in treating SAD. More specifically, beta blockers address the social anxiety that individuals experience relating to performance activities, like public speaking.
Relaxation Therapy:
Relaxation therapy can help to manage and reduce the physical reactions associated with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Activities such as yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises have shown good outcomes for some people.
Frequently Ask Questions
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Here are some tips on how to manage symptoms of social anxiety disorder disorder:
Practice public speaking
Gradually introduce yourself to anxiety provoking situations
Reframe your thoughts
Take time to relax
Check in with yourself and be kind to yourself
Avoid relying on alcohol or substances
Practice yoga, meditation or breathing exercises
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It was found that individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are also highly empathetic in nature and in the way they communicate in social relationships (Byrne, 2022). If someone has high social anxiety, levels of empathy are also higher. Those who are highly empathetic can become emotionally invested and impacted by emotionally charged events and situations. In addition, individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) can extend this social phobia to worrying about the social wellbeing of others, especially those who they are close to.
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Social anxiety disorder and self-esteem are related through a factor known as connectedness according to Fatima and colleagues (2017). In general, self-esteem provides a buffer against anxiety. Through research, it was found that self-esteem negatively and significantly predicts social anxiety, which in turn is related to social connectedness. In other words, if an individual has low self-esteem, they are likely to socially isolate themselves and therefore experience diminished social connections and support.
Disclaimer
The information on this page, or elsewhere on this site, is not intended to take the place of diagnosis, treatment or informed advice from a qualified mental health professional. You should not take or avoid any action without consultation with the latter.
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References
Asher, M., & Asnaani, A., Aderka, I. M. (2017). Gender differences in social anxiety disorder.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(10), 1730-1741.
Byrne, S.E., Rapee, R.M. Empathic communication among women with high or low socialanxiety. Cog Ther Res 46, 114–123 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10248-y
Fatima, M., Niazi, S., & Ghayas, S. (2017). Relationship between self-esteem and social anxiety: Role of social connectedness as a mediator. Pakistan journal of social and clinicalpsychology, 15(2), 12-17.
Felman, A. (2020, October 7). What to know about social anxiety disorder. Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176891
WebMD. (2021, October 27). What is social anxiety disorder or social phobia? WebMD.Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety- disorder
Zaleska. (2022, January 10). 6 ways to overcome social anxiety. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety/