The Effects of Social Anxiety

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Symptoms can be seen on three levels:

1.  Emotional and behavioral: Worry about humiliation, intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers, etc.

2. Physical: Fast heartbeat, trembling, sweating, muscle tension, etc.

3. Avoiding common social situations: Interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers, entering a room in which people are already seated, attending social gatherings, etc. 

Symptoms can be further explained in this infographic. 

Social anxiety creates an increased heartbeat. Therefore, as a response to mental stress from various social situations, heart rate complexity decreases.

Reduced heart rate complexity can be further explained in this infographic. 

People with social anxiety have difficulties using cognitive appraisal in their day-to-day lives, and therefore cannot easily subjectively interpret things. This means that at times, emotions can overtake logic in a situation.

There is a strong correlation between having social anxiety and feeling lonely. This does not vary over time with changing life factors, but rather stays relatively the same through adolescence as childhood. Loneliness can contribute to other effects of social anxiety, such as substance use and suicidal ideation. 

Individuals with social anxiety have been found to use substances more often, including tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs. They are possibly used as a self-medication mechanism. Amongst individuals with social anxiety, marijuana dependence is nearly five times more likely in comparison to those without social anxiety. 

Substance use can be further explained in this infographic.

There is an overlap between people who have social anxiety and people who have eating disorders because people with social appearance anxiety commonly have both disorders. Social appearance anxiety occurs when an individual is worried about being judged for how they look.

Many people with social anxiety also have depression. The greatest overlaps between the two disorders are fear and avoidance. 

Depression in relation to social anxiety can be further explained in this infographic. 

Some people with stronger social anxiety experience panic attacks. These often occur in stressful social situations. Not only do these individuals have stronger social anxiety, but they also likely have harmful coping skills and a higher risk for other psychiatric disorders. 

Anxiety and psychosis often occur together, with social anxiety being one of the most common types of anxiety seen in psychosis patients. This can lead to other effects of social anxiety, such as substance abuse and suicidal ideation. 

Suicidal ideation is experienced by nearly half of individuals with social anxiety. Common symptoms that lead to ideation include feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem, and the belief of being a burden. 

Suicidal ideation in relation to social anxiety can be further explained in this infographic.