Blogs

As humans, we have a natural desire for human connection and social interaction with others. In fact, without it, we risk harming our physical, emotional, and mental health.

With that said, socializing doesn’t come naturally or without some element of struggle for everyone. Social batteries can become drained. Certain situations can be triggering. Circumstances can make different engagements feel uncomfortable and overwhelming.

Social anxiety can manifest in several different ways. You may find yourself panicking in large crowds or when you attend functions or group gatherings. You may feel jitters or perspiration when giving a presentation in front of a group. Meeting new people and making small talk in those settings can feel stressful.

As with any other anxiety type, there isn’t just one cause for social anxiety. Here, we’ll discuss some of the more common root causes impacting social anxiety. 

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Anxiety can make day-to-day functions a struggle for people who suffer from it. Social activities can be difficult, reading social signs or conforming to social norms is harder, and controlling your thought processes may feel impossible.

Memory is one thing that can be affected by anxiety. Recent studies have shown that people who demonstrate anxious behaviors are also more likely to falsify memories. How does anxiety correlate with false memories? 

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Stressful situations, whether in your personal or work life, tend to be met with a stress response. Anxiety makes you feel on edge and can negatively impact your ability to do day-to-day functions.

High-functioning anxiety looks a little different and may be less noticeable to the outside world. Even those who experience it may not be aware of it themselves. 

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For starters, congratulations! You have taken a step forward onto new and exciting adventures! You should be so proud and hopefully celebrating the next chapter in your life. 

No matter how great of an opportunity it is, and maybe due in part because of the opportunity, it is likely you have the new-job jitters. Change and new opportunities can be intimidating.

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Adulting is hard! Read that one more time. Adulting is hard. When children transition to young adults, many of the comforts and supports that are so familiar begin to disappear. The expectation of being independent can be overwhelming in today’s world. There is no shame in saying that being a grown-up can be scary sometimes.

What should seem like an exciting time is often viewed with nervousness, uncertainty, and fear. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Roughly 30% of young adults struggle with a mental health disorder. Around 40% go untreated. Anxiety about being a grown-up isn’t as uncommon as it may seem. Times have changed, and with that evolution came more stressors and pressures. 

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Anxiety is a mental health condition where you experience persistent worries daily. It seems like these worries are never-ending, where they interfere with your day and even your sleep. But have you experienced physical manifestations as a result of your anxiety? This is when your anxiety is no longer just mental but tells yourself and everyone else you know when you are anxious.

You may experience tics like a spasm in your arms, eyes, legs, or throat muscle when you are anxious. It could be a few days before these symptoms disappear. This is merely your body going into survival mode when you feel threatened. These anxiety tics can be hard to hide from others. If others point them out or you notice these tics, it is important to go into treatment for anxiety to gain more control over your life.

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When you overthink, you may believe that you are solving problems. In reality, your mind is just producing new problems to ponder. Overthinking can be a real struggle if your thoughts get in the way of living your life. Anxiety treatment can make a helpful difference.

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Your own family may include a mix of those who want to get vaccinated, those who do not, and those who have concerns. What do you do when you have decided to get vaccinated, but members of your family remain undecided or refuse?

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For some, summer isn’t necessarily a carefree, relaxing time. In fact, if you’ve experienced increased anxiety during the summer, you’re not alone. This is counterintuitive to how we typically think of summer. However, there are a number of reasons your anxiety can increase.

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It’s safe to say that the times we’re living in now are stressful for many, if not most, of us. The pandemic’s effects have been many. And, of course, life can be incredibly stressful whether or not a pandemic is in play. Employment or lack of it, health concerns, family demands, and so much more can weigh heavily on you.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, no matter the cause, it’s critical to take steps to reduce your stress. There are many helpful things you can do on your own. You can also consider reaching out to a therapist for telehealth sessions during this time.

As you learn how to reduce your own stress, you can also positively impact those around you.

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Do you find that you’ve been feeling more angry or frustrated in the last several months? Do you feel like the stress of life under quarantine is pushing you to the edge?

If you do, it’s understandable. After all, anger is a normal response when we experience considerable changes in our lives that are entirely out of our control. It takes time to adapt to significant changes in your routine and daily life. And some things naturally create more anger-inducing stress.

Massive amounts of time cooped up with your family — as much as you love them — can easily cause irritation and anger. Job loss, the loss of friends and family due to distance or death, and your regular life interruption are very frustrating. All of these changes may also lead to anxiety, which can manifest as anger.

But it’s essential to find a safe way to manage and discharge your anger to slow its effects or consequences. Fortunately, this is possible.

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An infinite number of topics exist for people to disagree on.

There are the smaller ones, of course—where to have dinner, what show to watch, or which sports team is the best. Even these can cause hard feelings. And then there are significant issues, like politics, climate change, race relations, and how the pandemic is being managed.

Often, we hold our views very dearly. We’re passionate about our opinions, perspectives, and understanding. So how do we handle it when we encounter people who have opposing views?

Depending on your personality, you may thrive on debate and not experience any sense of embarrassment or anger when interacting with someone who sees differently than you do.

Many people, however, feel anxious just thinking about this situation. You may sense your pulse quickening, breath rate increasing, and muscles tensing when you imagine it.

There are things you can do, though, to help keep such conversations and interactions calm and maybe even productive.

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Does it seem like the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced you into a standstill?

Like so many Americans right now, you may be feeling like your life has been put on a forced life pause, through no choice of your own. You’ve likely been at home, unable to participate in your long-familiar activities and routines.

You could be laid off or trying to work at home with distractions and cabin fever. Travel plans have been canceled, and kids’ camps and family reunions are postponed. Time with friends is a thing of the past. Along with millions of others, you’re waiting and wondering when you can get on with your life again.

Despite the frustration, there are some things you can do during this time of limbo.

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Unfortunately, it can seem challenging to sleep well during a crisis. That said, experiencing nightmares during a crisis is not uncommon, either. Any crisis can cause them, whether it be the ramifications of the current pandemic or other personal circumstances.

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