For most people, some social situations can be a little scary. Asking someone on a date or even having a conversation with a stranger can intimidate the average person.
But for some people, just the thought of going into a public place or using a public restroom can set off a panic attack, said Ancy Cherian, a clinical psychologist at UCLA’s Student Psychological Services.
“Social phobia is a pretty significant fear in social situations ““ usually that fear revolves around being evaluated by someone, criticized or judged in some way,” Cherian said.
She said it is that the fear can have catastrophic results on a student’s social, academic, and personal life unless treated.
“Social phobia really occurs when it starts taking control of people’s college lives, people’s academic lives or people’s social lives,” Cherian said.
She also said that social phobia can be differentiated from shyness or a lack of desire to socialize.
“People have different levels or interests in socializing … but when someone wants to be social, but can’t, they may have an anxiety disorder.” Cherian said.
“If someone can successfully live their life, that’s one thing. But if someone is unhappy about that quality of life, that’s another thing altogether,” she said.
She said that esteem issues, such as personal appearance, may affect how that person feels in a public situation.
“Someone may be late, and think “˜God I’m fat,’ or ‘They think I’m a smoker,’ and panic because they think everyone is judging them,” she said.
Cherian added that a side effect of this experience may be a student who refuses to attend class after such an experience.
“They might think … instead of being late, I’ll just skip class altogether,” she said.
But according to Lobsang Rapgay, an assistant clinical professor and researcher at UCLA in the department of Psychiatry and Behavorial Sciences, determining who has a social disorder may be tricky.
“These patients are more competent and have sophisticated coping mechanisms … it makes it hard for others to know. You can have an anxious social student, but they can cover it up,” Rapgay said.
For example, when doing group projects, people with social anxiety appear normal but are uncomfortable and usually have trouble paying attention since they are preoccupied with their own anxious thoughts, he added.
According to Psychology Today, effects of having social phobias can range from agoraphobia, the fear of public places, to a fear of public speaking.
“Social anxiety is very prevalent … someone who is shy during childhood can continue through adulthood and become a bigger problem.” said Melody Keller, a sixth-year clinical psychology doctoral student.
She added that the affects of the disorder on students may be an avoidance of going to parties and other social gatherings, trouble initiating conversations and hesitance in making telephone calls.
Rapgay said social phobias are a double-edged sword.
He said that people with social anxiety disorders are unhappy alone, but ultimately prefer it to avoid being around people for fear of being judged.
“People with social anxiety tend to prefer to be with people and want support ““ that is their internal need. Unfortunately, the anxiety self-defeats, and they are in a perpetual state of distress,” Rapgay said.
He added that moderate social anxiety is often prevalent in incoming freshman, though it’s usually a natural occurrence.
Krishan Sharma, a third- year student in mathematics, said that though he does not experience social anxiety himself, he has seen others who have.
“I’ve mostly just experienced anxiety before tests … but I have seen people freeze up when a teacher asks them a question … they freeze up for like 30 seconds because they think they’re supposed to know it,” Sharma said.
Cherian said for those who need it, therapy is available at UCLA Student Psychological Services.