Social anxiety can be challenging to live with. Learn more about the different types of social anxiety.

Social anxiety is a specific anxiety response that is related to social situations. How this looks and how people respond to it can vary significantly. Some people have mild social anxiety, while others can find themselves experiencing high levels of distress. Social anxiety is often broken down into different types when approaching treatment. In this article, we will share what you need to know.

Social Anxiety: What You Need to Know

There are two commonly accepted “types” of social anxiety that are currently acknowledged. However, many believe that we will categorize it further with time. When you are seeking treatment for social anxiety, your therapist will likely want to explore your experience and what causes your anxiety to worsen. Let’s explore this in more detail.

Generalized Social Anxiety

Generalized social anxiety is a very broad kind of social anxiety. In general, it means that you experience anxiety in response to a variety of social situations. This might include everything from speaking in public platforms or meetings to large gatherings. What matters is that the anxiety response is related to the presence of people.

Non-Generalized Social Anxiety

Non-generalized social anxiety is more specific than its generalized counterpart. With a non-generalized anxiety disorder, it is common to experience social anxiety in response to more specific situations. This might be about your role in a specific situation or just the situation itself. For example, you might be anxious specifically about dances, parties, or speaking out in meetings, but otherwise fine in unrelated situations. This means that you might be fine going to a party, but you might struggle to open up at work.

Social Anxiety by Outcome

Many people believe that it is possible that we will later categorize social anxiety by the outcome as well. Some people have an anxiety response because of their specific reaction to a situation. They might be afraid that they will blush or possibly look anxious. It is possible that this will be a consideration down the line.

Seeking Treatment

Social anxiety can impact every facet of your life. Your personal and professional life can be impacted, and you might even experience distress. To explore your social anxiety and find helpful coping mechanisms, it is always a good idea to seek treatment with a professional.

The Takeaway

If you are looking for an anxiety therapist, Denver has plenty to offer you. There are plenty of people who experience some degree of social anxiety. It is fairly common and can be managed by working with a therapist. Anyone who experiences anxiety or stress in response to social situations can benefit from working with someone on specific coping mechanisms. Many people find that their social anxiety can lessen or even go away. Contact us today to learn how we can help.