“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”
This quote is from French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre on anguish, his belief being that people exist in continuous anguish though not because of a depressed mindset, but that people are “condemned to be free.”
Social anxiety hears this point of view and actively discourages what it stands for: living with freedom and enjoyment. It holds its shackles on the parts of life with human interaction and forces the person to stay trapped and chained.
Social anxiety in a psychological sense, is defined as an “intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others.”
In teenagers, this can manifest in a variety of ways, from avoiding social gatherings to struggling with everyday conversations.
Social anxiety can have overwhelming effects on someone’s daily life.
It tends to hinder social interactions and relationships, seeing as those with social anxiety usually stay away from social situations in the first place, even those that are essential for personal growth.
This evasion of any human interaction that can be seen as awkward can lead to isolation, which limits one’s ability to form meaningful connections, find romantic partners, or advance in their careers. The fear of judgment or scrutiny in social settings can chip away at self-esteem and self-confidence over time, creating a cycle of avoidance and anxiety that just pushes someone further and further away from any interaction at all.
In addition to this, the consequence of social anxiety extends to student’s academic life. Individuals with this condition may struggle in school as they can find it a formidable challenge to participate in group activities such as giving presentations or engaging in teamwork.
Many a time this happens, it’s brushed off as being “shy” including by the media representation that social anxiety receives which is actually about the amount of space in a corner for a kindergartener to fit in for time out.
Social anxiety can be a deeply distressing experience for those who struggle with it. To someone with social anxiety, the anticipation of social situations can evoke an intense sense of dread and apprehension.
In an interview with tenth grader, Olivia Smith who has social anxiety herself, stated that it “feels like there’s a threat but there is none.” Most people fall under the “it’s not that I don’t want to, but I’ve never been known for being known” category when it comes to social anxiety, however it’s not the same for everyone. People with large and small social circles alike have social anxiety in fact.
Even the most routine social interactions, like attending a social gathering, speaking up in a meeting, or simply making small talk, can feel like impossible challenges.
People have experienced a racing heartbeat, and a sense of impending doom as they can see the possibility, no matter how slim, of negative judgment or embarrassment.
Furthermore, social anxiety tend to lead to a fear of being scrutinized, making social encounters feel like a sort of emotional minefield. Every word and action becomes a source of self-critique, then causing a sense of self-consciousness and a never-ending belief that they are being looked at and perceived by others which is terrifying.
