Social Anxiety? You gotta read this…
Friday, May 17, 2024. This is for JD.
Dealing with social anxiety disorder can feel like navigating a maze filled with walls that whisper doubts and fears.
Making friends might seem like an impossible feat, but here’s a hopeful message: you’re doing better than you think.
A recent study brings some uplifting news for those with social anxiety disorder. It reveals that while you might feel your friendships aren’t the best, your friends see you in a much more positive light.
Finding Hope in Friendships: A Social Anxiety Perspective
Dr. Thomas Rodebaugh, one of the study’s authors, provides some comforting insight:
“People who are impaired by high social anxiety typically think they are coming across much worse than they really are. This new study suggests that the same is true in their friendships.”
How the study was conducted
The research involved 112 participants who brought along a friend from a non-romantic relationship. This setup allowed researchers to assess the friendship from both perspectives. Some participants had social anxiety disorder, while others did not.
Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness
Social anxiety disorder affects about 1 in 8 people.
It’s much more than simple shyness; it’s a debilitating fear of social situations that can pervade every aspect of life.
This fear can cause folks to avoid work and social opportunities due to the dread of meeting new people or the terror of being rejected or embarrassed.
The Findings…
Dr. Rodebaugh explains the study's findings:
“People with social anxiety disorder report that their friendships are worse, but their friends didn’t see it the same way. Their friends seem to say something more like: ‘It’s different, but not worse.’ The friends of people with social anxiety disorder did seem to be aware that their friends were having trouble. Additionally, they saw the person with social anxiety disorder as less dominant in the friendship.”
Younger folks with social anxiety were particularly prone to believing their friendships were weaker than they actually were.
A Ray of Hope
Dr. Rodebaugh offers a hopeful takeaway:
“Current treatments focus, in part, on helping people with social anxiety disorder see that they come across better than they expect they will. Our study suggests that’s true for specific friendships as well.”
Final thoughts
If you’re struggling with social anxiety, remember this: your friends likely see the value in your friendship more than you realize.
Your perception of yourself and your relationships can be clouded by your anxiety, but the reality is often much brighter.
Keep reaching out, keep engaging, and keep believing that you are more than your anxiety.
Friendships, though they may seem daunting, can be a source of strength and joy. You are not alone, and you are valued more than you might ever know.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Rodebaugh, T. L., Lim, M. H., Fernandez, K. C., Langer, J. K., Weisman, J. S., Tonge, N., Levinson, C. A., & Shumaker, E. A. (2014). Self and friend’s differing views of social anxiety disorder’s effects on friendships. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(4), 715–724. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000015
