Samara Berrios
PSYCH 424
September 21, 2022
The National Institute of Mental Health describes social anxiety as a persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others (NIMH, n.d). Help Guide (2022) explain some social anxiety triggers are:
- Meeting new people
- Making small talk
- Public speaking
- Performing on stage
- Being the center of attention
- Being watched while doing something
- Being teased or criticized
- Talking with “important” people or authority figures
- Being called on in class
- Going on a date
- Speaking up in a meeting
- Using public restrooms
- Taking exams
- Eating or drinking in public
- Making phone calls
- Attending parties or other social gatherings
Continuing, it is said that about 12.1% of US adults experience a social anxiety disorder at some time in their lives (NIMH, n.d). I too am part of this statistic, currently navigating through treatments for a social anxiety disorder. Like my others, my social anxiety begins from the anticipation of work events, family gatherings, and even outings with friends, then carries over to when I am there. However, I shocked to find this statistic lower than 20%, as I personally know many other who are also suffering from social anxiety disorders. Usually, people believe social anxiety is benign and believe it can be resolved with something to take the “edge off.” But is the solution just that simple?
It is often depicted in the media alcohol is needed and normalized to feel at ease in a social setting. Beyond alcohol people also may rely on other substances to help them decrease anxiety in a social setting. A study done by Buckner et al. (2021) investigates the relationship between the biopsychosocial model, social anxiety, and substance abuse. It is important to know individuals with elevated social anxiety are more vulnerable to substance use disorders such as alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes abuse (Buckner et al., 2021). In evaluating this relationship, it was important for the Buckner et al. to understand if substance use helped lower anxiety symptoms or increased them. As expected, it was reported those who consumed alcohol before a social event not only endorsed the use of alcohol but reported less symptoms of anxiety opposed to those who did not take alcohol (Buckner et al., 2021). Regarding cannabis usage, the study showed the low dosages of cannabis helped lessen anxiety symptoms while high dosages increased anxiety (Buckner et al., 2021). When looking into the relationship between e-cigarettes and anxiety symptoms, the researchers found no clear correlation in e-cigarettes reducing or increasing anxiety symptoms but understood that subjects used e-cigarettes to reduce protentional negative effects of social anxiety (Buckner et al., 2021).
To understand the relationship of biopsychosocial model, social anxiety disorder, and substance abuse, we must understand the biopsychosocial model. In short, the biopsychosocial model focuses on individual’s perception of their symptoms and how they and their families respond to symptoms they are experiencing. Continuing, the biopsychosocial model states the illness is caused by biological, psychological, and social factors and should be treated by behavioral changes such as coping strategies and change in beliefs (Taukeni, 2019). Anyone suffering from social anxiety experiences post-event processing, has low self-esteem, recognizes their own social deficits, has high social avoidance, and high physiological arousal (Buckner, 2021). When looking into the biopsychosocial model approach the goal is to decrease these negative symptoms the individual is experiencing through coping. The coping mechanism of substance use lowers psychological arousal, avoids evaluation from others, and helps manage post event processing. You would assume if substance use treats social anxiety all is resolved, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, the coping mechanism of substance use that leads to a substance abuse disorder (Buckner, 2021).
I know I explained what social anxiety is and the “bad,” or unhealthy ways to treat it. But I want to leave you with “good,” or healthier biopsychosocial solutions that can help you treat social anxiety. Remember, the biopsychosocial approach is all about coping strategies and a change in beliefs (Taukeni, 2019). The first solution is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on making changes to the way you think and feel about a situation. CBT helps identify patterns of thinking that causes you to avoid social situations which in turn will help you make changes to correct the behavior (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Continuing, another tip is practicing public speaking. A lot of times social anxiety stems from the fear of being judged for saying the wrong thing in a social setting. Practicing public speaking can help reduce anxiety because you can practice what you wanted to say beforehand and are less likely to be judge for saying the “wrong” thing (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). The last tip I want to leave you with is slowly exposing yourself to anxiety-inducing situations. This will help build your tolerance for anxiety (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). You start off small such as, making a public speech to one person and as you become more comfortable you continue to add more people to the group to give your speech. I hope you find these tips helpful!
References
Buckner, J.D., Morris, P.E., Abarno, C.N. et al. Biopsychosocial Model Social Anxiety and Substance Use Revised. Curr Psychiatry Rep 23, 35 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01249-5
Melinda. (2022, September 6). Social anxiety disorder. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder.htm
Taukeni, S. G. (2019, March 18). Introductory chapter: Bio-psychosocial Model of Health. IntechOpen. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/66183
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social anxiety disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/social-anxiety-disorder#:~:text=Prevalence%20of%20Social%20Anxiety%20Disorder%20Among%20Adults,-Based%20on%20diagnostic&text=An%20estimated%2012.1%25%20of%20U.S.,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives.
Zaleska. (2022, January 10). 6 ways to overcome social anxiety. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety/