Origins Of Social Anxiety

Origins Of Social Anxiety

Every wonder why some people just can’t seem to relax? They’re often high strung and appear to always be on edge. There are a lot of names for this behavior but there’s a common term starting to emerge in describing particular ‘nervous’ behaviors.

That term is social anxiety and it’s been identified as playing a part in various related disorders, many requiring counseling and often medication. In this piece we’re going to look a little at the symptoms of social anxiety and what may be causing them.

What Causes Social Anxiety?
It seems our culture is rapidly changing. What was once considered society has morphed into more of a pop culture. The news is filled with celebrity gossip, political scandal and sensational crime stories. And people are yearning to be like their heroes in every way.

This isn’t actually a new phenomenon. Folks have always had glamorous role models. But from where I’m sitting, the importance people place on celebrity worship is becoming problematic.

You might ask what this has to do with social anxiety. A lot, actually. When people strive for goals that are unrealistic they are certain to meet with frustration as they fall short. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t have goals. I’m actually a big fan of setting goals and working to achieve them. I guess where the problems start is when someone chooses to emulate a star and has no resources to even come close to getting similar results. Eventually the individual starts to feel anxious and depressed, yet they have no idea why.

A Willing Accomplice On Madison Avenue
Perhaps advertisers understand human psychology better than any other group, including people commonly recognized as experts. Their job is to get us to buy things. And they do that in large part by associating products with popular or glamorous people.

We’ve all seen commercials where an individual wants something. It might be more money, health, love, leisure time, the list goes on. So how do advertisers sell the idea? They associate the desire and attainment of the desire with an alluring personality.

And before long, people associate love, health, beauty and just about everything else with a particular persona, one that is omnipresent in our culture. How many young girls want to be just like Brittany Spears? Many. We’re constantly seeing celebrities in the limelight and we’re made to think the limelight is paradise. Unfortunately many people buy into it.

Unrealistic Goals Lead To Frustration and Anxiety
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be more, to do more, to be popular. But problems arise when false expectations meet reality. Not every woman can be like the woman in the commercial who takes a headache tablet or a diet potion and spends the rest of the day waltzing through her chores in an evening gown. And not every man can look like Brad Pitt, be suave like George Clooney, dance like Patrick Swayze once danced, or take charge like Tom Cruise.

And when we buy into the fantasy manufactured by the media, movies, TV, reality shows, celebrity magazines and all the rest, it continuously pounds us, day in and day out. The illusion is the perfect setup for disappointment and anxiety.

That disappointment is spawned by believing we aren’t good enough unless we come across like one of our heroes. When we constantly hear that we need to look a certain way, smile with perfect teeth, perform sexually like we were still 18 and be as trim as Paris Hilton we begin to feel inadequate if we don’t meet those expectations.

About Us | Terms of Service | Contact | Privacy Statement