Encouraged to see addressing loneliness positioned as a top public health priority.
To get there, social anxiety must be part of the conversation.
#SocialAnxiety
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To get there, social anxiety must be part of the conversation.
#SocialAnxiety
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https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/1653353795189973000
Social anxiety is a fear of being scrutinized, evaluated, and rejected.
People with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience distressing anxiety in many different social situations.
And it gets in the way of living the life they want to live.
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People with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience distressing anxiety in many different social situations.
And it gets in the way of living the life they want to live.
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Social anxiety can dictate everyday choices and big life decisions—friendships, career paths, dating, school performance, day-to-day errands, etc.
People with SAD often WANT to socialize and build strong relationships, but fear gets in the way. (researchgate.net/publication/35…)
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People with SAD often WANT to socialize and build strong relationships, but fear gets in the way. (researchgate.net/publication/35…)
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SAD is one of the most common mental illnesses in the *world.*(ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…)
And it's disrupting connection.
My lab asked ~270 adults each day for 14 days to describe their biggest barrier to feeing connected.
One of the most common barriers? Social anxiety.
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And it's disrupting connection.
My lab asked ~270 adults each day for 14 days to describe their biggest barrier to feeing connected.
One of the most common barriers? Social anxiety.
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Side note: the most frequent barrier to feeling connected was work obligations.
Sigh.
Part of addressing the loneliness epidemic will require structural changes that keep us isolated, tethered to computers, and time-strapped.
But we can also tackle social anxiety.
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Sigh.
Part of addressing the loneliness epidemic will require structural changes that keep us isolated, tethered to computers, and time-strapped.
But we can also tackle social anxiety.
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Education and healthcare settings are increasingly screening for depression. Good.
We can also screen for social anxiety — and we can do so with as few as 3 questions (verywellmind.com/mini-social-ph…).
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We can also screen for social anxiety — and we can do so with as few as 3 questions (verywellmind.com/mini-social-ph…).
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Why is early detection so important?
Because SAD typically develops early in life (~12-14 yrs old).
And data from several decades suggest that people are developing SAD earlier and earlier. (cambridge.org/core/journals/…)
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Because SAD typically develops early in life (~12-14 yrs old).
And data from several decades suggest that people are developing SAD earlier and earlier. (cambridge.org/core/journals/…)
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Check out this study of 142,405 ppl from 28 countries. (bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…)
Of adults with both SAD and Depression, 72% developed SAD first.
Of adults with both SAD and Substance use disorder, 81% developed SAD first.
Social anxiety increases risk for later problems.
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Of adults with both SAD and Depression, 72% developed SAD first.
Of adults with both SAD and Substance use disorder, 81% developed SAD first.
Social anxiety increases risk for later problems.
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And, yes, social anxiety increases risk for loneliness.
In a study of 1,010 adults aged 18-87 years, social anxiety symptoms (but not depression or paranoia symptoms) predicted future loneliness.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-21… (@drrodebaugh)
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In a study of 1,010 adults aged 18-87 years, social anxiety symptoms (but not depression or paranoia symptoms) predicted future loneliness.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-21… (@drrodebaugh)
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Loneliness and social anxiety create a vicious cycle.
In a study of 41,776 people (avg age = 15 yrs), loneliness and social anxiety were reciprocally associated over time (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30896228/).
Socially anxious -> lonelier -> more socially anxious -> even lonelier.
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In a study of 41,776 people (avg age = 15 yrs), loneliness and social anxiety were reciprocally associated over time (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30896228/).
Socially anxious -> lonelier -> more socially anxious -> even lonelier.
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And if we look nationwide, a study of 20,096 adults found that the STRONGEST predictor of feeling lonely was social anxiety. (journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.117…)
More so than age, sex, income, where people lived, marital status, education, or how much time they spent on social media.
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More so than age, sex, income, where people lived, marital status, education, or how much time they spent on social media.
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And SAD isn't just a young people problem.
SAD is not an "I am upset that I am not popular" problem.
It's a debilitating condition that affects people across the lifespan (nimh.nih.gov/health/statist…).
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SAD is not an "I am upset that I am not popular" problem.
It's a debilitating condition that affects people across the lifespan (nimh.nih.gov/health/statist…).
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No mental health crisis will be solved without reliable access to affordable care.
Still, we can chip away.
At the community level: screening and early detection.
At the family level: discuss social fears; facilitate regular social contact; normalize rejection.
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Still, we can chip away.
At the community level: screening and early detection.
At the family level: discuss social fears; facilitate regular social contact; normalize rejection.
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At the relational level: accompany a loved one to a feared social event; talk through their fears; help set realistic expectations (good interaction ≠ perfect).
At work: foster regular social interaction; use diverse evaluation metrics that don't rely on public performance
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At work: foster regular social interaction; use diverse evaluation metrics that don't rely on public performance
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At the individual level: Exposure. Participate in feared social situations.
It will be hard. Rejection will lurk around the corner.
But with practice, you realize that your biggest fears often don't come true. And if they do, you're likely more resilient than you thought.
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It will be hard. Rejection will lurk around the corner.
But with practice, you realize that your biggest fears often don't come true. And if they do, you're likely more resilient than you thought.
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For a comprehensive list of resources on exposure and other ways to address social anxiety, check out the National Social Anxiety Center — nationalsocialanxietycenter.com
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In sum:
Loneliness is a public health crisis.
Social anxiety is a major driver of loneliness.
Addressing loneliness will require multifaceted solutions at individual, community, and structural levels—and these solutions must include ways to address social anxiety.
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Loneliness is a public health crisis.
Social anxiety is a major driver of loneliness.
Addressing loneliness will require multifaceted solutions at individual, community, and structural levels—and these solutions must include ways to address social anxiety.
17/17
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