In a society that pressures individuals to look like stars on magazine covers, graduate college with high GPA’s, and make enough money to live a lifestyle most of us will only see in movies and TV shows, 19.2 million people will suffer from social anxiety disorders. Sure, not all cases of shyness or anxiety are caused from these factors, but I believe they’re certainly adding to the numbers. As we evaluate a phobia which generates $42 billion a year, it begs the question “Are we a society of anxiety?” (Healthyplace) In order to answer the question, first we must understand the differences between shyness and social anxiety/phobia. Shyness is defined as being reserved or having/showing nervousness. Others sources define shyness as a feeling of guilt apprehension, or lack of confidence experienced in regard to social association with others. (WebMD) Due to every human being different, shyness triggers may apply to some people and not others. It is estimated that ninety percent of the American population will experience some sort of shyness. However, forty percent of the population will experience shyness that presents a serious problem in their lives. (ADAA) Some of the situations that may trigger shyness include eating, drinking, writing, or working in front of others, being the center of attention, interacting with people, including dating or going to parties, using public toilets, being introduced to other people, being teased or criticized, meeting people in authority, and having to say something in a public situation, etc. In difficult situations, shy people may react in ways that alter their mental, emotional, physical, or behavioral levels. (WebMD) The characteristics of behavioral level alterations include difficulty speaking, nervously touching face or hair, excessive sweating, nodding, or smiling, gaze aversion, low speaking voice, and little body movement. Characteristics of physical levels include accelerated heart rate, dry mouth, shaking, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and butterflies in stomach. Mentally, one may experience negative thoughts about themselves, the situation, or others, fear of evaluation or judging, self-blaming after social interactions, believe that they are weak while others are powerful and negative self-concept or self-esteem. Emotionally, one may feel a sense of depression, loneliness, sadness, shame, embarrassment, and anxiety. (WebMD) Throughout history, there have been many well-known figures and entertainers who suffer from shyness. Respected figures like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison have all had their battles with shyness, even with the stresses of dealing with people and public speaking consistently in their routine. It just goes to show how shyness truly affects people in different ways. In the entertainment industry, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, and David Letterman have had bouts with shyness, people that most would never place in the category of shy. Now that we have an understanding of shyness, we can begin to draw the line where shyness ends, and social anxiety begins. Social anxiety, or social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Although this sounds very familiar to shyness, social phobia differentiates itself by being a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others, and embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. The line is drawn when characteristics of shyness begin to interfere and negatively affect ones work, school, activities, and relationships with others. A person with social phobia will begin to have anxiety and fear about a situation for days or possibly weeks before it happens. (WebMD) The key in diagnosing a person with social anxiety is evaluating how they deal with situations. For example, if a person is avoiding a better paying job because of the fear of a job interview, or meeting new people in the work place, this is considered intense enough to be dictated as social phobia. A shy person may not be comfortable in the same situation, but they will not avoid it by all costs. In addition, a person with social phobia may turn down the honor of being a best man at a wedding because he is anxious about public speaking or walking down the aisle and standing in front of a room of people. This is the line where shyness becomes anxiety, and reactions have an adverse effect on one’s life. Sadly, social anxiety may eventually cause other disorders, including depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders. About “thirty-five percent of people with social anxiety experience at least one episode of depression in their lifetime.” (Hilliard 24) Additionally, about fifteen percent of people have problems with alcohol. This is due to self-medication to gain courage during social encounters or anxious situations. The problem is that although this may work for them temporarily, they never learn how to deal with these situations sober, which can cause dependency later on. Eating disorders, primarily seen in women, are typically caused by ones fear of how people view them. They believe that if they aren’t a certain way, that no one will like them. Additionally, women are twice as likely to be afflicted with anxiety then men. If a person feels that they have social anxiety, they may see a doctor who will evaluate their condition. Although there are no lab tests to diagnose the phobia, details of ones actions or panic attacks may lead to a doctor sending one to a psychiatrist or psychologist. A psychiatrist may prescribe medications such as antidepressants like Paxil, or tranquilizers like Xanex, to ease the symptoms. Additionally, a psychiatrist or psychologist may offer a patient Cognitive-behavior therapy, or CBT, which guides the patient’s thoughts in a more rational direction when facing anxiety triggers. “Therapy may include systematic desensitization or real life exposure to the feared situation. With systematic desensitization, the person imagines the frightening situation and works through his or her fears in a safe and relaxed environment, such as the therapist's office. Real life exposure gradually exposes the person to the situation but with the support of the therapist.” (WebMD) One of the most critical effects of shyness and anxiety is its negative effect on communication. In a professional environment, the ability to look people in the eyes, perform/present in front of a group, use a strong confident voice, and carry a conversation with strangers is critical. The ability to speak off the top of one’s head, or appear confident in a job interview could be a deciding factor in being successful. On a personal level, shyness and anxiety can ruin a relationship before it even begins. Furthermore, it could end previous relationships if a person reaches a point of avoiding situations.
After reviewing shyness and social anxiety, we can finally answer the question “Are we a society of anxiety?” Yes. We are certainly a society of anxiety. However, we are also a society of drug users. There is no coincidence that the prescription drug industry is enormously successful. I’m not saying everyone affected by anxiety is a drug addict, but I’m implying it is too easy to walk into a psychiatrist’s office, and walk out with a script for medication. Prior to the creation of these medications, people toughed out their shyness or it ruined their lives, with no option in between. In 2012, we have less people willing to tough it out, therefore creating a group of people who are casually using drugs to get through life. Again, I am not knocking people who use these medications, because it still saves the lives of millions of people. However, I believe that while lessening a society of anxiety, we are also creating a society dependent upon drugs.

Works Cited

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.2012. Facts and Statistics. 13 Nov. 2012.
Cuncic, Arlene. “Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder” About.com. Medical Review Board .2012. 13 Nov. 2012.
HealthyPlace. 2007. Anxiety Disorders Statistics and Facts. 13 Nov. 2012
Hilliard, Erika B. Living Fully with Shyness and Social Anxiety. New York, NY: Marlowe and Company, 2005.
Lane, Christopher. “Shyness or social anxiety?” NY Times, 13 Nov. 2012.
WebMD. 2012. Social Anxiety Disorder. 13 Nov. 2012