While it’s completely normal to feel some anxiety before a first date or prior to giving a presentation, if the anxiety starts to interfere with your ability to follow-through with the task, like cancelling a date or changing your mind about attending a party because you’re too anxious to attend, then you might have social or performance anxiety. The key component of this type of problem is an increase in worry or anxiety prior to a social situation where you believe you will be judged negatively and that interferes with your functioning or causes you a lot of distress. Other features of it include:
- Avoiding the situation altogether or enduring it with distress
- Recognition that the fear could be excessive
- The situation almost always results in symptoms of anxiety that might include
- Racing or pounding heart
- Difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Blushing
- GI issues, such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation.
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty thinking or focusing