In the early 1990's Radiohead released a track called “creep”. The song “creep” also appeared in the opening scene in marvel’s guardians of the galaxy 3 where a sad Rocket is walking and singing the words. There are a few interesting things about the song “creep”. Firstly, when released it was considered to “depressing” for radio, and secondly, the lyrics gave us someone's personal insight into feeling weird or a “creep” around unfamiliar people. Lastly, marvels decision to use the song “creep” in the recent 2023 movie may suggest a more open view on mental health and how others may perceive the world.
Most people at some stage would admit to feeling either shy, anxious, or coming across “weird” in a particular social situation, especially if they had to give a speech to a large group of people. On a smaller magnitude, it may not be unusual to feel awkward while making small talk with unfamiliar people. I remember a friend who was very capable socially telling me how he would feel his body get much warmer, hands sweat, and words fumble from his tongue when he was talking with a very attractive female at work. He would also spend a significant amount of time reliving the previous verbal exchange to see if he appeared awkward or maybe even “a tad creepy”. While he did not verbalize or exhibit social anxiety symptoms, this personal account not only resonates with the song “creep” but is also reflective of how many people may feel daily across multiple social situations who experience social anxiety disorder (SAD).
SAD, also known as social phobia, is a mental health condition characterized by an intense anxiety and persistent fear of multiple social situations (the key term here is multiple social situations, not just one or two). People with social anxiety disorder often experience extreme anxiety or distress when they are perceived to be judged or evaluated by others in various social contexts (e.g., work, school or gym). These fears can be so overwhelming that the person may rely on safety behaviors (e.g., minimal eye contact) or if the fear is to intense, avoidance of the social situation.
SAD is diagnosed by a trained clinician when the fear of negative evaluation from other people becomes chronic and debilitating. While people with SAD can be component in a variety of areas, people with SAD may have maladaptive beliefs about themselves as incompetent, inferior, even to some extent as “not worthy”. People with SAD believe they will be rejected when others see how anxious and awkward they act, or hear the “stupid or boring” things they say.
A person not diagnosed with SAD may say "so what if someone judges me", or "doesn’t accept me", what’s the worst that could happen? Noteworthy the statement “what’s the worst thing that may happen” is often used in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to explore the underlying fears of perceived social rejection or negative evaluation. Research shows that while people without SAD can accept being negatively evaluated, people with SAD may interpreted this as personal failure, which may have a high cost to their self-esteem and future social interactions.
Unfortunately for some people, SAD is not diagnosed or treated till much later in life, where for many years SAD has controlled: (1) what social gatherings the person attends, (2) coursers studied and (3) employment opportunities. More importantly one of the true costs is the persons relationship status, where meeting new romantic partners may be avoided, and continually delayed to a point the person may experience minimal or no close relationships and prolonged loneliness.
Social anxiety and social isolation (e.g., loneliness) are closely related, where loneliness may exacerbate and perpetuate anxiety symptoms, creating a vicious cycle of isolation and emotional distress, that can lead to depressive symptoms. To cope with their social anxiety, individuals often engage in avoidance behaviors, which may lead to loneliness, and minimal future opportunities to connect with others and explore life. It is not uncommon for people with SAD to also met the diagnosis for a major depressive disorder or alcohol use disorder.
It's important to note that SAD is a treatable condition, and seeking professional help will assist in managing the personal and interpersonal distress experienced. If you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms that resemble SAD, it's advisable to consult a mental health professional for possible diagnosis and potential treatment options. Early intervention can significantly improve one's quality of life and overall well-being. Treatments for SAD often includes a combination of therapies, including:
