STRESSED OUT

When social anxiety takes over

‘More than just angst about being around people, social anxiety is an intense fear of being criticised. We all feel anxious about being judged from time to time, but when these thoughts are constant, they become debilitating. One of the ways a psychiatrist can distinguish nerves from social anxiety is by how distressed someone gets about their feared situation, physically and emotionally, and the effect it has on their day-to-day life. They may need to be referred for a talking therapy to help manage their distress and, in some cases, may need medication – often in the form of antidepressants – to help them cope.

Dr Sarah Vohra, NHS psychiatrist and author @themindmedic