We all have certain things that trigger social anxiety when we’re out in public, sometimes even still at home.
Sometimes people assume it’s just being in a crowd or having to stand up and speak in front of a group of people, but actually there are some really simple things that trigger social anxiety.
I’ve listed some of the simple things that trigger social anxiety for me but you’re welcome to add to the list in the comments.
What are some of the things that set your social anxiety off big time?
WARNING: You may feel anxious reading this post.
30 Things That Trigger Social Anxiety
- You’re at work and the phone is ringing but no one else is answering.
- When someone asks you to tell them about yourself.
- You’re listening to music or walking down the street and realise your facial expressions are doing something weird.
- When someone offers you food and then tells you to help yourself.
- When your friend invites you round to their house and tells you to just let yourself in.
- You’re going out with a friend and they invite someone you don’t know at the last minute.
- When you have to open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you.
- You receive a compliment.
- When people sing Happy Birthday to you in public.
- “SPEEEECH”
- Goodbye hugs.
- When the thing you want from the shop is behind the counter.
- Someone sits next to you on the bus.
- Getting a flashback to something you said slightly wrong 10 years ago.
- Having unread inbox messages when you log in to facebook.
- When someone watches you perform a task.
- When someone looks at you whilst you’re eating.
- Someone unexpectedly knocks on the door.
- A stranger says Hello.
- When you need to wee during a movie but you have 20 people to squeeze past in the cinema.
- You have to book an appointment by phone.
- You have to get past someone in a busy shop, but your “excuse me” is a bit too quiet.
- You hear people laughing in your vicinity.
- You answer a persons question and then realise they were asking somebody else.
- Someone asks you a question but you’re not sure if they’re asking you, so you don’t answer.
- You have to share a kitchen.
- The evening before work/school.
- The morning of work/school.
- When you don’t get the joke or the reference.
- Having to use the bathroom at somebody else’s house when you know they can hear you.
What horrible stuff is on your list?Â
Related: 30 Silly Things That Are Totally Normal With Social Anxiety
I can answer ‘yes’ to 18 out of 30. Social anxiety is akward and painful. Thank you for your wonderful website, Kel.
It sure is! And thanks for reading 🙂
If I had to add one to the list it would be being talked rudely by customers face to face and on the phone, this happened to me a couple of times without having done nothing wrong.
Oh yes, that’s definitely very triggering! I worked for years in retail and there’s nothing worse than being talked down to by customers. I think they forget you’re human sometimes and they take things out on you when they shouldn’t.
Today I tried to tell my mother that I have social anxiety. She said that I do not and that when you read into things they make you believe that you have it. However I’m pretty sure that I do. My mother told me that if she thought it was serious she would take me to the doctors and see if I do have it, but I don’t want to go. Do you have any advice on how I should tell her and what I should do?
You’re an adult at a potluck with your daughter amongst a hundred people and you go to sit with your adult “friends” and one yells at you that you don’t belong there and to go find somewhere else to sit and everyone turns to stare at you., trying not to cry and keep your dignity for the sake of your child, and forever after, group situations are anxiety provoking in themselves.