Feeling uncomfortable in social settings that are unfamiliar is perfectly normal. Butu for some, it could be something as complex as social phobia. According to an article in SMH, Stefan G. Hofmann, the director of the Social Anxiety Program at Boston University said that people are social animals that have a strong desire to be part or be accepted in a group.
This is often a result of the fear of not being accepted by peers or being negatively evaluated by others. Ultimately, every person has the biological need to be liked by others which results to people having social anxiety.
Hoffman added during an interview with the Atlantic that it wouldn't be normal if people are not socially anxious. It is a normal stage that children through together with separation and stranger anxiety. If one child refuses to go through this stage, doctors start to worry about them. This is same as most of emotions, there is a line that is in between healthy and not. Nervousness and being shy are two different things. Some are nervous because of unfamiliar social environment which is healthy. This becomes a problem when it causes distress that affects the person's life.
According to an article in Beyond Blue, people who suffer from social anxiety disorder don't want to be the focus of people's attention as this causes intense anxiety. They generally fear being criticized and being embarrassed even during ordinary days.
This kind of disorder affects 10 percent of Australians in their life. The treatment is to usually make them face the situation head on. Hoffman added that 75 percent of the success rate is because of this process.
The goal is to make them realize that after facing their deepest fears and learn how to survive it will make the phobia go away.
