Did you know if the ‘c’ and ‘a in the word SACRED were transposed, it would spell scared? The flip side of our bodies being sacred is being scared.

According to the NSAC, roughly 12% of Americans, or 15 million people, at some point in their lives will experience being a scared body in a crowded room, due to anxiety. I bring up a crowded room to illustrate how social anxiety causes many people to live in fear.

Social Anxiety (What Is It?)

Social anxiety is more than having jitters in your stomach. It’s an intense body sensation that affects the whole person mentally, emotionally, and physically. It causes those who have a deep desire for authentic connection to remain isolated.

How To Know If You Have Social Anxiety

• Do you find it extremely difficult to show up for social events?
• Do you talk yourself out of attending social events?
• Do you find yourself overcompensating by drinking or eating at social events to alleviate the physical sensation of anxiety?
• Do you find it easy to communicate in a social setting when there is alcohol?
• Do you sit in your car 5-20 minutes before entering a social event, talking yourself into going in?
• Is it difficult for you to introduce yourself to others?
• At networking events do you avoid talking about yourself or your business?
• Have you ever said to yourself or another person “I’m better behind the scenes?

If you answered YES to one of these questions, it’s possible that you experience social anxiety.

Social Anxiety and The Nervous System

Social anxiety and all emotions affect the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system consists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems.

The sympathetic nervous system activates the fight, flight, or freeze response in the body. When someone has social anxiety, their bodies are in flight, flight, or freeze mode. The brain sends signals to the body, which believes it’s not safe. When the body feels unsafe, it’s scared. The physiological sensations of stomach tightness, sweaty hands, shallow breaths, or gas are signals the body gives off to let you know it feels scared. The body doesn't realize that when it's experiencing social anxiety, it's in the fight, flight, and freeze mode, and it will do anything to feel safe again, even if that means remaining isolated, despite being wired for connection and community.

The parasympathetic nervous system activates rest, digest, and relaxation. When the body is rest, digest, and relax it’s calm & knows it’s SACRED. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system is the key to showing up confidently in a social setting.

Yoga Can Relief Social Anxiety

Studies show that pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation increase serotonin and dopamine in the body, which are the body’s natural anti-depressants. When serotonin and dopamine are released, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, putting the body into a state of rest, digestion, and relaxation.

Yoga provides many techniques to relieve social anxiety. Click HERE to try this breathing technique next time you experience social anxiety or any form of anxiety.

To take a deeper dive to remove the root of social anxiety schedule a 1-1 yoga therapy session, Click HERE.

PS: Be SACRED, not scared!

Peace Be Unto You

Jamella Stroud