IS SOCIAL ANXIETY AN IN-BORN OR ACQUIRED TRAIT?

Someone wrote me saying, "But social anxiety can not be overcome, just managed".

From my experience, it CAN be overcome.

There are often basic traits that make us more prone to having social anxiety that DO have to be accepted and embraced... such as being...

1. highly sensitive 2. empathic 3. highly intelligent 4. highly creative 5. introverted 6. intuitive

But in my opinion, social anxiety is NOT an in-born trait.

It is an ACQUIRED trait in a disconnected society where people are shamed for not being extroverted enough, for not following the societal ideal, for not being perfect enough, for not satisfying their parents' and peer's expectations...

Social anxiety is a self-protection mechanism in a disconnected society where people are made to feel that they don't belong... and that at any minute they could get kicked out of the tribe.

It is the feeling that we aren't good enough... not worthy of connection... and that we are inherently inferior to others...

In other words, social anxiety is a SHAME problem.

But Shame CAN be overcome.

And so can the resulting Social Anxiety. <3 .

I hope you found this helpful.

What are your thoughts on this?

To your empowerment...

Marni Penner

Anxiety & Social Anxiety Coach