Anxiety and stress about being around others can lead to symptoms of depression, especially if you isolate yourself or stop participating in activities. Here are the causes and coping methods for social depression.

As a result of social anxiety, you might experience symptoms of depression and a fear of being judged or evaluated negatively in a social setting. People suffering from social anxiety disorders may be concerned about acting or appearing visibly anxious.

Is it possible for anxiety to cause social depression? Given the close relationship between these mental struggles, it’s natural to wonder why you’re depressed if you’re socially anxious or why you might become socially anxious if you’re depressed.

Read below for the full details on social depression, and how it is a factor of social anxiety.

First, what is social anxiety disorder?

Physical and emotional/psychological symptoms of social anxiety disorder can occur before, during, or immediately after colonial encounters because of the depth and intensity of the fear that people with social anxiety disorder experience in most social situations, the term “social phobia” is appropriate.

Here are the emotional and psychological symptoms of social anxiety disorder:

1. Fear of rejection, embarrassment, or humiliation during social interactions.
2. Self-esteem issues
3. Lack of confidence
4. Due to past social experiences, feeling guilty and ashamed
5. Constant second-guessing over performance
6. Strong compulsion to avoid social situations

How does social anxiety become social depression?

1. Inactivity and social isolation

Social anxiety sufferers do not choose to be isolated and alone; only their incapacitating social phobia symptoms keep them from interacting with others.

2. Persistent feelings of shame. 

Their avoidant behavior makes people who suffer from social anxiety feel ashamed and weak. They regard their avoidance of social situations as a sign of inferiority rather than a rational coping strategy for dealing with frightening emotions.

3. Negative experiences with other people. 

People who openly display symptoms of social anxiety may be teased, bullied, demeaned, rejected, or ignored. Unfortunately, experiences like these only reinforce social anxiety sufferers’ fears, feeding negative emotions that can eventually lead to depression.

4. Past experiences

Early childhood experiences in which one was bullied at school or faced some form of humiliation may lead to the development of social depression.

Coping with social depression

1. Practice Lifestyle changes

Improved nutrition, increased exercise, and regular sleep can help alleviate the symptoms of depression. They also provide much-needed positive energy and a sense of accomplishment to those who are feeling oppressed by the symptoms of severe social depression.

2. Gradually introduce yourself to anxiety-inducing situations

Exposing yourself to social situations can be your first step to overcoming your social depression. For example, if you fear social gatherings, try to challenge yourself to an occasion, a friends’ meeting or social activity. You can start small by going out with one friend, then gradually progress as you feel less anxious. If you feel like you can’t do this alone, go for a trusted person who can support you through it.

3. Check in with yourself.

It could be easy to spiral once you’re out and feeling anxious in public. This will make you fixate on the negative emotions and feel that nothing is going right. At that moment, make sure to tune in with yourself and remind your inner person that: it’s okay. Make sure to indulge your 5 senses in this and focus on your breath and sensations to avoid developing your depression. “What can I hear now? What are three things I can see? What is happening around me?”