Understanding the differences: Anxiety vs. Social Anxiety

Is all anxiety the same? Does everyone worry about the same things? Are there different types of anxiety? How do you know which kind of anxiety you have and then what do you do about it? If you are like most of the population, you have fears and worries. Sometimes these anxieties are an everyday part of life. Other times, they can become bigger and develop into a disorder. There are many different types of anxiety disorders. In this blog we will explore two common types: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) vs Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Continue reading to learn about common anxiety symptoms, the similarities and differences of each disorder and the best anxiety treatments.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

When you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), it can feel hard to control your worry. It could be about anything. You might worry about what will happen tomorrow, if you'll get a job or how you will get all your work done. GAD is more than just a little worry. GAD is diagnosed when worry becomes persistent and excessive. Worry can also create physical symptoms like muscle tension, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. 

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety, or social phobia, is a specific type of anxiety disorder that centers around a fear or worry of social situations. If you have social anxiety, social events create a lot of worry and distress for you. Events can be larger like going to a party, public speaking or smaller like going to the grocery store. You fear judgment, embarrassment, or scrutiny by others. It’s common to also struggle with low self-esteem and feeling self-conscious.

Common Symptoms between Anxiety & Social Anxiety

If you experience GAD or social anxiety, you will notice common anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms include worry and physical symptoms like sweating and difficulty of breathing. GAD and social anxiety can both negatively impact your daily life. This can lead to struggles at school/work and relationships. Thought patterns and interpretations influence how you perceive and respond to anxious situations. It's common to experience catastrophic thinking, where you imagine the worst-case scenario. 

GAD vs Social Anxiety

Although anxiety and social anxiety may share some commonalities, there are distinct differences between the two.

• GAD can be triggered by many different stressors such as work, health, or relationships.  With social anxiety, you are nervous in social situations and fear people will judge you.

• GAD can create a wide range of emotions, such as fear, apprehension, and restlessness. With social anxiety, fear is about judgment, rejection, fear of confrontation or embarrassment.

  These emotional states can negatively impact your self-esteem, self-perception, and overall emotional well-being.

What are the Treatments for Anxiety?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 30% of adults experience any anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Due to the prevalence of anxiety disorders in adults, there are many effective approaches to treat it! Therapy plays an important role in addressing underlying causes and helping you develop healthy and effective coping mechanisms. There are different treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorders. Modalities like Somatic therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms. At Embodied Wellness, PLLC we offer all of these evidence based anxiety treatments to help treat anxiety disorders. Our anxiety therapists can help determine which treatment is best for you based on your symptoms. In some cases, it can be helpful to take medication reduce your anxiety symptoms.

Self-Help for Anxiety

Seeing a therapist for anxiety treatment is not always necessary. You can benefit from self-help strategies and making lifestyle changes to manage anxiety symptoms with or without a therapist. Examples of self-help tips for anxiety may include:

1. Limit news and social media: Constant exposure to news and social media has shown to increase anxiety symptoms. Set boundaries for yourself by limiting the time you spend on social media and the news. 

2. Deep breathing exercises: Deep breathing can help calm your nervous system and reduce anxiety. Try these two different breathing techniques:

   • Taking slow, deep breaths in through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth

   • The 4-7-8 technique: Breathing in for four counts, holding that breath for seven counts and exhaling for eight counts

3. Regular physical activity: Exercise releases endorphins, which naturally boost your mood! Try taking a walk with a friend, doing an online workout video or going to a yoga class. Exercising can be fun! 

4. Establish a daily routine: Creating structure and routine in your day can provide a sense of stability and therefore reduce anxiety. Set specific times for waking up, eating meals, engaging in certain activities, and going to bed. Sleep is one of the most important factors in reducing symptoms of anxiety.

5. Connect with others: Having strong social support can help reduce anxiety. Share your feelings with someone you trust so you can feel more supported. 

6. Enjoyable activities: Find activities that bring you joy and help you distract from anxious thoughts. Try watching a new movie, reading a book, exploring a new part of town or trying a new craft! Think outside of the box! 

Start Anxiety Treatment Today in Detroit

To add to your self-care strategies, it can be helpful to reach out to an anxiety therapist. A social worker can provide support and guidance in managing anxiety symptoms. We have anxiety therapists in Detroit, Michigan, and surrounding areas that specialize in GAD and Social Anxiety Disorder and are trained in evidenced based treatments like CBT, EMDR, DBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Somatic therapy for adolescents and adults.

In order to start anxiety treatment at Embodied Wellness, PLLC follow these steps:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation for anxiety treatment today.

2. Make your first appointment with an anxiety therapist in Michigan

3. Start addressing and overcoming your anxiety symptoms

Other Online Therapy Services We Offer

At Embodied Wellness, PLLC we treat adolescents and adults using the latest evidenced based treatments including ERP to treat OCD, EMDR to treat trauma and DBT therapy. También ofrecemos terapia en español en Michigan.